Strengthening Roma Civic Participation in Developing of Roma Social Policies
This is an article presenting the project prepared by Autonamia Foundation, Hungary, given the subgrants under the ERGO sub-granting scheme 2024, funded by the EU
On 15 November 2024, representatives from civil society organisations and government officials from across Europe gathered in Budapest for a meeting focused on strengthening national Roma strategies. Organised by Autonomia and supported by ERGO and partner CSOs, the event aimed to promote practical collaboration between governments and grassroots actors working on Roma inclusion.
During the event, actionable and transparent strategies to address long-standing challenges were created. But just as importantly, it provided a much-needed space to listen, learn, and understand one another’s perspectives more deeply.
Working Together
Preparation began in May 2024. Each country team was composed of both CSO and government representatives. Twelve participants attended, with all invited countries represented except the Czech Republic. The meeting included guest speakers such as the representative of the Roma unit from DG JUST and Gabriela Hrabanová, executive director of ERGO Network. The representative of the Roma unit delivered the feedback, offering insights into the EU’s expectations for national Roma strategies and highlighting the importance of inclusive dialogue throughout the planning, implementation, and monitoring phases.
Country teams presented on three key topics:
- Updates to national Roma strategies.
- Consultation processes between governments and civil society.
- The role of Roma NGOs in monitoring progress.
Participants discussed examples and explored the principles of effective civil society and government cooperation. These conversations helped to draft the declaration, which the participating CSOs endorsed. A professional video team was on-site, offering participants a chance to record short, self-promotional clips. Six participants took part, producing one-minute videos. The videos hold powerful and impressive messages that can now be used for outreach and awareness. All these initiatives serve as a promising starting point for future advocacy.
Looking Ahead
The event delivered several clear achievements. It provided a safe space for open discussion, allowing participants to engage meaningfully with one another. This multi-stakeholder approach, which brought together national representatives and civil society actors from multiple countries, created a valuable foundation for sustained exchange and mutual learning. A joint declaration was also drafted, laying a solid base for continued advocacy and collaboration.
ERGO now holds valuable materials from the event to support its future efforts, while Autonomia is expected to build on this momentum in its ongoing work with the Hungarian government. The event demonstrated that although collaboration between governments and civil society can be complex, it is both possible and essential, particularly when it comes to ensuring that national Roma strategies are not merely theoretical documents but are actively implemented and grounded in lived realities.
If you have any further questions about this application, drop us an email at info@ergonetwork.org.
