Romanian jazz artist Damian Draghici, of Roma ethnicity, was named state counselor for Roma issues to Prime Minister Victor Ponta. Draghici, the only Romanian who has received a Grammy award, will not be paid, but rather be an honorary counselor for the PM.

Draghici is one of the best known Romanian musicians abroad. In the past, he was ambassador for the Roma minority in the European Year of Equal Opportunities (2007) and in the European Year for Intercultural Dialogue (2008). Damian Draghici announced he would stop being a musician and had his farewell concert in 2011.

With this appointment, the Government also highlighted solutions to resolve the situation created after moving Roma people in the Craica area in Baia Mare into the buildings formerly owned by Cuprom. The National Agency for Roma submitted a complaint to the National Center against Discrimination against the Baia Mare mayor and city council, asking for an analysis and a decision on the public policies for Roma in Baia Mare. According to the complaint, the industrial space where the Roma were moved was not decontaminated prior to the move, nor made fit for habitation, infringing fundamental rights and freedoms.

editor@romania-insider.com