As a follow-up to the Roma Decade, the European Union launched the Roma Integration 2020 initiative for the Western Balkans and Turkey in 2016. Based on the experience and results of the Decade, the initiative aims to build stronger Roma integration policies.

The initiative is implemented with the support of the Regional Cooperation Council and co-funded with the Open Society Foundation. Together with partner countries, we are working to provide tangible results on the ground, to improve the social inclusion of Roma into society and to provide support to the most vulnerable groups.

The European Union is also providing substantial funds for social inclusion measures through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Areas of special focus are measures to increase access to education and decrease drop-out rates, to foster employment opportunities, and to improve health and housing conditions, particularly by ensuring access to public services, civil documentation and registration.

Publication presenting the nominated projects is online