The seminar focused on the drafting of a report evaluating the programme and the plan. Roma associations and councils suggested that April 8, World Roma Day, be proclaimed a holiday in Croatia.
Roma representatives said the government's efforts were visible in urban planning, education and employment. They also voiced their objections and suggested how state bodies and local authorities should deal with Roma issues more effectively.
The report, including Roma representatives' suggestions, will be submitted to the Commission for National Minorities later this month, the chief of the government's Office for National Minorities, Milena Kleiner, told Hina.
It was concluded that the number of Roma representatives in ministries' task forces should be augmented and that the government's Office for National Minorities should organise a seminar on how to advance the work of Roma councils because Roma representatives complained that some councils did not exercise appropriate cooperation with some local authorities.
A seminar on how to deal with housing issues will also be organised, and it was also suggested that free legal assistance should be provided in all counties with large Roma communities to inform them on how to settle citizenship and other status issues.
Kleiner said the biggest progress had been achieved in the most difficult issues -- urban planning, education and employment. She explained that the Roma had built accommodation on farmland or land owned by others, and that wherever possible this problem was being dealt with by legalising such settlements. The precondition for legalisation are urban plans, which have been drawn up in 12 of 14 counties, she said, adding that nine of 14 settlements had been legalised in Medjimurje County.
Croatia has received a EUR3.5 million donation from the European Commission and sets aside 30 per cent from the national budget to complete the infrastructure in four Medjimurje settlements, said Kleiner.
Roma representatives pointed to housing issues in Zagreb and Sisak. They also said that the construction of a cultural centre for Roma had not begun yet, although Zagreb received one million kuna from the government for that purpose in 2002.
It was underlined that a large number of pre- and school age children are being educated, with help from 16 Roma assistants, that 80 Roma have jobs and another 180 are employed in public works, and that they can enroll in numerous job training courses.