Netherlands

EU funding for Roma integration

For the 2014-2020 period, the Netherlands will receive a total of €1.3 billion in EU cohesion funds, out of which €1 billion will come from the European Social Fund (ESF) and the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund). Of this amount, at least half will be spent on the ESF, with at least 70% of that going towards promoting social inclusion and combating poverty. The latter could also fund Roma-related measures.

Communication in 2015 on the implementation of the EU framework for national Roma integration strategies

Contacts

ESF managing authority

Agency of social affairs and employment .

ERDF managing authorities

• College van B&W Gemeente Rotterdam (OP West Netherlands), Postbus 70012, NL-3000 KP Rotterdam
• Provincie Gelderland, Europees Programmasecretariaat - Afdeling Subsidieverlening (OP East Netherlands),Postbus 9090, NL-6800 GX Arnhem
• Provincie Noord-Brabant (OP South Netherlands), Postbus 90151, NL-5200 MC 's-Hertogenbosch
• Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN) (OP North Netherlands), Postbus 779, NL-9700 AT Groningen
• More information on the Netherlands' operational programmes: ESF and ERDF operational programmes

Facts and figures

The Council of Europe estimates that there are approximately 37,500 Roma live in the Netherlands (0.24% of the population). For data on the situation on Roma in this country, please see the overview published by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights.

National strategy for Roma integration

The Netherlands’ national Roma integration strategy is not a strategy as such, but rather an integrated set of policy measures within the Netherlands’ social inclusion policies.

Municipalities are primarily responsible for addressing problems of the local Roma population, and the Roma community itself is expected to play a crucial role in their integration. The authorities have set up a programme to improve the prospects and opportunities of Roma children.

The Netherlands' set of policy measures (2011 - 2021)

The Netherlands' set of policy measures (2021 - 2030)

Assessment of the Netherland's strategy implementation

In spring 2014, the Commission assessed the implementation of the national Roma integration strategies in the four key areas of education, employment, healthcare and housing, as well as progress made in the fight against discrimination and the use of funding.

• The Commission's assessment of the Netherland’s national strategy (2014)
• The Commission's assessment of the Netherland’s national strategy (2012)
• The European Union and the Roma – Factsheet Netherlands

National contact point

The national contact point for the national Roma integration strategy in the Netherlands is the Ministry for social affairs and employment.

Contact persons:

• H. Nhass - hnhassminszw [dot] nl (hnhass[at]minszw[dot]nl) and
• Nathalie Harrems - nharremsminszw [dot] nl (nharrems[at]minszw[dot]nl)