REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

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Remembrance in Time
Based on the opinion of the experts from the administration of Veliko Tarnovo Region,
education, health and social care are the main fields, in which local authorities can help
in finding financial aid from European funds for the integration of different ethnic and
religious groups.
Conclusion
The continuing problems related to the social integration of the Roma are a clear
indicator that the developed policies in education should be oriented towards increasing
the quality of the human potential and responding to the requirements of the labour
market. To achieve it, a more systematic approach should be applied and a better
coordination should be achieved between local authorities and social and economic
partners, including schools, business, business associations, labour offices, nongovernmental
organizations. There is a need of changes in the well-known models for
financial support from the European funds, as well as a strict coordination in the policies
at the national and local level to ensure the sustainability of the created good practices.
An important condition for the successful implementation of the integration activities is
the social commitment and the activity of the Roma community. In the context of the
Strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training “ET 2020” and the
new strategy “Europe 2020”, the ensuring of equal access and quality education for the
Roma is an opportunity for better professional development and income for them. On the
other hand, our society should accept the Roma community as a Bulgarian potential, on
which depends the increase of the potential for prosperity of the whole Bulgarian economy.
References
1. The social and economic integration of the Roma in Europe. Brussels, 7.4.2010,
COM(2010)133 final. – http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri
=COM:2010:0133:FIN:EN:PDF; See also: European Commission. The Situation of
Roma in an Enlarged European Union. 2004. –
http://ec.europa.eu/social/keyDocuments.jsp?policyArea=&type=0&country=0&year
=2004&advSearchKey=+the+situation+of+roma+in+an+enlarged++&mode=advance
dSubmit&langId=en. Accessed: 13-11-2011; An EU Framework for National Roma
Integration Strategies up to 2020. Brussels, 5.4.2011, COM(2011) 173 final, p. 2.
2. Томова, И. Циганите в преходния период. София: Международен център по
проблемите на малцинствата и културните взаимодействия, 1995. (Tomova, I.
The Gypsies in the Transition Period. Sofia, International Centre for Minority Studies
and Inter cultural Relations); Ringold, D., M. A. Orenstein, E. Wilkens. Roma in an
Expanding Europe: Breaking the Poverty Cycle. World Bank, Washington, USA,
2003; COM(2011) 66; COM(2011) 173 final.
3. Report on public policies for Roma integration in Bulgaria and the main problems of
socio-economic inclusion of Roma within the project „EU INCLUSIVE” - Data
transfer and sharing of best practices between Romania, Bulgaria, Spain and Italy
regarding the inclusion the Roma population. Sofia, 26.01.2012, pp. 26 and next; For
more information see the site of UNDP: http://roma.undp.sk/;
http://vulnerability.undp.sk/. Accessed: 18-04-2012.