Roma Equality and Social Investment in the Next EU Budget
Time: 21 April, 2026 9:30 -11:30
Venue: Paul Henri Spaak 7C50
Registration for this event is now closed!
External participation costs are not covered by the organisers.
Please note that participation may be subject to seat availability. We will confirm your place once your registration has been reviewed.
Context
The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034 is entering a decisive phase in which core choices are being made on social spending targets, cohesion policy, partnership rules, and budget flexibility. These decisions will determine whether EU funding effectively reaches communities facing persistent structural exclusion, including Roma.
While the Commission’s proposals include positive elements, such as a 14% social spending target and the continuation of ESF+, they do not explicitly name Roma and weaken binding safeguards for civil society participation. The move towards National and Regional Partnership Plans and increased Member State discretion risks diluting Roma inclusion unless explicit, enforceable guarantees are embedded in the MFF framework.
Aim of the Event
The event aims to provide timely, policy-relevant input to the MFF 2028–2034 negotiations by examining how Roma inclusion can be explicitly secured through the MFF’s funding instruments and governance rules. It will highlight concrete good practices from current EU funding instruments and draw lessons learned from their implementation. These insights will inform more effective, inclusive, and accountable approaches to Roma inclusion in the next EU budget.
Objectives
- To assess how current MFF proposals address, or fail to address, Roma inclusion
- To examine whether the 14% social spending target can effectively support Roma communities.
- To identify risks arising from weakened partnership obligations and increased budget flexibility.
- To outline clear and practical priorities for strengthening social inclusion, equality, and accountability within the MFF.
- To highlight the importance of building alliances between Roma organisations, civil society, social partners, and public authorities to ensure effective and inclusive implementation of the MFF.
Event Agenda
09:30 – 09:45 | Welcome and Opening
Moderator: Gabriela Hrabanova, Director ERGO Network
- Nicolae Ștefănuță, Vice-President, Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA)
- Roxana Mînzatu, Vice-President of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness (DG EMPL) (TBC)
- Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights (online)
09:45 – 09:55 | State of Play of the MFF 2028–2034
Keynote speaker:
- Carla Tavares, Member of the European Parliament (S&D), MFF Rapporteur
09:55 – 10:25 | Panel Discussion: From Commitments to Guarantees
Moderator: Réka Tunyogi, Social Platform
- Ana Carla Pereira, Director for Equality and Non-Discrimination (DG JUST)
- Terry Reintke, Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA, Germany) – Equality and anti-discrimination funding
10:25 – 10:50 | Lessons Learned from: What Works
Moderator: Réka Tunyogi, Social Platform
- Ragna Fidjestol, Managing Director, EEA and Norway Grants – Supporting Roma inclusion through EEA and Norway Grants programmes and funding mechanisms
- Belén Sánchez-Rubio García, Fundación Secretariado Gitano (Spain) – Employment and ESF success
- Marek Hojsik, Roma Civil Monitor – National-level good practice example
10:55 – 11:05 | Roma Civil Society Perspectives
- Daniel Grebeldinger, ERGO Network – Key recommendations to secure Roma inclusion through MFF governance and implementation
11:05 – 11:15 | Questions and Interventions from the Audience
11:15 – 11:30 | Closing and Next Steps
