It is a long path that leads to the ultimate success of the inclusion strategy; however, we may now see the signs of the positive changes that it has induced, the Minister of State for Social Inclusion at the Ministry of Human Resources said on Saturday in Komló.

Mr Kovács stressed in his speech delivered at the award ceremony „For the Roma of County Baranya”, an award created by the Baranya County Roma Self-Government, that there is still a long way to go; however, the strategy induced a change of paradigm three years ago, thanks to which the Government, localities and the national and local Roma self-governments now work together as partners and unite their efforts in the implementation of programmes designed to promote inclusion.

The Minister of State said that this strategy is novel not only in that it seeks to manage the problems emerging in multiple areas in a complex manner but also in that it enforces the principle of mutuality, in departure from former practices. This means that the Government does not merely offer opportunities and financial resources but also sets expectations, inasmuch as it requires participation, responsibility and discipline from its partners in the implementation of the programmes.

Mr Kovács reiterated that the Government successfully elevated the cause of the Roma inclusion strategy to the level of European politics during its EU Presidency in 2011, and also agreed to review and to update its national strategy every two years in the light of the experiences obtained in the interim. This work is now in progress, he added.

Deputy State Secretary Péter Garai said that every programme of the complex inclusion strategy is available in Baranya County. There is a social land programme, the „Trust and Work” programme promoting the improvement of housing conditions and facilitating employment is also available, and an estate programme is likewise in progress. At the same time, eight Sure Start Children’s Centres funded from EU and local funds help with the integration of disadvantaged young people.

In speaking about the locality of Komló, he made mention of the fact that 52 municipality-owned housing properties were refurbished recently with the participation of the residents themselves and unemployed individuals, and significant results have been achieved in the field of the training of the Roma, in particular, Roma women.

Flórián Farkas, President of the National Roma Self-Government concluded that the initiatives launched through the cooperation of the Roma and non-Roma communities are successful and help the participating Roma to improve their skills and to find jobs on the open labour market in the largest possible numbers. In his words, from the viewpoint of the Roma, it is also a stake of the elections to be held next year whether these projects may continue.

Member of Parliament Péter Hoppál, spokesperson for Fidesz stressed that the advancement of the majority in Hungary can only be construed in the context of the advancement of the largest minority, the Roma community.

"The work that we have done together with you in the past three years is exemplary, and I dare say, there will be no common future unless we continue to follow this path in the whole of Hungary”, the politician said before a mostly Roma audience.

He reiterated that policies that are based on a „benefit mentality”, the humiliation and degradation of people, no longer have a future; but neither do political forces that serve to amplify the voice of extremism.

"We need a balanced and calm policy, a calm force, which is able to combine the interests of the majority society with those of the minority", Péter Hoppál said.

In closure of the event, Ferenc Orsós was given the award „For the Roma of County Baranya” for his achievements in the fostering of Roma culture and the preservation of traditions. Five others received diplomas in recognition of their work.

(MTI)