During the session held on May 15, 2020, the Government of the Republic of Northern Macedonia adopted an ordinance amending the budget for 2020 in order to respond to the needs of the new crisis with the Covid virus. With the new rebalance of the Budget, the funds intended for Support of the Decade and the strategy for Roma have been reduced by 34%, ie from 73 million denars (1.2 million euros) to 48 million denars (about 800,000 euros) (basic budget)
Within the budget users from the priority areas of the Roma Strategy 2014-2020, the following changes have been made:
Ministry of Transport and Communications - From the total planned budget of 650.000 euros with a rebalance of the budget it is reduced by 50%, the new budget is 325.000 euros)
Ministry of Labor and Social Policy - from about 130.000 euros), is reduced by 26% and it amounts to 100.000 euros)
Ministry of Education and Science - From the total planned budget of 350.000 euros) with the supplementary budget it has been reduced by 15% and it amounts to about 300.000 euros
With the Kovid19 virus causing serious economic and health consequences for everyone, especially the Roma community, the reduction of the Budget for Supporting the Implementation and Strategy of the Roma further threatens the position and contributes to the expansion of poverty among the Roma community.
The cut in the Budget for Supporting the Implementation of the Roma Strategy is contrary to the recommendations of the European Commission, where the 2019 Progress Report notes that “much remains to be done to implement the strategy aimed at greater integration of the Roma community. “
