Mayors Making the Most of EU Funds for Roma Inclusion (MERI)

The programme was driven by the recognition that Structural Fund resources rarely reach the local level, a situation that is particularly acute in the area of social exclusion.

Launched with the support of the European Commission and the Open Society Foundations, the programme aimed to strengthen initiatives that use community resources in an inclusive manner at the local level. Through a network-based collaboration, we brought together local authorities and mayors who had a track record of good practice in Roma integration and who wished to further develop their local activities.

The programme began in May 2012 with field visits and the preparation of studies; based on recommendations from Autonómia staff, we selected 14 out of 25 municipalities for which case studies were written. We presented our findings at an international conference, where three Hungarian settlements (Ács, Besence, Gyulaj) received awards.

Following the conferences, we organised workshops where the local authorities developed their plans for the future. During the 2014–2020 period, funding related to social inclusion was primarily available through the Human Resources Development Operational Programme; we assisted MERI members in preparing for this through study visits and communication training.

The National Association of Local Authorities also participated in the network’s work as a partner.