14 – 15 September, 2023
Online

Štefan Simončič, President of the Association EPEKA, Soc. Ent., will participate in the web conference “ROMA(NI) THE FUTURE – THE FUTURE OF EUROPE / WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACCEPT THE EU’S LARGEST ETHNIC MINORITY”.

The organisers of the event wrote: “Roma have been part of European and national history and the cultural landscape for more than 700 years. Today, the Roma represent the largest ethnic minority in Europe, with some 10 million citizens in the EU and a global diaspora of more than 15 million people. Despite their centuries-long presence, Roma remain largely unknown to mainstream society. As a nation, the Roma are mostly seen as a social problem, perceived through the prism of marginalisation, exclusion and poverty. Moreover, the Roma are today the most stigmatised and least accepted minority group in the EU; various manifestations of antigypsyism – a specific form of racism against the Roma – are a sad feature of everyday life for Roma in Europe. On the other hand, the Roma remain a highly resilient and creative population whose diverse contributions to the European social, cultural, economic, political, artistic and even linguistic spheres are still awaiting recognition and acceptance.

A brief overview of Roma history and culture as a starting point for reflecting on the social, political, cultural, economic and environmental significance of placing Roma at the heart of EU public debates on our social future. Organised in the framework of the ERIACNET4EU project and in conjunction with Timișoara, European Capital of Culture 2023, the training is specifically tailored for staff working in the public administration and the institutions of the European Union.
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The Association EPEKA, Soc. Ent., is supported by: