138 PROMOTING AND PROTECTING MINORITY RIGHTS can also be used to aid Roma inclusion, for example, the Lifelong Learning Programme, the Youth in Action Programme, the Culture Programme and the Health Programme.171 European Platform for Roma Inclusion The European Commission promotes the active involvement of Roma in European decisionmaking, for example, through the European Platform for Roma Inclusion. Platform meetings bring together representatives of national Governments, the European Union, international organizations and Roma civil society to stimulate cooperation and exchange of experience on successful Roma inclusion policies and practices. Following the adoption of an EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020, the European Platform for Roma Inclusion has been reformed, so as to give it a stronger role in connection with the Framework process and to give the Commission the leading role in its operation.172 Minority rights and the European Union enlargement process A growing EU membership has been part of the development of European integration from the outset. In many countries which are currently candidates or potential candidates, persons belonging to minorities have been identified as being among the most vulnerable, which is why minority issues are a crucial element of the EU enlargement process. A number of resolutions of the European Parliament173 have highlighted the protection of minorities, particularly Roma, as being essential in an enlarged European Union. In most countries of the Western Balkans, for example, there are large numbers of refugees or internally displaced persons. Ambitious laws and strategies often lack sufficient implementing procedures and resources, and most minorities still suffer from discrimination, segregation and limited participation in politics, administration and business. An applicant country must meet certain political criteria, including respect for and protection of minorities.174 Similar references are included in the framework of the pre-accession process. Minority issues are regularly raised in political dialogue with candidate countries and, during accession negotiations, are included within “judiciary and fundamental rights”.175 The record of candidate and potential candidate countries on minority issues is also systematically assessed in annual progress reports published by the European Commission. For instance, the Croatia 2009 progress report176 stated that, while there has been some progress in the area of minority rights, cultural rights and protection of minorities in Croatia, many problems remain. Minorities continue to face particular difficulties in the area of employment, in terms of underrepresentation in both the State administration, judiciary and police and the wider public sector. The report highlights the fact that most Roma remain excluded from mainstream Croatian society and face difficult living conditions. NGOs and civil society organizations play a vital role in reforms carried out in candidate and potential candidate countries, and their work can prove crucial in determining the pace and quality of the accession process. The European Commission consults and cooperates closely with Regularly updated information on funding opportunities is available from http://ec.europa.eu/social/main. jsp?langId=en&catId=86 (accessed 4 December 2012). 171 See http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/roma/roma-platform/index_en.htm (accessed 4 December 2012). 172 Available from www.europarl.europa.eu/comparl/afet/droi/others/default.htm (accessed 4 December 2012). 173 European Council in Copenhagen, 21-22 June 1993, Conclusions of the Presidency, DOC/93/3. 174 For the purpose of accession negotiations, EU legislation is divided into 35 subject-related chapters. Further information on the mandate and the framework of accession negotiations is available from http://ec.europa.eu/ enlargement/index_en.htm (accessed 4 December 2012). 175 SEC(2009) 1333. 176