Bulgaria now has a National Roma Integration Strategy. For the first time the effort is agreed with 9 ministries and district governors, who have to partner locally with relevant NGOs, are put in charge of its implementation. Speaking of Roma integration, however, we need to adhere to a reasonable balance between high concepts, strategic policies and these people's particular problems. Including this minority group into the country's real life is a key issue for the Bulgarian government.

This is not a short-term policy. We are facing specific challenges at all levels. Unfortunately, it is a widely-held belief that this integration has been transmitted top-down from Brussels and we have to comply with our partners' requirements. It is a fact, though, that we can never achieve tangible progress unless this is a conscious process and inner necessity. Following decades of efforts to this end, Bulgaria can boast specific working models.

The best results have been achieved in education and healthcare. Every year, the government earmarks some BGN405,000 for preventive screening in settlements with minority groups. 23 mobile medical offices, purchased under the PHARE programme, are used for this purpose.

In them, 11,465 free examinations and tests have been carried out in nine regions of the country over just a year. More than 2,300 people have been diagnosed with diseases. They have been referred to the relevant hospitals for further diagnosing and treatment. The Ministry of Education also has a number of good Roma integration programmes. Full-day education in schools delivers considerable results.

The bulk of the children in these schools belong to minority groups. Providing transport, food and afternoon classes is a benefit for large families. This project involves 700 schools and has a budget of BGN180m for two years. Also, a student reintegration programme has been launched. One of the big challenges is when Roma children that dropped out must return to classrooms. They have lost a large part of their knowledge and need to catch up.

For this purpose, there will be special assistant superintendents. Some students will be allowed to switch to an individual education course. The programme has BGN6m funding.

Yet, there is still work to be done in developing a successful model for integration of those people in the labour market. The greatest challenges are solving issues related completely to Roma people's daily lives. And we still have a significant shortage of integration policies - most often they involve a large portion of hypocrisy, but an end will be put to this. Tomislav Donchev is Minister in charge of EU funds in Bulgaria

http://www.europost.bg/article?id=4954