Hurt by prejudice

Their estimated number is eight million, over half are less than 18 years-old, they’re the largest minority group in the EU. However the data is inaccurate. With the entry of Rumania and Bulgaria in the EU the Rom, Sinti, and other nomadic populations have regained the attention of the EU. The groups of origin, their traditions and customs as well as their geographic dissemination are heterogeneous, while some problems are recurrent. Starting from the situation of minors, often marked by poor health state and dropouts (only 19% of children attend elementary schools). LIVIA JAROKA , Hungarian MEP of Roma origin, claimed: “My community is disappearing, killed by prejudice”. In her interview to SIR she affirmed that “the major problem for the Roma today is their lack of integration” in the various EU States.The Roma population is often victim of prejudice and marginalization. How would you explain this attitude? It is the same throughout Europe? Are there Countries that bear an exception?“Only few Member States are actually working to wipe out prejudice against the Roma community. This situation is the same also in those Countries with more advanced forms of legislation, such as Finland. There are nations however, where the image of the Roma community is subjects to greater discrimination and marginalization, this situation is nurtured by the media. Too often the television and the press issue sensationalist reports focusing on minor crimes failing to mention the positive elements, the cases of integration and the true capacities of the Roma population or of our traditions and culture. The media are far from mentioning the living situations in which the Roma population are confined in, where often they have to co-exist with mice!” Many Roma are citizens of the Eastern States of Europe and increasing numbers migrate to Spain, France, Italy, Germany and other Western countries. How come?“Ex-communist regimes such as that of Hungary, underwent strong changes after the fall of the Berlin Wall. However living conditions remain very hard, there are high levels of unemployment and minorities have to face many difficulties. The major problem of minority groups is survival. This is why they choose to leave and settle down in those countries that seem to better respond to their needs”. Which are the necessary conditions for integration?“For a Romani community to be integrated it is necessary to guarantee primary education to children, job opportunities to adults, and the possibility of assistance to the elderly and the sick. In particular, a true openness to diversity is required which in European Countries never translates into action. European societies in general don’t respect diversity and this includes the Roma community”. What should EU institutions do to promote the integration of the Roma?“EU institutions should compel Member States to implement action plans targeted at integration. These would have to envisage four major points: non-segregration in schools; a health system that does not exclude us; serious punishment for those who commit acts of discrimination; employment and vocational training. Institutions should not only offer guidance but also envisage direct interventions against those States which do not implement integration. In fact I am sure that the single Member States will not undertake these measure unless the EU compels them. Each government fears losing electoral support and the Roma become the victims of the electoral and political manoeuvres”. The Roma and the EU A recent poll by Eurobarometer – “Discrimination in the European Union”, 2007 – brought to light the fact that according to 77% of EU citizens, belonging to the Romani ethnic group is a social disadvantage. Percentages are higher in countries such as Sweden, Hungary, Spain, The Netherlands, Slovakia, while figures are lower in Bulgaria and Romenia, two States with the higher percentage of Roma. In recent years the EU Parliament passed a series of resolutions – the most renown in 2005 and 2007 – on Romani minors and women. The Commission is presently working on an “integration pact” that may include also an “charter of duties” for gypsies. On its part, the Civil Liberty, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament commissioned in July 2007 a cognitive survey on the situation of Romani minors which should terminate in 2008. Various bodies, among which the newly-established European Agency for Fundamental Rights in Wien, are trying to learn more about the Roma’s situation in Europe pointing out “integration difficulties, prejudice and also cases of child exploitation by the adults of the community (begging), female and male prostitution and domestic violence”.