The Roma are human beings - but are they still being treated as such ?

The EU-MIDIS study, done by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in 2009, made it clear that Europe still has a long way to go before a minority group such as the Roma are completely integrated and able to enjoy equal opportunities. The study clearly confirmed that Roma people are still badly affected by discrimination and exclusion. According to Amnesty International, the Roma population in various European states, especially Hungary, Italy, the Czech Republic and Germany, are subjected to violent or even life-threatening attacks. Most live in pitiful humanitarian conditions, without adequate access to medical care, and are far more likely to be affected by poverty and unemployment than the average EU citizen. Although they are EU citizens, they are evicted from their settlements and homes, resettled, ejected, thrown out, deported. Amnesty International protests that this amounts to constant violations of their fundamental and human rights. In some countries, they must be registered on a fingerprint database (Italy) and others they are encouraged to leave (France). These measures justify the idea that the Roma may represent a security risk. Such stigmatisation and measures of this kind contravene not only their human rights, but also break national and European laws, which protect the freedom and dignity of individual citizens.

August 2010 : France expels several hundred Roma

The current French President, Nicolas Sarkozy

The name Sarkozy or Sarközy is common amongst Roma families from Central Europe, but the French President is making a name for himself as an agitator against the Roma.

Source :European Commission

France is currently making headlines as it breaks up countless Roma settlements. The front pages show pictures of unrest and violent spats between French police and Roma, and in August there were images of the deportation of around 700 Roma to their home countries of Romania and Bulgaria. French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that French citizens of foreign origin that were clearly involved in criminal activity would have their citizenship withdrawn, and in so doing meant to legitimise the deportation of Roma that had committed crimes. After all, according to EU law it is possible to limit freedom of movement and freedom of residence if the security and public health of a country is at risk. Sarkozy is also calling attention to the interim arrangement that applies to Romanian and Bulgarian citizens : after three months they must prove that they have a work permit and a residence permit, or they can be deported. The name Sarkozy or Sarközy is common amongst Roma families from Central Europe, but the French President is making a name for himself as an agitator against the Roma. In the fight against crime, he is not hesitating to link immigration or the Roma culture with criminality, and to tar all members of this minority with the same brush. Thus he is popularising and intensifying the existing stereotypes and prejudices that regularly lead to discrimination against the Roma and prevent them from integrating. However, he is ignoring the actual problem : the French Roma are in an utterly wretched situation. The gulf between them and the average population, as far as fundamental necessities such as housing, education and employment are concerned, is as wide as ever.

This is no solution

The deportation of Roma to Romania and Bulgaria will in no way solve this problem. It is probable that many Roma went to ground before the eviction, or moved on and will later return to France. The same goes for those officially deported : as soon as they have spent the payment given to them on leaving, they will head back towards France. Because the nomads will probably find living conditions in Romania and Bulgaria no better than those that caused them to leave their native land in the first place. The Bulgarian government is not interested in the homecoming of the Roma, who they no longer view as Bulgarian citizens and even see as criminals. Romania has also heavily criticised the French policy, but are barely tolerant of the Roma themselves. So the Roma, who in Romania often find themselves living packed into camps that offer no protection from cold or rain, remain in a more than precarious situation. Romania and Bulgaria have neither the political will, nor sufficient capacity or resources, to ensure the reintegration of the deportees. So the latter will once again head off across Europe, in search of a better life. Therefore this deportation is expensive, inefficient, and ultimately the antithesis of a humane and European solution to the problem.

Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.....are the French measures legal ?

Sarkozy’s policy is facing strong criticism, not only from countless non-governmental organisations and the Catholic church, but also from the EU Commission and the French people. France, a bastion of human rights, a modern democratic country, excluding and expelling its minorities ? That is something of an oxymoron. The EU Commission has expressly asked France to respect EU regulations regarding freedom of movement and freedom of residence within the EU. Theoretically, it is possible to deport EU citizens who have broken a country’s law, but this measure should only be applied in extreme circumstances and surely does not legitimise the deportation of a whole group based on their ethnicity. In addition, every case must be considered on an individual basis. Before EU citizens can be deported, they must be given information about the reasons for their deportation, their circumstances must be examined, they must be guaranteed the opportunity to appeal the decision and given a deadline for their departure.

