Advancing Inclusion: Slovakia’s and Hungary’s Marginalized Roma Communities are Moving Towards Effective Participation in the EU Green Transition, Leveraging Green Energy Sustainability to Address Energy Deprivation and Promote Equitable Green Policies.
Awareness Energy Poverty Gender Just Transition
Hungary, Slovakia
12/24 - 11/26
Educational institutions, Civil society, Local governments, Non-governmental organisations, National governments, EU institutions
498,434.20 €
Jakub Csabay
The green transition and sustainability are central to the European Commission’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, the EU’s 2021-2027 programming period, and the European Green Deal. However, the challenges faced by disadvantaged groups, especially marginalized Roma communities (MRCs) in Slovakia and Hungary, have been insufficiently addressed in both academic literature and policy.
MRCs make up nearly half of Slovakia’s Roma population and represent a significant portion of the poorest households in Hungary. Unfortunately, they are often portrayed as victims rather than as active communities with agency. This framing limits both academic and policy progress, and participatory approaches could help address this gap.
MRCs face severe socio-economic challenges, such as unemployment, unequal access to healthcare and education, environmental injustice, and energy poverty. Informal living conditions also prevent many from benefiting from EU Structural Fund programs.
A key issue is the inclusion of disadvantaged groups in the green transition at both national and EU levels. This project seeks to improve the living conditions of Roma communities while reducing their environmental impact, advocating for a fair and inclusive green transition for Central Europe’s MRCs.
This project supports the participation of marginalized Roma communities (MRCs) in Central Europe’s green transition via research and bottom-up sustainable social innovation. It aims to provide MRCs from six pilot localities in Hungary and Slovakia equitable access to resources and opportunities via a holistic approach to sustainable development building on five core components: capacity building and municipal planning, innovative solutions; research; education; and network building and advocacy. Key activities include participatory development of Municipal Strategies for Sustainable Development; technical assistance (pilot energy audits for social housing), creation of local energy social enterprises based on comprehensive business plans, development of locally grounded nature-based solutions, school partnerships to develop environmental curricula, establishment of an Aarhus Platform for Roma Communities, and communication of outputs to local, national, and regional stakeholders.
Last update: February 2025