Conference on Environmental Justice

European Environmental Bureau and ERGO Network invite you to the conference on “Environmental Justice for Roma Communities, Leveraging the EU Strategic Framework”

The conference aims to be a starting point in addressing environmental racism against Roma in EU Member States and Enlargement Countries as a priority policy concern under the national Roma strategic frameworks and specific national policies and measures regarding the environment, housing, health, employment, social protection, and education policies.

Date and time:

The conference will take place on 12 October 2023 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania and also in an online format.

Objectives:

  • Raise awareness about Roma and environmental racism in EU Member States and Enlargement Countries, together with relevant stakeholders (policymakers, academia, public authorities, civil society organisations, etc.).
  • Identify targeted policy measures to address environmental justice and antigypsyism issues in Pata-Rât, Cluj-Napoca as well as broader policy measures applying to other European countries and situations.
  • Facilitate networking and exchanges amongst civil society on Roma environmental issues.

In addition to the conference, we are also organising a separate workshop with civil society on the 11th.

Agenda Conference

Thursday, 12 October 2023

08:30 – 09:00                 Registration

09:00 – 09:30                Section 1: Opening of the Conference

Moderator: Mr Diego Francesco Marin, Policy Officer for Raw Materials and Resource Justice, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

  • Dr Nicolae Ajtai, Dean, Babeş-Bolyai University
  • Ms Patrizia Heidegger, Director, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
  • Ms Gabriela Hrabaňová, Director, ERGO Network – online
  • Mr Dragoş Pîslaru MEP, Romania / Renew Europe, Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

09:30– 10:15                 Political messages from EU and national policymakers

Moderator: Ms Isabela Mihalache, Senior Advocacy Officer, ERGO Network

  • Ms Linda Greta Zsiga – Testimony from Pata-Rât
  • Mr Peter Pollák MEP, Slovakia / European People’s Party (video message)
  • Ms Claudia Kovacs – Ministry of Investment and European Funds -Romania
  • Mr Petrica Dulgheru – Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative

10:15 – 10:30             Coffee break

10:30 – 11:15             Section 2: Environmental Justice and Common Basic Principles

Moderator: Ms Patrizia Heidegger, Director, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

11:15 – 12:00              Parallel working groups (2 groups)

Group 1: What should the EU do to monitor the situation of Member States more efficiently? What should the EU do to provide a better framework for environmental justice?

Moderator: Andor Urmos

  • A – What are the steps to take?
    • B – Who are the actors that should be engaged?

Group 2: What should local and national governments do to improve environmental justice (housing, access to services, etc.)?

Moderator: Isabela Mihalache  

  • A – What are the steps to take?
    • B – Who are the actors that should be engaged?

12:00 – 13:30             Lunch breakAddress: Restaurant Hotel Premier, Str. Donath, No. 100, Cluj-Napoca (https://hotelpremier.ro/en/) 

13:45 – 14:00              Reports from the parallel working groups

14:00- 15:25               Section 3: Environmental justice and EU policies: EU Roma Strategic Framework and the European Green Deal

Moderator: Mr Diego Francesco Marin, Policy Officer for Raw Materials and Resource Justice, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

  • Mr Olimpiu Bela Lăcătuş-Iakab, Association for Inclusion, Transformation and Social Innovation
  • Ms Enikő Vincze, Desire Foundation, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Dr Jekatyerina Dunajeva, Assistant professor at Pázmány Péter Catholic University
  • Mr Andrey Ivanov, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
  • Ms Anne Scheinberg, Springloop Cooperatie
  • Mr Dan Pavel Doghi, DG JUST, European Commission (online)
  • Questions: 15 mins

15:25–16:30                What are the EU and Member States doing to ensure environmental justice?

Moderator: Ms. Isabela Mihalache, Senior Advocacy Officer, ERGO Network

  • Ms Elena Iordanescu, Ministry of European Funds, Romania
  • Mr Simion Beldean – UBB Cluj Napoca – (Increasing the safety of water and food consumption in Roma communities in Transylvania)
  • Mr Daniel Grebeldinger, ERGO Network / Nevo Parudimos, Romania
  • Mr Andor Ürmös, Bridge EU – Environmental justice in Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania
  • Mr Georgios Tsiakalos – Human Rights Lawyer-Pro Bono Publico

16:3016:45                Coffee Break

16:45–17:45                The role of municipalities – What are cities doing to ensure environmental justice for Roma communities?

Moderator: Mr. Daniel Grebeldinger, member ERGO Network / Nevo Parudimos, Romania

  • Vasile Galbea – Researcher Pat Rat
  • Mr Virgil Bitu, UK/RO –The ignorance of policy makers towards Roma communities and the inability of the Roma population to access public services.
  • Mr Adriatik Hasantari – Roma Active Albania
  • Mr Asib Zekir – Redi – North Macedonia (online)

17:45 – 18:00              Section 4: Conclusions 

Moderator: Ms Lorena Doghi, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

  • Ms Patrizia Heidegger, Director, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

18:00                           End of the conference

19:00 – 21:00  Dinner reception / Youth Center from Cluj, Strada Iuliu Maniu, Nr 1.

Registration:

If you are a relevant non-governmental organisation or institution and are interested in attending, please register HERE: Leveraging the EU Roma Strategic Framework Tickets, Wed 11 Oct 2023 at 12:00 | Eventbrite

For more information about ERGO Network’s work on environmental justice, please contact Senior Advocacy Officer Isabela Mihalache.

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Conference on Environmental Justice – ERGO Network

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