ATHENS — President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaroopoulou pointed out the need to accelerate the reforms needed for the social integration, equality, strengthening and participation of the Roma in the life of the country, at the launch of the online "International Anniversary Conference of Roma 1971-2021" which was held on International Roma Day.

Sakellaropoulou noted that the Roma are a social group that has been very hard hit by the pandemic, with measures such as social distancing significantly restricting the traditional activities from which they earn their living. "I am aware of how bad living conditions are for many Roma communities, the housing and health problems and the multiple vulnerability of their members. I am also aware that in a period of crises and social insecurity, such as the one we are experiencing, phenomena of racism and discrimination multiply".