In the aftermath of the adoption of the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation on 7 October 2020 and at the initiative of the European Parliament, the European Commission has launched a continuation of the Roma Civil Monitor (RCM) initiative for the next four years (2021-2025). The RCM contributes to the ambitious objectives of the new EU Roma Framework in several ways:

  1. Strengthening the capacities of the Roma and pro-Roma civil society to provide independent monitoring, assessment and reporting on national strategies for Roma equality, participation and inclusion, their implementation, as well as other policies with impact on Roma,
  2. Supporting participating civil society organisations and activists in their advocacy work aimed at making the public policy more effective in fighting the Roma exclusion and participation, as well as communication of the independent monitoring’s findings to keep governments accountable in the field or Roma inclusion policy
  3. Empowering the Roma and pro-Roma civil society to engage in dialogue and cooperation with public authorities responsible for the Roma inclusion, equality, and fight against racism.

The RCM 2021-2025 initiative is implemented by a consortium of highly acknowledged organisations working internationally for Roma equality, participation and inclusion at the international level: Democracy Institute of the Central European University (CEU, project leader), ERGO NetworkFundatión Secretariado Gitano (FSG) and European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC).

It builds on the lessons learnt and good practice from the RCM pilot project 2017-2020 implemented by the Central European University, in partnership with the members of the current project’s consortium and the Roma Education Fund. Innovations of the new project include a ‘cascade model’ aimed at strengthening the coordinators of the national civil society coalitions, more actions aimed at capacity-building of the members of the national coalitions and their systematic support in engaging in the dialogue, advocacy and cooperation with national stakeholders.

The RCM 2021-2025 project with the full title “Preparatory action – Roma Civil Monitoring: Strengthening capacity and involvement of Roma and pro-Roma civil society in policy monitoring and review” has been initiated by the European Parliament and is managed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General Justice and Consumers (DG Just).