Hearing on Fighting Racial Discrimination in Housing: Forced Evictions Against Roma

The Open Society European Policy Institute (OSEPI), Amnesty International, the European Roma Grassroots Organisations (ERGO), the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) are delighted to invite you to a hearing on “Fighting racial discrimination in housing: forced evictions against Roma” hosted by Members of the European Parliament Soraya Post (S&D), Péter Niedermüller (S&D), Damian Draghici (S&D), Cornelia Ernst (GUE/NGL) and Benedek Jávor (Verts/ALE).

 

When: 14 October 2015, 13.00-15.00 (a light lunch will be served at 12.30)

Where: European Parliament / Room 4Q2

 

Topics of Discussion:

The hearing will take stock of systematic forced evictions of Roma in Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy and France, and explore:

• What are the competences of the European Commission to intervene on forced evictions and what has it done so far to address this issue?
• How National Roma Integration Strategies improve Roma’s access to housing?
• How EU funds can be used to prevent evictions?
• How international Human Rights standards are applied?

 

Hosts:

Soraya POST, Member of the European Parliament, S&D

Péter NIEDERMÜLLER, Member of the European Parliament, S&D

Damian DRAGHICI, Member of the European Parliament, S&D

Cornelia ERNST, Member of the European Parliament, GUE/NGL

Benedek JÁVOR, Member of the European Parliament, Verts/ALE

Neil CAMPBELL (Chair), Acting Director, Open Society European Policy Institute, Brussels

 

Agenda:

Stocktaking of ongoing forced evictions in EU countries

Daniela MIHAILOVA, Equal Opportunities Association – Bulgaria

Enrico GUIDA, Associazione 21 Luglio

Marton UDVARI, Legal Defence Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities

Pierre CHOPINAUD, Voix de Rroms, France

 

Existing remedies and solutions at EU and national level addressing forced evictions

Member States representatives from Bulgaria, Italy, Hungary and France (tbc)

Andréas STEIN, DG JUST Head of Unit for Equal Treatment Legislation

Stefan OLSSON, DG EMPL Director Europe 2020: Social Policies (tbc)

Nicola De MICHELIS, DG REGIO Director, Inclusive Growth, Urban and Territorial Development and Northern Europe (tbc)

Confirmation

Please confirm your participation by 6 October 2015 to Ellen Mulder at ellen.mulder@opensocietyfoundations.org

Since the event is taking place at the European Parliament, please ensure to provide us with the following details:

– Given name

– Surname

– Job title / function

– Organisation

– Date of birth

– Nationality

– Type of ID

– ID number

We look forward to seeing you at the event.