Croatian Parliament Speaker receives International Romani Union delegation

Zagreb - Ahead of World Roma Day, observed on 8 April, Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Tuesday received a delegation of the International Romani Union (IRU) and Croatian MP Veljko Kajtazi, with the IRU delegation welcoming the government's efforts to improve the status of Roma in Croatia.

The Roma delegation included the IRU president, Normunds Rudevičs, the president of the IRU Parliament, Stanislaw Stankiewicz, as well as the president of the Association of Roma in Croatia "Kali Sara", Suzana Krčmar, and other members of the IRU from 12 European countries along with MP Kajtazi as the representative of the Roma minority in Croatia, the Sabor said in a press release.

Jandroković underscored that targeted improvement of legislation, public policies and support programmes, as well as political representation in the Sabor, have significantly contributed to the better status of the Roma national minority in Croatia.

He stressed that there is room for further progress, especially in areas such as education, health and social protection, and employment, which implies the concerted action of all interested stakeholders.

The government's political will and commitment to the systematic improvement of the status of the Roma is very concretely reflected in the National Plan for Roma Inclusion for the period 2021-2027, as a strategic framework for the development of equality and inclusion of the Roma in Croatian society, Jandroković said.

Representatives of the IRU Cabinet welcomed the government's comprehensive efforts to improve the status of the Roma and expressed hope for continued concrete support from Croatian institutions in the future as well.

Jandroković concluded that the cooperation with the Roma community is very positive, based on the Constitutional Law on the Rights of National Minorities, among other things. Extending the best wishes for the forthcoming World Roma Day, he called for continued joint work on building society in the spirit of tolerance, solidarity, mutual understanding and respect for diversity.