Comparison between Hungarian and Bulgarian National Roma Integration Strategies (NRISs)

1. Comparison between Hungarian and Bulgarian National Roma Integration Strategies (NRISs) Dr. Ivo Kostov Nagykallo 4th SC meeting, 07-08.11.2013 ikostov@eurobulgaria.eu

2. General overview of Roma situation in Hungary and Bulgaria • Hungary - „the Roma population most certainly does not exceed one million but is with all certainty greater than 700,000"– more than 5,5% • Bulgaria - third largest ethnic group in - 325,343 persons, 4.9%.

3. General overview of Roma situation in Hungary and Bulgaria • Hungary - More than 60% live in the countryside, in a rural environment, mostly in segregated resi­dential zones, in rather poor housing conditions. • Bulgaria - Approximately half (55.4%) of the Roma ethnic group reside in the cities.

4. General overview of Roma situation in Hungary and Bulgaria Hungary: • employment rate of the Roma - 20%. • employment rate amongst Roma women – 10% • extremely poor state of health (Roma die 10 years younger than non-Roma on average), • a low educational level - barely 20% reach secondary final examinations • ghetto-like housing conditions without modern conveniences. • The poverty rate in 2009 was 70%.

5. General overview of Roma situation in Hungary and Bulgaria Bulgaria: • only 38.8% are economically active • only 50.2% of the economically active Roma persons are employed • share of students – 7.3% of the economically inactive population, i.e. 4.4% of all Roma citizens above the age of 15. • Housewives share – 36.5% of the economicallyinactive Roma population, i.e. 22.4% of all Roma above 15 years of age.

6. Analytical overview of Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs Fields of progress related to the proper integration of Roma as mentioned in both NRISs • Bulgaria: • Education • Employment • Health care • Housing • Rule of law and non-discrimination • Culture and media • Hungary: • Education • Employment • Health care • Housing

7. Analytical overview of Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs The 10 Common Basic Principles on Roma Inclusion • Hungary: (not in line with the 10 principles acquired by EU) • Principle of overall priority of inclusion • Development policy based on inclusion principle • Principle of integration • Complexity and concentration • Innovation and sustainability • Gradual approach • Sure start, sure future • A comprehensive approach • Programmes based on personal responsibility and participation • Principle of community participation and support

8. Analytical overview of Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs The 10 Common Basic Principles on Roma Inclusion • Bulgaria: • Constructive, pragmatic and non-discriminatory policies • Explicit but not exclusive targeting • Inter-cultural approach • Aiming for the mainstream • Awareness of the gender dimension • Transfer of evidence-based policies • Use of European Union instruments • Involvement of regional and local authorities • Involvement of civil society • Active participation of the Roma

9. Analytical overview of Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs The 10 Common Basic Principles on Roma Inclusion • A detailed provision on concrete policies and implementation in practice is not available and two of the principles are not clearly developed within the Strategy: • aiming for the mainstream and • applying an intercultural approach. • In regard to the CBP 8, a wide, public consultation process did take place.

10. Analytical overview of Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs The 10 Common Basic Principles on Roma Inclusion • Hungarian Strategy is not clear about de-segregation - not listed as separate issue, nor sufficiently explained in the main issues • Education and Housing - are not clear about desegregation either - improvement of the situation in segregated areas; assistance to move from these areas. • Both Education and Housing are in conflict with the principle of “Aiming for the mainstream”

11. Analytical overview of Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs The 10 Common Basic Principles on Roma Inclusion • In conflict with the requirement of evidence-based policies (principle No. 6): • The Hungarian Strategy states that previous public works programs proved to be ineffective; still, increasing employment is foreseen mainly by public works. • No explanation is given if and how deficiencies of previous programs can be corrected in foreseen programs.

12. Analytical overview of Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs The Bulgarian government has added other goals that are relevant to the national context: • media outreach, • preserving Roma culture, • the rule of law and antidiscrimination. It is unclear what mechanisms for implementation will be applied or how these goals will be monitored! The Overall impression of the Bulgarian NRIS, does not give the impression of being realistic and feasible.

13. Analytical overview of Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs Overview of Bulgarian and Hungarian NRIS • Both rely on different approach and try to comply with EU legislation • The Hungarian is too extensive - leaving the falls impression of feasibility and relevance; • The Bulgarian is too short - not elaborating enough but presenting a set of strict tasks and list of few but critical measures; • Both strategies lack the extensive critical analysis and fail to provide the strategic coordination at government level that should bring satisfying results in the process of Roma integration.

14. Analytical overview of Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs Advantages and disadvantages of Hungarian NRIS • complex two-sided social process • there is 'situation analysis' concerning Romani Women • special place reserved regarding gender equality • there is no separate part dealing with fundamental rights • does not address the issue of migration at all

15. Analytical overview of Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs Advantages and disadvantages of Bulgarian NRIS • does separate the Roma integration related • media outreach • preserving Roma culture • the rule of law and antidiscrimination

16. Overview of the budget allocations of the Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs • no budgets allocated for the Roma Integration Strategy in Bulgaria • Bulgarian operational programs and funds give additional points in the evaluation of projects during all calls for proposals and describe specific indicators related to Roma employment, education, human rights etc

17. Overview of the budget allocations of the Hungarian and Bulgarian NRISs Hungarian planned measures are based on EU funds - 61 measures: • 31 will be solely financed by EU funds • 5 will be partly financed by EU funds • finishing primary school and vocational training - 20 billion HUF, 65 million Euro • wage subsidy - 60 billion HUF, 195 million Euro

18. Overview of the Coordination Mechanisms in Implementing the NRIS in Hungary and Bulgaria Bulgaria National Council for Ethnic and Demographical Issues supports cooperation: • carries out the coordination Goals: • To ensure equal rights and human development; • To preserve and strengthen the ethnic tolerance and understanding; • Prevention of local ethnic conflicts;

19. Overview of the Coordination Mechanisms in Implementing the NRIS in Hungary and Bulgaria Bulgaria National Council for Ethnic and Demographical Issues: • EU analysis - National Council does not have the necessary capacity and experience to coordinate and implement Roma integration policies. • Additional technical assistance in terms of implementing integration policies effectively is needed.

20. Overview of the Coordination Mechanisms in Implementing the NRIS in Hungary and Bulgaria Hungary The contact point is the State Secretariat for Social Inclusion within the Ministry for Public Administration and Justice. It’s goal is: • to ensure that disadvantaged groups and individuals should have a proportionate share of the widening opportunities • to introduce a complete change of mentality in the area of social inclusion: • a quality improvement of Roma: • educational, • social, • health care and • employment conditions.

21. Overview of the Coordination Mechanisms in Implementing the NRIS in Hungary and Bulgaria Hungary The contact point is the State Secretariat for Social Inclusion within the Ministry for Public Administration and Justice. Works closely with: • Inter-Ministerial Committee for Social Inclusion and Roma Affairs, • Roma Coordination Council.

22. Comparison of the state of monitoring and indicators Hungary • uses exhaustive information based on previous experience which gives better opportunity to plan according to the baseline indicators. • Research served as the basis for designing the NRIS. • A wide range of available and recognised research sources were used, which are cited in the Strategy.

23. Comparison of the state of monitoring and indicators Bulgaria • there are no indicators planned for monitoring implementation mechanisms and monitoring in the Bulgarian NRIS • there are no indications as to how the national strategy will be implemented in Bulgaria

24. Comparison of the state of monitoring and indicators Hungary State Secretariat for Social Inclusion within the Ministry for Public Administration and Justice is responsible for: • coordination of reporting on the implementation of the action plan annually, and • the revision of the action plan every second year.

25. Comparison of the state of monitoring and indicators Bulgaria • reporting system in the Bulgarian NRIS remains problematic • Only "administrative monitoring“ is planned - subject of annual reports by each and every institution engaged in the process of implementation. • Need of specific methodology for evaluation • Need of concrete indicators and mechanisms for collecting information related to outcomes of the integration policies

26. Thank you! Dr. Ivo Kostov Nagykallo 4th SC meeting, 07-08.11.2013 ikostov@eurobulgaria.eu