The public debate was devoted to new opportunities and challenges in social inclusion of the Roma and Egyptian community in Montenegro, within the EU accession process.

The topics covered in the public debate included the effects of implementation of pre-accession funds for the current programme period 2007 -2013, as well as consideration of opportunities for promotion of protection of human rights and freedoms of the Roma community within the new approach to planning and implementation of the pre-accession assistance for the period 2014-2020.

The opening statements at the public debate were given by the following: Mr Halil Duković, MD, Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms; H.E. the Ambassador Aleksandar Andrija Pejović, Head Negotiator for Montenegro’s EU Accession negotiations, and the National IPA Coordinator; Mr Suad Numanović, Minister for Human and Minority Rights; and Ms Dawn Adie-Baird, representative of the EU Delegation to Montenegro.

The Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms spoke on the role of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms in protection of the rights of minority communities and strengthening of the social cohesion, and the representative of the EU Delegation to Montenegro spoke on the role of the European Union in Montenegro regarding promotion of Roma and Egyptian inclusion: IPA 2014-2020. The Ambassador Aleksandar Andrija Pejović gave a speech on the topic “Montenegro’s EU Accession Process: the Instrument of the Pre-Accession Assistance IPA II and Roma inclusion”, while the Minister for Human and Minority Rights Mr Suad Numanović, PhD, spoke on the position and protection of rights of Roma and Egyptian community in Montenegro within the Roma Inclusion Decade and the process of European integration.

The Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms Mr Halil Duković, MD, stated that the Committee, in accordance with its competencies determined by the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, endeavoured to contribute to protection of rights of minorities and strengthening of social cohesion. He reminded that the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms, as the umbrella committee, considered the annual Report on Development and Protection of Rights of Minorities and other Minority Communities, which was submitted to the Parliament, in accordance with Article 38 of the Law on Minority Rights and Freedoms, by the Government of Montenegro. In that regard, the Committee most often recommended to the Parliament of Montenegro to adopt certain conclusions, the implementation of which would contribute to continuous promotion of the position of minorities in Montenegro.

Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms also follows the exercising of right of members of the minorities by considering the annual Performance Report of Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro, which also contains the information on rights of members of minorities and the problems that they are facing, as well as the assessment of their position and recommendations for promoting it.

Additionally, the Committee dedicates significant activities to protection and promotion of rights of RAE members in Montenegro. The Chairperson of the Committee stated that, at its fourteenth meeting held on 17 July 2013, the Committee considered the Strategy for improvement of position of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro 2012-2016, submitted by the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, in accordance with the Article 68 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament. In that regard, the Committee adopted the Conclusions which it then forwarded to the Collegium of the President of the Parliament and the competent Ministry. He reminded that it was assessed then that significant activities had been undertaken and considerable funds had been invested in Montenegro in order to improve the position of Roma and Egyptians, but also that in the following period, in accordance with the Government’s Strategy for improvement of position of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro 2012-2016, it was necessary to continue numerous activities that should contribute to speedier and more efficient resolution of problems that this population was facing. The Chairperson emphasised that resolving the legal status of displaced and internally displaced persons was extremely important, and that providing documents was crucial for resolving this issue. Significant activities are being undertaken to include the members of this population into the education system, which is extremely significant for their full integration in Montenegro society. Progress in this field is significant, of which the MPs, members of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms, were convinced at the Control Hearing of the Coordinator of the Coordination Committee for monitoring the implementation of the Strategy for permanently resolving the issue of displaced and internally displaced persons in Montenegro with special regard to the camps Konik I and II, which was held this week. The Chairperson also pointed out the fact that almost 90% of children residing in camps Konik I and II, were attending school, which was a very good thing, because they were thus implementing their inclusion in Montenegrin society, and creating prerequisites for future employment.

The Chairperson of Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms pointed out that in the following period the Committee would continue their activities aimed at improving the position of members of minorities, with special regard to members of RAE population, as well as monitoring the implementation of conclusions of the Committee and the Parliament of Montenegro relating to this issue.

The representative of the Ministry of Education Ms Tamara Milić informed the participants of the public debate on the activities which were being undertaken in order to ensure the educational inclusion of Roma and Egyptians, while the representative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Ms Budimirka Đukanović spoke on stimulation of employment and social inclusion of the Roma and Egyptian communities. Mr Rastislav Vrbensky, UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro, held a speech on the topic: Role of the UN system in Roma and Egyptian inclusion.

Within the final session, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, attaché to the Directorate General for Coordination of the EU Assistance Programme, Mr Bojan Vujović held a speech on the topic: “How to connect the EU accession process and the Roma inclusion through the IPA planning and programming process 2014-2020”. Mr Muhamed Uković, Vice President of the National Roma Council in Montenegro, held a speech on the role of the Roma civil sector in the European integration process, while Ms Snežana Mijušković, Chairperson of the Committee for Social Affairs of the Union of Municipalities and the Secretary of the Secretariat for Social Welfare of the Capital City, spoke on the role of local self-governments in promotion of the Roma and Egyptian communities inclusion.