1. Roma integration and EU funds absorption in Bulgaria
Following the philosophy of Rene Descartes
Deyan Kolev
1/12/2019
Deyan Kolev
Center AMALIPE

2. The parallel substances
Rene Descartes (Renatus Cartesius) is one of the most prominent and influential French philosopher;
His metaphysics is based on dualist assumption that material and nonmaterial substances co-exist following own rules and principles. God is the only factor that make them interact creating in this way our world;
Descartes shaped not only the modern philosophy but also the entire modern mentality;
In indirect way this Dualism shaped the entire trend of Roma integration and EU funds absorption in Bulgaria during the current programming period;
During the present period Roma integration follows the Framework Program for Roma Integration (since March 1, 2012 – National Strategy for Roma Integration) steered by NCCEII. EU funds absorption follows National Strategic Reference Framework, OPs and RADP steered by Monitoring committees.
1/12/2019
Deyan Kolev
Center AMALIPE

3. Design of HRDOP Strengths:
Roma are specific target group of 6 areas of intervention
Chapter 6 Areas of assistance with regard to the Roma community
Specific indicators for Roma inclusion
Weaknesses:
No specific financial share for Chapter 6 and the Roma integration measures: makes them dependent from “good will”
No institution responsible for announcing the integration measures: no ownership, no priority
The integration measures are spread in 3 Priority Axes with 3 Intermediate bodies: integrated approach is “mission impossible”
1/12/2019
Deyan Kolev
Center AMALIPE

4. HRDOP implementation
Roma targeted calls are announced: 7 calls that are the only relatively big investment in Roma integration
Inconsistency and lack of integrated approach: 5 calls are in the field of education, 1 in employment, 1 in institutional support. No Roma targeted call is announce in the fields of social services and health care. The calls are announced within 3 out of 6 areas of intervention that target Roma. Within the other 3 areas (the entire priority Axes “Social inclusion) no Roma targeted call is announced
Roma are not proportionally represented among the final beneficiaries: within Axes 5 (with no targeted calls) Roma are less than 1 %; the only Axes that includes Roma in an proportional way is Axes 4 (with 5 targeted calls)
Because of weak administrative capacity and weak political attention there were examples how EU funds could support segregation in stead of integration
Roma NGOs are represented in the MK of HRDOP: 5 out of 7 Roma targeted calls are announced after their suggestions
1/12/2019
Deyan Kolev
Center AMALIPE

5. HRD OP - conclusions
HRDOP establishes preconditions for fostering Roma integration using the principle Explicit but not exclusive targeting
HRDOP support for Roma integration is conditional and depends on the activeness of Roma organizations and the good will of MA and Intermediate bodies: no institution feels ownership on Roma integration support, the lack of support for Roma integration is acceptable (Axes 5)
HRDOP support for Roma integration does not follow integrated approach: important fields are missed, integrated operations are difficult for announcing although not excluded
1/12/2019
Deyan Kolev
Center AMALIPE

6. Roma integration in BG before 2012
Good strategic documents – Framework Program for Equal Integration of Roma in Bulgarian Society and others
No Action Plan or Action Plans that do not envisage new targeted activities and financing
National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues – coordinating institution
NCCEII has weak institutional links with MA and IB for EU funds in BG and weak capacity to contribute in this process
European funds are used for Roma integration activities (PHARE, HRDOP) although on occasional basis
1/12/2019
Deyan Kolev
Center AMALIPE

7. Roma integration in BG in 2012
The NRIS was approved on December 21, 2011 by CoM and on March 1, by the Parliament
Good strategic document
It has Action plan but lacks new activities and financing: 71 out of 120 activities are without financing, the others are budgeted at the level they are financed at present. The Plan is rather explanatory that planning document
Annex “Programs for implementing the NRIS” was prepared. It envisages concrete programs within HRD OP, RDOP, RADP and the state budget . The Annex is still pending approval: weak administrative capacity or / and lack of political will
1/12/2019
Deyan Kolev
Center AMALIPE

8. After 2012
For binding Roma integration and EU funds absorption we need:
Proper institutional framework: policy task force that bring together MA and IB to plan how to use EU funds for NRIS
Proper operational document with concrete programs and calls supported by ESF, ERDF and EARDF
Roma integration included in the Partnership contract: with specific defined financing
Roma integration measures included in the new HRDOP, RDOP and RADP: as specific Priority Axes, with defined financing and Intermediate body
Stronger participation of Roma organizations: through membership in the Monitoring Committees and global grants
Un/Conditionality: implementing Roma integration measures should be condition before states and municipalities for EU funds absorption
1/12/2019
Deyan Kolev
Center AMALIPE

9. After Descartes
According to Descartes God makes material and nonmaterial substances interact. In this way it creates the world.
Making the NRIS and EU funds absorption interact would create the world of Roma integration
This should be done by all of us!
“”Never stop becoming and never become stopping” – Rene Descartes
1/12/2019
Deyan Kolev
Center AMALIPE