Επικοινωνία με την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή, με την κα. Lavinia Banu

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Στο εργαστήριο που διοργανώνει το ERIO, τον Νοέμβριου του 2018, η Πρόεδρος του Συλλόγου, γνωρίζει την εκπρόσωπο της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής, την κα. Lavinia Banu, η οποία μέσα από τη συζήτηση ζητάει να έχει μια επικοινωνία για τα θέματα του οικισμού μας.

Έτσι στις 20.12.2018, στέλνουμε μια επιστολή με ΑΡ.ΠΡΩΤ. 563, και με ΑΡ.ΠΡΩΤ. 564 την απογραφή του οικισμού μας.

Στις 16.1.2019, λαμβάνουμε μέσω ηλεκτρονικού ταχυδρομείου την απάντηση της κας. Lavinia Banu:

Dear Mrs Sampicha,

I would like to thank you for the information provided. I take note of the four challenges you have outlined in your letter ( urban development, lack of sewage and transportation, and education).

Please allow me to highlight that the Commission  recognizes the challenges in respect of Roma integration in Greece. The European Commission promotes Roma inclusion through several legal, policy and funding instruments. These are EU coordinated tools, put at the disposal of the Member States, including Greece, to address the inequalities faced by vulnerable groups such as Roma people and to enable them equal access to their fundamental rights, just like any other EU citizens. This is considered as a precondition to improve the living conditions of the Roma and prevent social tensions.

Despite the very serious situation you describe in your letter, it is within  the primary responsibility of the Greek authorities and within their competences to intervene in the fields mentioned. Nevertheless, I would like to advise you to contact the Greek National Roma Contact Point, who should be able to advise which national authority is responsible for the issues described in your letter. The contact point for the national Roma integration strategy in Greece is the National centre for social solidarity (EKKA), Ministry of employment, social insurance and welfare of Greece. Contact person: Mrs Aikaterini Giantsiou – egroma@yeka.gr

Moreover,  for any potential cases of discrimination, I advise you to contact the Greek Equality Body – the Greek Ombudsman. The contact person is  Mrs Christina Kougia and the Email: kougia@synigoros.gr

Regarding the funding opportunities, I would like to inform you that the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) are based, inter alia, on the principle of shared management.  Shared management implies that the guidelines for ESIF operations are designed at the European level, whereas implementation on the ground is managed by the relevant national or regional authorities in each Member State. These authorities prepare the operational programmes, publish calls for proposals and select and monitor the projects. For information on the use of ESIF for Roma integration please see: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/roma/eu-funding/index_en.htm

The European Commission also provides direct financial contributions in the form of grants in support of projects or organizations which address EU priorities or contribute to the implementation of an EU programme or policy. Interested parties can apply by responding to calls for proposals: http://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/grants_en.htm DG Justice and Consumers publishes regular calls under Rights Equality and Citizenship programme, which could be relevant for you.

Please note however, that, in any situation referred above, funding is provided on the basis of relevant calls for proposals and not in response to spontaneous applications, regardless of the merits of the project proposal for which assistance is requested.

In view of all the above, I would like to thank you for your work and commitment and to wish you a very successful year for the community you represent.

Best Regards,

Lavinia BANU

Policy Officer

Η κα. Lavinia Banu, κοινοποιεί το έγγραφο μας προς την Ειδική Γραμματεία για την κοινωνική ένταξη των Ρομά. Έτσι στις 8.4.2019, μας έρχεται κοινοποιημένη η απάντηση, από το Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής Αλληλεγγύης προς την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή.

Ο Σύλλογος, στα πλαίσια της καλής επικοινωνίας, συνεχίζει την ενημέρωση:

Και η απάντηση που λάβαμε στις 23.10.2019:

Dear Mrs Sampicha,

I would like to thank you for the information provided. I take note of the four challenges you have outlined in your letter ( urban development, lack of sewage and transportation, and education).

Please allow me to highlight that the Commission  recognizes the challenges in respect of Roma integration in Greece. The European Commission promotes Roma inclusion through several legal, policy and funding instruments. These are EU coordinated tools, put at the disposal of the Member States, including Greece, to address the inequalities faced by vulnerable groups such as Roma people and to enable them equal access to their fundamental rights, just like any other EU citizens. This is considered as a precondition to improve the living conditions of the Roma and prevent social tensions.

Despite the very serious situation you describe in your letter, it is within  the primary responsibility of the Greek authorities and within their competences to intervene in the fields mentioned. Nevertheless, I would like to advise you to contact the Greek National Roma Contact Point, who should be able to advise which national authority is responsible for the issues described in your letter. The contact point for the national Roma integration strategy in Greece is the National centre for social solidarity (EKKA), Ministry of employment, social insurance and welfare of Greece. Contact person: Mrs Aikaterini Giantsiou – egroma@yeka.gr

Moreover,  for any potential cases of discrimination, I advise you to contact the Greek Equality Body – the Greek Ombudsman. The contact person is  Mrs Christina Kougia and the Email: kougia@synigoros.gr

Regarding the funding opportunities, I would like to inform you that the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) are based, inter alia, on the principle of shared management.  Shared management implies that the guidelines for ESIF operations are designed at the European level, whereas implementation on the ground is managed by the relevant national or regional authorities in each Member State. These authorities prepare the operational programmes, publish calls for proposals and select and monitor the projects. For information on the use of ESIF for Roma integration please see: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/roma/eu-funding/index_en.htm

The European Commission also provides direct financial contributions in the form of grants in support of projects or organizations which address EU priorities or contribute to the implementation of an EU programme or policy. Interested parties can apply by responding to calls for proposals: http://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/grants_en.htm DG Justice and Consumers publishes regular calls under Rights Equality and Citizenship programme, which could be relevant for you.

Please note however, that, in any situation referred above, funding is provided on the basis of relevant calls for proposals and not in response to spontaneous applications, regardless of the merits of the project proposal for which assistance is requested.

In view of all the above, I would like to thank you for your work and commitment and to wish you a very successful year for the community you represent.

Best Regards,

Lavinia BANU

Policy Officer

European Commission

DG Justice

Unit D1 – Non discrimination and Roma coordination

Και το αίτημα που στείλαμε εμείς, στην συνέχεια της επικοινωνίας μας: