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In the wake of the fifth and so far last World Congress of the Roma held in Prague in the year 2000, reforms were carried out within the International Romani Union and new democratic structures were established. What followed was the founding of a Roma Parliament, which from then on was to define the direction of internal and international RIU politics.
Along with the Parliament, which is the union’s decisive agency, a new executive organ was established in the form of a Committee. Former general secretary Dr. Emil Scuka was elected for presidency of this committee made up of 15 members. According to the new statutes, which also define the responsibilities of the Parliament, Committee and Court of Justice, the congress is to take place every 4 years.
The first meeting of the Roma Parliament was held in Bratislava in March 2001. Apart from various strategies for the improvement of the Roma’s social conditions in the former communist states, the 35 members decided to accept new members and foremost integrate those Roma organisations whose countries are not yet represented in the Parliament. Along with the planned expansion of the RIU and close cooperation with the RNC, the second international Roma organisation, was decided.
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