Council of Europe Congress launches the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion

A major priority of the Council of Europe, to improve the situation of Roma
people, will move a step closer to being realised with the launch of the
European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion during the 24th
Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

The Congress, which together with the Special Representative of the Secretary
General on Roma Issues is implementing the work of the Alliance, will hold its
Spring Session from 19 to 21 March, bringing together more than 300 local and
regional elected representatives from 47 Council of Europe member states.

Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, the
President of the European Roma and Travellers Forum, Rudko Kawczynski, and the
Deputy Mayor of the founding participant City of Heraklion, Despoina Syggelaki –
together with Congress President Herwig van Staa – will address the audience at
the ceremony on 20 March (6:00 pm, Hemicycle). A video message by EU
Commissioner for Regional Policies Johannes Hahn will be screened, and high-level
representatives of cities and regions participating in the Alliance will attend
the launching event. The launch will take place in the framework of a current
affairs debate on combating social exclusion at local and regional level.

A Press Conference will be held on Wednesday, 20 March 2013, at 10:15 am (room
17)

Participants:

• Herwig VAN STAA, President of the Congress of Local and Regional
  Authorities
• Jeroen SCHOKKENBROEK, Special Representative of the General Secretary of
  the Council of Europe for Roma Issues
• John WARMISHAM, Thematic Rapporteur on Roma/Travellers, Member of the
  Congress
• Nawel RAFIK-ELMRINI, Deputy Mayor of the City of Strasbourg, founding
  participant of the Alliance
• Darko RUDAS, Roma City Counsillor, Murska Sobota, Slovenia, founding
  participant of the Alliance