Current best practices

• Author: Theodoridis, Athanasios
• Pages: 89-91

89

10CURRENT BEST PRACTICES

The implementation of the Greek National Strategy for the Social Integration of Roma

2012-2020 continued during 2019, focusing on the following objectives: a systematic and

comprehensive inventory and description of the current situation; a review of the rationale

behind the planning priorities, based on the results of the aforesaid inventory; a

redefinition of priorities in the short, medium and long term, based on the existing needs

of the target group and the available resources (human and financial); and the

establishment of an administrative mechanism for the integrated management of the

National Strategy. The primary objective of the National Strategy is to end the social

exclusion of the Roma and to create the necessary conditions for the social integration of

Roma people, whether they are Greek or foreign nationals residing lawfully in Greece. This

strategic objective is to be served through the guaranteed provision of housing, in such a

way that the needs of the Roma target group for acceptable living conditions can be met.

This objective was implemented on a short-term basis (2012-2016) and is now being

further implemented on a medium-term (2016-2020) and long-term (2020 onwards) basis.

In 2018, the Ministry inaugurated the multi-centres (). These centres, located

close to Roma schools and settlements, include facilities and services dealing with personal

and environmental hygiene. In conjunction with the Roma Annexes – introduced in

previous years as special divisions in the municipalities – the multi-centre provides holistic

services, especially to Roma children, so that they can integrate smoothly into the

education system.

Furthermore, from 2016 until 2019, more and more municipalities have been establishing

Roma Annexes to their community centres.230

The Roma Annexes aim to provide specialised services related to the particular problems

faced by the Roma with the aim of improving their living standards, ensuring their full

social integration, securing the support of students and helping to combat school drop-out.

They also provide the following services:

-reception –information, mediation, referral of beneficiaries to the relevant welfare

programmes, facilities and services;

-support, empowerment and motivation of women;

-counselling and social support;

-promoting education, enhancing the integration of children and adults in the field of

education.

The Roma Annexes were integrated into the European Social FundΣs thematic objective 9

(promoting social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination) –as included in

the regional operational programmes (    

).231 According to these regional operational programmes, the Annexes also include

counselling and legal advice on issues of discrimination.

Roma Annexes operate in nine municipalities in Attica Region,232and a total of 254 centres

were originally announced to operate in municipalities throughout the country.233

230 Ministry of Employment, Social Security and Social Solidarity (May 2018), Guide for the Application and

Functioning of Community Centres, Athens, available in Greek at:

http://www.mou.gr/elibrary/Guide_KentraKoinothtas2016.pdf.

231 The Greek Special Secretariat for the Social Inclusion of Roma has published the regional operational

programmes on its official website in Greek at: https://kekpa.gr/el/synolo-praksis-kentron-koinotitas/2903-

ethniko-epixeirisiako-sxedio-drasis-gia-tin-koinoniki-entaksi-ton-roma-2017-2021.

232 The Roma Annexes Operating in Attica Region are presented in Greek at: http://www.socialattica.gr/eidi-

domis/kentro-koinotitas-me-parartima-roma.

233 CNN Greece, ASEP: ΡA total of 1,450 appointments at community centresΣ, 19 January 2018, available in

Greek at: https://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/63494/asep-synolika-1-450-proslipseis-se-kentra-

koinotitas.