Brussels, 07/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - A Summit of European Mayors will be held in Strasbourg on 22 September at which elected local representatives will discuss how best to help Roma integration, the organisers of the summit announced from Paris on Tuesday 6 September.
Some 200 people, including around 60 elected representatives, will take part in the meeting organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
The meeting will discuss action that can be taken by locally elected representatives and Roma to overcome the obstacles to access to social rights at local level and to promote mutual understanding within communities.
It will also debate how to bring about the necessary change in attitudes on the part of all parties to combat prejudice and allow acceptance of diversity. Representatives of all 27 EU governments approved an action plan in May, based on national Roma integration strategies, one year after the storm caused by France's expulsion of members of the Roma community. (L.C./transl.rt)