The ERGO network has launched a call for the most “Roma-Friendly Mayor” as part of the “Romani Women Power of Change in the Western Balkans and Turkey” project, implemented jointly by Roma Active Albania and the ERGO Network. The call is part of a wider campaign that aims to increase awareness of – and change attitudes towards – Roma inclusion, and contribute to overcoming the many barriers.

The award-winning mayors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey will participate in a special event in Brussels as part of Roma Week between 16 and 19 May, to meet a high representative from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement (DG NEAR).

The competition will be open until 15 April and an independent jury will be established in each country to select the winner of the contest based on set criteria. Romani Women Power of Change in the Western Balkans and Turkey project partners will carry out local information sessions to further brief interested municipalities on the campaign and competition.

The campaign and the competition are funded by the European Union.