Ideas for a common solution and action already taken in the EU

An advertisement for International Roma Day at EU Commission headquarters in Brussels

The EU has already made several attempts to improve the situation for Roma living in EU Member States - so far with mixed success

Source :Guillaume Paumier, flickr.com

The current riots show that ultimately a solution will have to be found on a European level. This discrimination against the Roma as a social group, them being expelled and deported from their homes, and their precarious circumstances, are not exactly classic examples of EU ideals such as democracy, solidarity, participation or tolerance in action. What efforts have been made up until now, and why have they been more or less in vain ?

On a national level, many countries have made an effort, albeit in completely different ways. They have also launched programmes, but all too often these have been carried out only half-heartedly or have not been given adequate funding. The EU supports the consideration of Roma interests in many EU measures and political strategies as well as regional projects and organisations for Roma integration. In cooperation with the Council of Europe, that has set up a Roma special committee, various initiatives have begun. The European Commission is also emphasising the common responsibility of Member States for the social integration of the Roma and has initiated different projects and activities. One of the special priorities of the European Youth programme (Youth in Action) in 2009 and 2010 has been the participation and inclusion of young people with a Roma background. Projects promoting Roma integration are also being supported with money from the European Social Fund and the Regional Development Fund. The programme “PROGRESS” has been launched, which aims to fight discrimination against this minority, to support non-governmental organisations that work in this field and to organise a campaign to increase awareness amongst EU citizens. In the years 2008 and 2010 Roma summits were held and a European Platform for Roma Inclusion was founded as a forum for the exchange of experiences between EU states and the promotion of common measures. Via this platform EU states have agreed on 10 fundamental principles for Roma inclusion.

Improvements have been made in several areas, but the problem has not been tackled in any fundamental and sustainable way. A comprehensive and long term action plan is still lacking and disagreements between the Member States still exist. Several are accusing Romania and Bulgaria of passing their problem with the Roma on to other countries. However, Romania and Bulgaria cannot force Roma to remain within their borders, no more than the host countries improve the Roma’s situation by ignoring their arrival. Instead cooperation between EU Member States needs to be improved and it should be ensured that Member States are implementing EU directives regarding equal opportunities. 24 of the EU states are already facing infringement procedures respecting these directives. Money from the Structural Funds and the Regional Development Fund should be used effectively to improve the Roma’s situation. Another suggestion is the appointing of an EU commissioner for Roma affairs, who will ensure that the interests of the Roma are not ignored, that long-term integration programmes are initiated and that public awareness is increased.

Successful integration versus loss of cultural identity

Up until now the many integration initiatives have had little success. One reason for this is certainly the fact that they were not implemented correctly, or their implementation was not really supervised, and that the Roma continue be the victims of discrimination. However another reason is the uncooperative attitude of the Roma, who want to protect their identity from the influences of modern Western society. A lack of education, employment and housing can probably only be dealt with if the Roma partially adapt to the culture that is offering them a better chance at life. But can we ask the Roma to adapt and give up a part of their cultural identity ? Or is it possible for them to remain true to their culture and traditions and to integrate themselves into the host society at the same time ? In addition the Roma population is very heterogenous - whilst most are settled, others are still nomads. In any case, it is essential that the host society has a positive attitude. Often the Roma way of living is not met with tolerance, openness and interest, but their culture is instead devalued and they are accused of not wanting to integrate. So it is not simple to find a balance between modernity and tradition, or integration and autonomy, and nor is it easy to find a solution that works on both a national and an international level. But the Member States can learn from one another and there are countries in which this balance has been found. In Sweden, for example, there are schools in which students learn about the Roma and Roma culture. 2010 is the European year for fighting against poverty and social exclusion, and this current situation is virtually crying out for a solution. So it is time to act and finally break the cycle of merely shifting responsibility on to somebody else.

Main initiatives of the EU

• Organisation of the European Roma Summit (2008 and 2010)

• Founding of the European Platform for Roma Inclusion (representatives from European governments, the EU, international organisations and Roma organisations) in 2009 : common basic principles, new measures, exchanging experiences

• Roma network (Euromanet) : 12 Member States that want to work together to use the Structural Funds to support Roma integration and improve the programme’s efficiency

• Support and funding of projects and organisations, as well as research in this field

• Cooperation with Roma organisations and international organisations

Headline photo : Hidden side, flickr.com