Representative body for the European Roma mooted in Helsinki

A group of representatives from various Roma organisations meet in Helsinki on 10-12 March to study the establishment of a European body to represent the Roma as proposed by Finnish President Tarja Halonen in her speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg last year. The initiative has received international recognition and support from both the Roma as well as from governments and international organisations. The working group was appointed by the Council of Europe and it is chaired by a Finnish MP, Gunnar Jansson.

The Roma are a minority in almost every country in Europe. They are being discriminated at all levels and often under-represented in decision-making. The task of the working group is to draft a proposal on the functions of a new European body which would provide the European Roma better participation in international cooperation and in their own affairs.

The working group will convene on Monday and Tuesday and the members will also meet with President Halonen.

More information: Johan Schalin, tel: +358-40-551 6326