The Roma population has been the most discriminated against throughout centuries of Portuguese society and have been victims of a 'differential logic of racism' that segregates them to the borderlines of society. In 2011 the EC adopted an EU Framework for Roma/Gypsies/Traveller Integration and invited member states to submit national strategies in four areas: housing, employment, education and healthcare. In Portugal, the National Strategy for Integration of Roma Communities, approved by the Council of Ministers in March 2013 encompasses those four areas and a fifth axis, under which priorities in areas such as mediation, recognition of Roma culture, anti-discrimination and gender equality were also included. This paper will outline how since implementation of the NRIS, in important areas such as housing and labour market little has been done and hundreds of Roma families are still without access to adequate housing or to labour market. Roma people continue to experience 'everyday racism', although the common discourse is that Roma do not want to integrate. The article will critically address the implementation and progress made with regards to the Portuguese NRIS addressing the underlying reasons for the lack of progress in these areas, while considering areas of limited progress and cautious optimism.
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