News Eastern Europe Archives - Page 227 of 267

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High electric meters discriminate against Rroma

July 26, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

The European court of Justice has issued a warning against the Bulgarian electricity company which installed electric meters at a height that renders them inaccessible, this in a predominantly Rroma part of Dupnitsa. According to the court of justice, this constitutes “ethnic discrimination”.

High electric meters discriminate against Roma. In: West. http://www.west-info.eu/high-electric-meters-discriminate-against-roma/
Les compteurs électriques trop haut pour les Roms. In: Ouest France. 16.07.2015. http://www.ouest-france.fr/discriminations-les-compteurs-electriques-trop-haut-pour-les-roms-3565484

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Residents from Garmen in Sofia’s street protest

July 26, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

In a further escalation of the conflict in Garmen, around 150 residents from Garmen staged a protest in Sofia to request the demolition of 120 “illegal” Rroma houses in their village.

This escalation of an already festering problem will not resolve anything, and is providing ammunition to populist politicians on the overall minority “issue” in Bulgaria.

This has to stop!

Bulgaria’s Garmen Residents Rally in Sofia over Illegal Roma Dwelling. In: Novinite. 18.07.2015. http://www.novinite.com/articles/169949/Bulgaria’s+Garmen+Residents+Rally+in+Sofia+over+Illegal+Roma+Dwellings

News Eastern Europe

Polish Documentary

July 26, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

For a change, something that is not in the news. A video, 28 minutes, on Polish Rroma in 1964, just before they were forbidden to travel. While it is definitively edited and in parts staged (see the chicken scene), we know several of the people who are seen in the movie… And yes, it was like this.

Zanim Opadna Liscie. https://vimeo.com/118700281

Bulgaria Germany Italy News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Romania

There is no invasion …

July 26, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

According to the Council of Europe, and this in spite of what populist politicians claim, there has been no “invasion” of Rroma from Bulgaria and Romania since citizen from these countries have been granted free circulation within the EU. The Council of Europe criticises the “unfounded” numbers cited by the press in the migration debate in several European countries, such as the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.

We wholeheartedly agree!

Il n’y a pas “d’invasion” de Roms, selon le Conseil de l’Europe. In: French.China.org. 17.07.2015. http://french.china.org.cn/foreign/txt/2015-07/17/content_36079477.htm

Germany News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Serbia

Report on a Rrom refugee from Serbia

July 26, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

An article on a Rrom who fled Leskovac in Serbia and is now in Germany. He has few chances to stay as Germany has decreed Serbia to be a safe country, but still hopes he can stay.

Roma-Flüchtling berichtet von Diskriminierung. In: Südkurrier. 17.07.2015. http://www.suedkurier.de/region/bodenseekreis-oberschwaben/markdorf/Roma-Fluechtling-berichtet-von-Diskriminierung;art372484,8008660

Lithuania News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Holocaust educators visit Lithuania

July 26, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

US Holocaust educators from Florida visited Lithuania to share and develop strategies on some of the controversial aspects (i.e. local participation) of the Holocaust; to better understand what happened in Lithuania; to learn international law; to understand prejudices and to fight against them. On prejudice, they will also discuss the one against Rroma. Let’s see!

Holocaust educators visit Lithuania. In: The Sun Sentinel. 13.07.2015. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/florida-jewish-journal/news/palm/fl-jjps-chhrellithuania-0715-20150713-story.html

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: OSCE urges Bulgaria to halt evictions

July 26, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

The OSCE has been urging Bulgaria to halt the evictions of Rroma in the village of Garmen. Gerge Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR) also added: “Politicians should lead by example and refrain from anti-Roma rhetoric to gain support from the electorate.”

We agree wholeheartedly!

OSCE Urges Bulgarian Authorities to Halt Evictions of Roma. In: Novinite. 13.07.2015. http://www.novinite.com/articles/169856/OSCE+Urges+Bulgarian+Authorities+to+Halt+Evictions+of+Roma

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

British delegation visits Jarovnice

July 18, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

A delegation of British police officers has been visiting the Rroma settlement of Jarovnice in Eastern Slovakia to understand the issues faced by Rroma in Slovakia and the ones that they face when migrating to other countries.

British delegation visits Roma settlement in Jarovnice. In: The Slovak Spectator. 08.07.2015. http://spectator.sme.sk/c/20058681/british-delegation-visits-roma-settlement-in-jarovnice.html

News Eastern Europe North Macedonia

Rroma Refugees: Interview with the Macedonian Rroma Minister

July 18, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

An interesting interview of Nezdet Mustafas, the Rroma minister without portfolio of the Macedonian government on the motivations of refugees and the situation of Rroma in Macedonia in general. To take with a grain of salt, as Mustafas is working for the ultra nationalistic current government of Macedonia.

Roma-Flüchtlinge: „Keine Familie geht leichten Herzens“. In: Rhein-Neckar Zeitung. 08.07.2015. http://www.rnz.de/politik/suedwest_artikel,-Roma-Fluechtlinge-„Keine-Familie-geht-leichten-Herzens“-_arid,110886.html

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia: Opposition wants better housing condition for Rroma

July 18, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

The Slovenian opposition Alliance (ZaAB) wants to introduce a new law in parliament aimed at providing better housing condition for Rroma in that country.

