EU donates 20 vehicles for Roma inclusion program

EU donates 20 vehicles for Roma inclusion program

Joksimović expressed gratitude to the EU for its support and noted that the strategies and action plans are good only if implemented, adding that the Tuesday event is the best example of this statement.

Inclusion is never a unilateral move, and those who are being integrated need to make use of benefits offered by the government, Joksimović said and added that the Roma community is one of the most sensitive categories in the population with regard to their social status.

Davenport underscored that the presence of Minister Joksimović at the ceremony on Tuesday is a good message of the Serbian government, adding that the donation of vehicles, which will be used by mobile teams of healthcare and social workers, comes as the result of the EU efforts to improve Roma position in Serbia.

Burkhard said that mobile teams have already achieved positive results and noted that they contributed to enrollment of over 500 Roma children in pre-school institutions.

The value of the project entitled 'We are Here Together - European Support for Roma Inclusion' totals EUR 4.8 million. The project is funded by the EU and is being implemented by the OSCE mission in Serbia as a mode of support to the implementation of the Strategy for improvement of Roma position.

The value of the 20 donated SUVs totals EUR 200,000.