The Most Roma Friendly Mayor Award 2024
Venue: European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Brussels, Room JDE63
Date: 9 April 2024
Time: 14:00-18:00
Format: Online/In-person, event in English only
Organiser: Roma Active Albania
Online recording: Here
Event Description:
This is the fourth edition of the “Most Roma Friendly Mayor” Award in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. The award recognises local authorities that believe in their citizens and treat them equally. It aims to change attitudes towards Roma inclusion and features local authorities that give power to Roma communities and listen to their needs.
The winners will be selected through a competition open to municipalities willing to apply for the “Most Roma Friendly Mayor” award. The competition, organised by the civil society, is being simultaneously implemented in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, and there will be one winner for each country. The awarded mayors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Türkiye will participate in a special event in the frame of Roma Week on April 9th 2024, from 14:30 to 17:15, in the European Economic and Social Committee, Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Brussels. The award ceremony will be organised by civil society, the European Commission Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) and hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) European Committee of the Regions (CoR) European Parliament (EP)
It will emphasize positive examples of Roma inclusion, highlighting the philosophy of empowerment, mobilisation and equal dialogue between local authorities and Roma communities, where the municipalities and the Roma community can come together and engage in a dialogue on an equal level.
“The Most Roma Friendly Mayor” award is implemented as part of the Romani Women POWER OF CHANGE project in the Western Balkans and Turkey (Power of Change), co-funded by the European Union, CN 2019/413-758.
Agenda
14:00 – 14:15 Registration
14:15 – 14:45 Welcome address
Video message from Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement
Moderator: Gabriela Hrabanova, Director of ERGO Network
- Akos Topolanszky, President of the Permanent Group on Inclusion of the Roma, European Economic and Social Committee
- MEP Romeo Franz, Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Member of CULT, EMPL and LIBE Committees
- Valentina Superti, Director Western Balkans; Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission
- Adriatik Hasantari, Director Roma Active Albania, General Manager of Power of Change
14:45 – 15:45 Awards to the Most Roma Friendly Mayors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey
- Valentina Superti, Director Western Balkans; Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission (hand over awards)
15:45 – 16:00 Closing remarks and photo of the award ceremony participants
- Marta Garcia Fidalgo, Advisor, Roma Integration Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission