Ethnic minorities across Europe are often under-represented in policymaking processes. Most minority groups are perceived as passive agents with little or no influence. The lack of comprehensive ethnic integration further legitimizes public discrimination and leads to expanding socio-cultural cleavages. Overall, the European Union inclusion policy has led to a higher representation of minority views in recent years, but there is still misinformation and disagreement within political institutions. This paper offers four suggestions for policy improvement, namely increasing communication capacity, raising awareness through education, empowering interest groups and ensuring a framework to fight antigypsyism.

Lessons for Practice

• Policymakers across supranational, national and local levels should regularly communicate with minority interest groups and between themselves to become more mindful of structural inequalities created by their institutions and adjust their policies accordingly.
• Political actors should enable minority interest groups to freely express their interests and opinions. They should actively encourage feedback and empower the interest groups to become less state dependent.
• Legislators and governments should take a more proactive stance on fighting antigypsyism by promoting education on discrimination and taking a harsher legal stance on acts of racism.

Keywords: roma policy, minority representation, European Union, EU Roma Strategic Framework

Citation: Kakol, M. (2021). How To Enhance The Political Representation Of Marginalized Groups Through The European Union's Policy: Four Policy Suggestions for Improving the Roma Strategic Framework. Public Note, URS

Kakol 2021
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Marta Kakol

"Marta has recently graduated from Utrecht University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Thanks to her interdisciplinary education, she can apply multiple perspectives to complex political issues. Her interest in public policy stems from the wish for fairer and more transparent policies. She vocalizes her interest in political affairs in a multitude of ways, from participating in Model United Nations conferences to organising speaker events. Marta currently works at Policy-Insider.AI as a Junior Source Manager under the guidance of a senior public policy expert and plans to do her Master's in Public Policy next year."