The European Commission is seeking to re-focus political attention in the European Union on the situation faced by Roma in many member states. Some 500 delegates from national and local governments, EU institutions, international organisations and Roma groups are expected to attend a conference in Brussels on Friday (4 April) at which the Commission will launch a report on progress made on the social inclusion of Roma since 2011.

The Commission adopted a framework for national Roma integration strategies in 2011 and in its 2013 report called on member states to implement their national strategies. Last year, the Commission made country-specific recommendations for the five member states with the most sizeable Roma populations – Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. This year’s report will assess to what extent national authorities have followed these recommendations.

This week’s conference is the first ‘European Roma Summit’ since 2010. Its focus will be on how to implement EU-wide and national policies at the local level both in member states and in countries seeking to join the EU.

László Andor, the European commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion, wants to use the conference to ensure that EU funding for social inclusion reaches those who are most in need.

José Manuel Barroso, the president of the Commission, will speak at the opening of the conference. The only national leader who will attend is Traian Băsescu, president of Romania.

George Soros, a financier and philanthropist who has funded Roma projects for many years, will also be among the participants at the Square Brussels conference centre.