The Directorate-General for Education and Culture is organising this conference to discuss the involvement and impact of EU programmes with the Roma minority. It is based on a selection of best examples of projects related to the Roma people all funded through various European Commission programmes. This initiative is part of efforts to better disseminate and build upon the results of programmes and as such it marks a substantial contribution to the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

In parallel to the conference a seminar of experts on Roma culture is taking place and also an exhibition of 21 interesting and succesful projects.

Approximately 440 guests are expected to register and participate, all actors from the ground and stakeholders that include project promoters and Roma beneficiaries, together with more than 60 decision makers at regional, national and European level, representatives of Roma organisations and associations and representatives of the Spanish presidency and the European Parliament.

The event is open to the press.

Interpretation during plenaries will be available in 12 languages: Bulgarian, Czech, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Romani (subject to availability of interpreters), Romanian, Slovak and Spanish.

Interpretation during all the workshops is assured in English, French and German; additional languages will be offered for some workshops subject to demand and availability of technical facilities in the meeting rooms.

The draft agenda is attached at right.

More information and online regsitration at: http://roma-conference.eu/web/roma/home

A maximum of 400 participants will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.