ROMACTED Programme “Joint Programmes for Roma Inclusion in Turkey” Meeting Held

A meeting entitled "Joint Programmes for Roma Inclusion in Turkey" was organised in Ankara as part of the #ROMACTED Programme, a joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

Opening speeches were delivered by William MASSOLIN, Head of the Council of Europe Ankara Programme Office, Eleni TSETSEKOU, Head of the Roma and Migrants Section of the Council of Europe, Laurent GUIRKINGER, First Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey, Tuncay CEVHEROĞLU, Director General of Family and Community Services of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, Ömer Turan MAZGAL, Head of Social Cohesion Department of the Ministry of Family and Social Services.

The meeting continued with the presentation "ROMACTED - Phase II Implementation in Turkey" by Burçak KILINÇ, Project Officer of the Council of Europe. Ms Pınar ÖZLÜ, Project Officer of the Council of Europe, presented "Roma Integration - Planned Activities for Phase III".

In the sessions moderated by Clara SANCHEZ PASTOR, Programme Manager of the EU Directorate General for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy and Ana OPRISAN, Programme Manager of the Roma and Migrants Section of the Council of Europe, Phase II pilot municipalities shared their experiences.

The meeting ended with the presentation of National Thematic Consultant Hande BARLIN on "Preparation of Municipal Guidelines for Socio-economic Recovery Action Plans for Natural Disasters", followed by the evaluation of the Phase II Advisory Group Members by Elmas ARUS, President of Zero Discrimination Association.

We would like to thank everyone, especially our pilot municipalities, who contributed to the meeting.