ROMA is Europe’s largest minority, with an estimated population of 10-12 million. Socially and economically, the Roma are also one of the Europe’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and frequently face intolerance, discrimination and exclusion. Many lack access to housing, healthcare, social services employment and education.

Foreseeing the need to deal with these problems, Institute of Entrepreneurship Development participates in the European project “PAL – Fighting discrimination and anti-Gypsyism in education and employment in EU”.

The main objectives of the project PAL are:

1. Fighting discrimination and anti-Gypsyism
2. Enhancing multi-stakeholder cooperation
3. Promoting common democratic values, strengthening fundamental rights and consolidating the rule of law are horizontal concerns for the participant countries
4. Debating the way forward for the European network for Roma social inclusion
5. To develop capacities for Roma participation at regional and local level
6. To develop data and information on forms, approaches, challenges of Roma participation
7. To raise awareness among relevant stakeholders concerning the need to assure annual access to education and employment
8. To train and transfer skills on desegregation to trainers and other stakeholders at grassroots levels in order to achieve Roma’s children and youth integration in education and employment process.

The coordination and the design of the first steps and the following activities was the framework of the project’s kick-off meeting that took place in Hasselt, Belgium on 4-5 February 2016.