Appleby Horse Fair

June 18, 2026 Published by: Roma Foundation

Not so nice… Thousands of unsafe and counterfeit toys were seized during the Appleby Horse Fair, a major event for the Gypsy, Roma, and traveller community in the UK.

The toys lacked proper safety labeling and posed serious risks, including choking hazards, according to local authorities.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Group emphasized the importance of safety standards for children’s products and the need to protect cultural heritage events from criminal activities.

‘Unsafe’ toys seized at travellers’ fair. In: BBC. 17.06.2026. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy730e3rm0eo

News Eastern Europe Romania

Romanes in Romania

June 18, 2026 Published by: Roma Foundation

In Cluj County, the Romanes is taught in various educational institutions, both urban and rural, with over 5,000 students identified as Roma in the educational system. The teaching is supported by 7 Romani language teachers and 26 school mediators, aiming to reduce school dropout rates in the Roma community. The National Day of the Romani Language is celebrated on June 16, emphasizing the importance of protecting and promoting the language and cultural identity of the Roma community in Romania.

Peste 5.000 de elevi de etnie romă și rețea extinsă de predare a limbii rromani în școli și licee din județul Cluj. In: Cluj 24. 17.06.2026. https://cluj24.ro/peste-5-000-de-elevi-de-etnie-roma-si-retea-extinsa-de-predare-a-limbii-rromani-in-scoli-si-licee-din-judetul-cluj-295265.html

Moldova News Eastern Europe

Moldovan Mediators

June 18, 2026 Published by: Roma Foundation

The Moldovan government approved changes to the regulations governing community mediators to enhance their effectiveness in assisting Roma families in accessing public services.

Community mediators will now have expanded responsibilities, including identifying vulnerable individuals and facilitating their contact with relevant public services. The reform includes ongoing professional training for mediators and aims to improve service quality and resource efficiency, promoting social inclusion and educational access for Roma children.

Mediatorii comunitari nu vor mai trebui să fie obligatoriu romi. Schimbările aprobate de Guvern împart comunitatea. In: Radio Europa Libera. 17.06.2026. https://moldova.europalibera.org/amp/mediatorii-comunitari-nu-vor-mai-trebui-sa-fie-obligatoriu-romi-schimbarile-aprobate-de-guvern-impart-comunitatea/33783052.html
Mediatorii comunitari vor beneficia de formare profesională. Cum percep reprezentanții romi noile modificări incluse în regulament. In: Diez. 17.06.2026. https://diez.md/2026/06/17/mediatorii-comunitari-vor-beneficia-de-formare-profesionala-cum-percep-reprezentantii-romi-noile-modificari-incluse-in-regulament/

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Illegal Dumps

June 18, 2026 Published by: Roma Foundation

A roundtable discussion in Brod na Kupi in Croatia highlighted the illegal dumping and burning of waste by residents of the Gusti Laz area, raising concerns about environmental damage and public safety.

Local officials called for the relocation of part of the Roma population to more suitable living conditions, citing ongoing issues with crime and environmental degradation.

There is a significant debate over the labeling of the residents involved, with some officials arguing they should not be identified as Roma but rather as Croatian citizens, emphasizing the need for legal compliance and state intervention.

Sastanak o Gustom Lazu: “Zvali se oni Romi ili Hrvati, moraju iseliti nastave li nelegalne radnje”. In: Novi List. 17.06.2026. https://www.novilist.hr/rijeka-regija/gorski-kotar/sastanak-o-gustom-lazu-zvali-se-oni-romi-ili-hrvati-moraju-iseliti-nastave-li-nelegalne-radnje/