The minister for human rights and minorities, Jiří Dienstbier, is to meet with the mayors of 36 towns and cities who are involved in a government programme to fight social exclusion. The talks will focus on the extent of progress made, the problems involved and the possibility of acquiring grants for various initiatives in support of social inclusion. A ten-year European initiative involving 12 European states with Romany minorities to improve their socio-economic status across the region ended earlier this year. According to national representatives it managed to raise awareness of the plight of Romanies, but failed to combat their segregation.