ZaAB Wants to Secure Better Living Conditions for Roma with Law. In: STA. 07.07.2015. https://english.sta.si/2154117/zaab-wants-to-secure-better-living-conditions-for-roma-with-law

News Eastern Europe

Budapest 8th District

July 18, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

Another report, this time on TV on the tours of the notorious 8^th District of Budapest. These tours, organised by local Rroma offer a view of a part of town that is usually not on the tourist itineraries.

Budapest’s central 8th district tours promote cultural understanding. In: CCTV.07.07.2015. http://english.cntv.cn/2015/07/07/VIDE1436263200584506.shtml

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Garmen again

July 18, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

Another report on the village of Garmen where houses were destroyed last week. The families continue to live in the houses and refused social assistance as a protest for their evictions.

Roma People in Garmen Refuse Social Assistance. In: Novinite. 06.07.2015. http://www.novinite.com/articles/169681/Roma+People+in+Garmen+Refuse+Social+Assistance

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria – Garmen again

July 5, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

A long article on the village of Gramen in Bulgaria where ethic tensions came to a boil a while back and on which we have already reported.

Bulgarien: Bulldozer gegen Roma-Hütten. In: Spiegel Online. 04.07.2015. http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/bulgarien-mobilmachung-gegen-roma-a-1041544.html

Hungary News Eastern Europe

OSCE tells Hungary to sort out Rroma housing

July 5, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

The OSCE stated in a report, that greater effort were required in Hungary to find sustainable non discriminatory housing solution for Hungary’s Rroma minority. Well done, and yet another proof of what is really going on there.

OSCE: Roma need sustainable, non-discriminatory housing solutions. In: Budapest Beacon. 02.07.2015. http://budapestbeacon.com/public-policy/osce-roma-need-sustainable-non-discriminatory-housing-solutions-for-roma/24904

Germany Kosovo News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Germany: Expulsions of Rroma from Kosovo continue

July 5, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

An article about a Rroma family from Kosovo which are due to be deported back to Kosovo.

Sechsköpfige Familie steht vor der Abschiebung. In: Halterner Zeitung. 29.07.2015. http://www.halternerzeitung.de/staedte/haltern/Hilfe-fuer-Kosovaren-Sechskoepfige-Familie-steht-vor-der-Abschiebung;art900,2750988

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Czech town wants the army to deal with migrants

June 28, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

The city of Usti nad Labem, which is already known for issues with Rroma and general racism (they once built a wall around a Rroma settlement), has called for the army to deal with the problem of Rroma, be they locals or migrants, often from neighbouring Slovakia.

Are they totally out of their mind? The army is not there to deal with migrants, nor to improve security, this is the affair of the police and of the law.

Czech town calls for army deployment to deal with Roma migrants. In: Daily Telegraph. 24.06.2015. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/czechrepublic/11697126/Czech-town-calls-for-army-deployment-to-deal-with-Roma-migrants.html

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Prejudice against Jews and Rroma in Bulgaria

June 28, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

A US State department report on Bulgaria notes the increased prejudice against Jews and Rroma as well as the increasing number of incidents related to ethnicity. The press, according to the report, describes Rroma and other minorities in “discriminatory and abusive language”, thus contributing to the issue.

Scary…

Rights report notes anti-Semitic rhetoric, prejudice against Roma in Bulgaria. In: Sofia Globe. 25.06.2015. http://sofiaglobe.com/2015/06/26/rights-report-notes-anti-semitic-rhetoric-prejudice-against-roma-in-bulgaria/

News Eastern Europe

European Roma Right Center slams Slovak Government

June 28, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

The European Roma Right Center (ERRC) slammed the Slovak government on the second anniversary of the police raid in the Rroma settlement of Moldava nad Bodvou on June 19, 2013. The police violence and actions have not been investigated at all, especially the question of the necessity of such a raid.

European Roma Rights Centre slams Slovak government for settlement raid. In: The Slovak Spectator. 25.06.2015. http://spectator.sme.sk/c/20058394/european-roma-rights-centre-slams-slovak-government-for-settlement-raid.html

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Council of Europe wants clear goals for the inclusion of Rroma and disabled

June 28, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

While we certainly greet the fact that the council of Europe wants to advance its Human Rights Goals as well as the statements of its commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, the journalists should have taken care of his formulation in the title… The story is somewhat different if you are disabled or if you are Rrom in Slovakia.

Council of Europe: Set clear goals for including Roma, disabled. In: Slovak Spectator. 22.06.2015. http://spectator.sme.sk/c/20058301/council-of-europe-set-clear-goals-for-including-roma-disabled.html

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe News Switzerland

Switzerland pays 8 Mio CHF to Bulgaria for Rroma Integration

June 28, 2015 Published by: Roma Foundation

Switzerland just signed an agreement with Bulgaria providing 8 Mio Swiss Francs to the municipalities of Burgas, Ruses, and Sliven to further Rroma (and other minorities) inclusion, centring on education and basic health care. In view of the more and more extremist views of the general population towards minorities and Rroma in particular, this in a country that used to be tolerant, one wonders whether this is the right approach.

Switzerland Provides CHF 8 M for Roma Integration in Bulgaria. In: Novinite.06.2015. http://www.novinite.com/articles/169398/Switzerland+Provides+CHF+8+M+for+Roma+Integration+in+Bulgaria