site.btaDeputy PM Zafirov to Attend 18th Meeting of European Platform for Roma Inclusion in Brussels

Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov, chair of the National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Demographic Issues, will be among the speakers at the 18th meeting of the European Platform for Roma Inclusion, the government information service announced on Thursday. The meeting will address the topic "Insights and lessons after five years of implementing the EU Roma Strategic Framework – Progress made and remaining challenges" and will take place in Brussels.

Zafirov will present data on Bulgaria's progress in implementing the strategy, the service added. A special video message to the meeting participants will be delivered by Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality. The Deputy Prime Minister is also expected to hold talks with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, who will also attend the meeting.

The European Platform for Roma Inclusion (EPRI) plays a key role in monitoring and supporting the implementation of the framework. The meeting will feature a series of working groups involving representatives of national institutions. They will discuss problematic issues of Roma inclusion related to supporting policies and practices at European and national level.

The National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Demographic Issues facilitates cooperation, coordination, and public consultations between state authorities and non-profit legal entities of Bulgarian citizens belonging to ethnic minorities and other non-profit legal entities registered under the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act, which work in the field of inter-ethnic relations and the protection of human rights, according to information published on the website of the Council of Ministers.