Our objectives were to improve and consolidate transnational exchange and cooperation between European Roma organisations, promote networking between and exchange ideas with them, learn from each other (especially in the areas anti-discrimination and empowerment), get to know best practice examples in the respective areas of expertise (e.g. anti-discrimination, empowerment, public relations, political education, historical education, memorial work, culture, councelling…) of the participating organisations and get to know new methods and strategies against discrimination and for better social participation of Roma. Roma self-organisations should network across borders and join forces, as the struggles against discrimination and for the social participation of Roma are currently being fought primarily in isolation. The individual organisations have many competences and so we saw great potential to learn from each other, exchange experiences and pass them on. The respective NGOs are based in different countries and have their own local networks and contacts. This is also a great potential that should be used together.
Although Roma have lived in Europe for 700 years, they are still disadvantaged in all areas - socially, politically, in terms of education and employment opportunities. Prejudice, discrimination, racism and violence against Roma are the order of the day both in the countries of the European Union and in neighbouring countries. This goes hand in hand with a lack of knowledge and interest in the history and reality of life of Roma in the majority society. There is a great need for Roma organisations across Europe to exchange ideas and work together on strategies and possible solutions for the problems of Roma in our societies. This resulted in the need to expand the networking of Roma organisations at a transnational level, to initiate new suggestions and exchanges on how we can improve the situation in the long term and to further expand our structures in order to improve the opportunities for Roma to participate in society. Existing solutions were to be further developed together and new strategies jointly developed. We wanted to gain new ideas, join forces and emerge stronger together in order to continue working for equal rights for Roma in our European society.