Roma access to quality, affordable, and inclusive essential and social services
Access to essential and social services is a fundamental component and pre-requisite for lifting people out of poverty, combatting material deprivation, and raising work intensity. Europe’s Roma face multiple obstacles in benefitting from good quality, affordable essential and social services despite being among the key groups most needing this support to unlock equal opportunities for themselves and their families.
There are some key opportunities to capitalise on this subject in the next mandate of the European Commission, chiefly the new Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights and associated initiatives. Revising the Multi-Annual Financial Framework is another opportunity to review support for quality, affordable, accessible, and inclusive service provision. The Mission Letter to Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu lists a call for her to “lead the work on the first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, aimed at helping people to access the essential protections and services they need and addressing the root causes of poverty.” (our underlining).
The work has already begun, with the European Commission releasing a comprehensive and long-awaited report on access to services on 18 June 2023. The report aims to support the delivery of Principle 20 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which refers to access to essential services such as water, sanitation, energy, banking services, and digital communications. Consultations with civil society are also taking place, and oral and written feedback is being submitted.
This policy paper aims to review the aforementioned European Commission report from a Roma inclusion perspective, as well as to formulate policy recommendations that concern access to both essential and social services for one of Europe’s most vulnerable communities. It is also part of ERGO Network’s advocacy in the framework of our efforts to ensure that the upcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy does not leave the Roma behind. We have consistently advocated for more and better access to services, including digital services, for the Roma as a fundamental pre-requisite to thrive, achieve equality, and participate in society and the labour market.
Last but not least, we hope to see full synergies between the Union of Equality and its composing strategies, including the EU Strategic Framework for Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation, and key mainstream processes such as the European Semester and the initiatives it monitors.
=> Read the policy paper here!
For ERGO Network’s engagement with access to social and essential services, please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro: a.ferro@ergonetwork.org