© Council of Europe/Nikolai Atefie

A major priority of the Council of Europe, to improve the situation of Roma people, will move a step closer to being realised with the launch of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion during the 24th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, the President of the European Roma and Travellers Forum, Rudko Kawczynski, and the Deputy Mayor of the City of Heraklion, Despoina Syggelaki as well as Javier Ramírez, director of the Institute of Rehousing and Social Integration at the City of Madrid (both founding participant) - together with Congress President Herwig van Staa - will address the audience at the ceremony on 20 March (6:00 pm, Hemicycle). A video message by EU Commissioner for Regional Policies Johannes Hahn will be screened, and high-level representatives of cities and regions participating in the Alliance will attend the launching event. The launch will take place in the framework of a current affairs debate on combating social exclusion at local and regional level.

A Press Conference will be held on Wednesday, 20 March 2013, at 10:15 am.

• The press release with the announcement of the launching event