An event dedicated to strengthening employment opportunities for Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro was held on 15 September 2025 in Podgorica, bringing together representatives of national institutions, international organisations, and Roma civil society.
The opening session featured remarks from Lejla Dervišagić, Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica; David Percobic, Director of the Agency for Employment; Mladenka Tesic, Programme Manager for Human Rights and Democratisation, Delegation of the EU to Montenegro; and Petrica Dulgheru, Executive Director of REDI International (Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative).
The first panel featured Samir Jaha, Council of Europe expert, who presented a study on the impact of employment measures on Roma communities in Montenegro. The panel examined the effectiveness of existing government programmes, highlighted barriers faced by Roma in accessing the labour market, and discussed lessons learned from policy implementation.
The second panel focused on the presentation of a new EU project implemented by REDI, aiming to support Roma entrepreneurship and business development. Speakers included Barbara Jovanović, Regional Business Center Coordinator for Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro – REDI, and Zarko Savić, Coordinator of the first Roma Business Club – REDI. The discussion covered project objectives, activities to foster entrepreneurship, networking opportunities for Roma business owners, and strategies to ensure sustainable economic empowerment.
The final panel presented the National Programme for transforming informal employment among Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro 2024–2026. Speakers included representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue, the Ministry for Education, Science and Innovations – Department for Adult Education and Lifelong Learning, the Directorate for Education and Upbringing of Members of Minority Nations and Other Minority National Communities, and Dijana Anđelić, Country Director of HELP.
The panel focused on:
- Current challenges in informal employment among Roma and Egyptians
- Planned interventions to promote formal employment
- Social dialogue mechanisms between state institutions, employers, and Roma communities
- Support measures, training opportunities, and monitoring systems to ensure effective programme implementation
The event highlighted the importance of evidence-based policies, targeted support measures, and partnerships between government institutions, international organisations, and Roma-led initiatives to promote equal access to the labour market. By combining research insights, entrepreneurship support, and structured national programmes, Montenegro is advancing efforts to create inclusive employment opportunities for Roma and Egyptians.
The Platform was organised within Roma Integration – Phase III Joint Programme of the European Union and Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative and the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro.
