Op-ed by Dzamila Stehlikova, Czech minister of human rights and minorities, and Shigeo Katsu, vice-president for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank. They commend the European Commission for calling the EU Roma Summit, and lay out three ways in which Roma can take a greater part in Europe's prosperity. They also point out that the state of data on the subject is woefully inadequate, and that any European policy on Roma inclusion should adopt measurable indicators and targets.

On the eve of the EU’s first "Roma Summit", the EU Roma Policy Coalition urges for a long-term strategy. "Enough time has passed, there needs to be a framework with objectives and deadlines," say Coalition members. They call on the EU Presidency to formally endorse such commitments at the December European Council. The ERPC also remains concerned with the Commission’s response to the census of Roma in Italy.

This publication gathers the main findings of the roundtable, "Present and future challenges to media freedom and free expression in the OSCE region", which was held in Vienna on 29 February 2008. The report features a wide array of contributors who outline the challenges that journalists and free thinkers face every day across the whole OSCE region: threats, physical attacks and even murder, censorship, criminal proceedings in response to "critical" comments or the denial of their right to discuss questions of public interest. It also displays a number of drawings by two world-renowned editorial cartoonists, Plantu and Chappatte, who work respectively for Le Monde and the International Herald Tribune.

The Olaszliszka tragedy in 2006 was a clear signal that tensions in Hungary between Roma and non-Roma require immediate attention, the Centre for Fair Political Analysis argues. It also illustrated how the Roma policies of successive governments since 1989 have failed to effectively tackle the problems. What is needed is a paradigm shift, in which the Roma issue is treated as a broad social policy and welfare problem.

Amer Dzihana of the Mediacentar Sarajevo analyses the political paralysis that has blocked the development of public service broadcasting (PBS) in Bosnia-Herzegovina. His paper reviews the issue of ethnic rights and evaluates the legislative framework of PBS, its reform, efficiency and competition with commercial TV, and the pending convergent, multichannel and digital environment. It analyzes the policy options available now and provides realistic recommendations.

The following Comment has been prepared by ARTICLE 19 based on an unofficial English translation of the Draft Law on Amendments of Law on Public Broadcasting Services “Radio of Montenegro” and “Television of Montenegro” (OJ RMNE No. 51/02 and 62/02) (draft Law), dated 10 July 2008. The purpose of the Comment is to help promote the adoption of a law that is consistent with international standards, as well as best national practice, in this area.

An interview with Romani Rose, the head of the German Central Council for Sinti and Roma. He has fought for official recognition of the Sinti and Roma suffering under the Nazi government; thirteen of his family members were murdered in death camps. He says not enough is being done to root out the causes of prejudice in Europe, and that many Sinti and Roma integrate by denying their ethnicity.

The Swedish government’s Delegation for Roma Issues is investigating reparations and even a possible Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to come to grips with five centuries of persecution against one of the most oppressed minorities in Europe. A radio report.

DecadeWatch is an assessment of government action on implementing the commitments expressed under the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005–2015. Since the Decade aims at giving Roma a voice in the process of inclusion, this assessment has been conducted by coalitions of Roma NGOs and activists from all countries participating in the Decade. It aims to be a constructive contribution by Roma activists towards making the Decade a success. The first issue of DecadeWatch, published in June 2007, reviewed the period from the launch of the Decade in early 2005 until the end of 2006. This update report covers the year 2007 and reports any changes and new initiatives that governments introduced in that year.

This Communication is drawn up pursuant to Article 4(3) of Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities, as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 (‘Television without Frontiers Directive’, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Directive’). Through this Communication, the Commission reports, for the eighth time since the adoption of the Directive, on the application of Articles 4 and 5, now for the period 2005-2006. It is based on the Member States’ statistical statements on the achievement of the proportions referred to in these Articles by each of the television programmes falling within their jurisdiction and presents the Commission’s opinion on the application of these provisions, including the main conclusions to be drawn from the Member States’ reports.