The 7th Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration

Deputy Prime Minister Fikrim Damka participated in the 7th Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration, organized today in Podgorica within the framework of the Berlin Process.

In his address, Deputy Prime Minister Damka presented the commitments of the Republic of Kosovo to the protection and advancement of the rights of non-majority communities, emphasizing that guaranteeing rights through laws is not sufficient; true success is measured by the concrete impact these rights have on people's lives.

Damka highlighted that, within the framework of the Strategy for the Advancement of the Rights of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Communities for the period 2022–2026, 80 percent of the activities foreseen in the Action Plan have been completed, while 18.3 million euros have been allocated and invested for their implementation.

In one of the key messages of his speech, Damka stressed that the issue should not be treated solely within the framework of a single community, calling for the creation, through the Berlin Process, of a new regional initiative that would encompass all non-majority communities in the Western Balkans.

In this regard, Damka emphasized the importance of a joint regional approach for the protection of community rights, social and economic inclusion, institutional representation, and the improvement of the quality of life.

“A more integrated, more sustainable Western Balkans moving towards a European future is possible only when the rights of all communities are guaranteed and transformed into real opportunities.”

Damka conveyed the message that “Kosovo is ready to contribute to this process and, together with all countries in the region and international partners, work toward the development of a more inclusive approach oriented toward concrete results.”