Roma Health Project Grantees Participate in the EU Open Health Forum 2008

Upon invitation by the Health and Consumers Directorate-General of the European Commission, representatives of Open Society Institute Roma Health Project grantees and partner organizations Center Amalipe (Bulgaria), European Roma Rights Center (Hungary), HealthMonitor (Hungary), National Roma Centrum (Macedonia), and Roma Center for Health Policies Sastipen (Romania) attended the EU Open Health Forum 2008.

The forum, "Developing and Implementing Health in the European Union," was held in Brussels, December 10-11, 2008. Bringing together more than 500 participants, the goal of the forum was to get feedback from stakeholders on pressing public health issues in the European community and to identify the need for new policy initiatives at EU level.

Representatives of Center Amalipe and National Roma Centrum delivered statements emphasizing the importance of involving the Roma minority and other vulnerable groups in the implementation of the health strategy, and the role of the EU in prompting member states to act towards this end. The forum provided Roma Health Project partners with positive opportunities for networking and exchanging their experiences in promoting sound public health policies targeting Roma and other vulnerable minorities.

To find out more about the objectives and outcomes of the EU Open Health Forum 2008, please visit ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/health_forum/open_2008/index_en.htm.