Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Creation of a European Roma Institute

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Creation of a European Roma Institute

The Open Society institute, together with the European Union announced the creation of a European Roma Institute, aimed at celebrating and showcasing the rich Rroma culture.

According to George Soros, “the Institute will celebrate Romani heritage while also recording the Romani experience and acting as a vibrant creative hub. It will be a place for Roma in the arts to work together and connect with the creative community across Europe for the exchange and development of ideas. Through its events, exhibitions, and performances the Institute will seek to educate the wider public on the richness and greatness of Roma culture and achievement. Institutionally, it will also act as a policy advisor to the Council of Europe and member states, seeking to establish partnerships with similar bodies around the world.”

The key element lies in the last point. If it can successfully influence policies in Europe and contribute to diminish the stigma still associated with this minority, then, this is great. Otherwise, critics such as Yaron Matras (see below) may well prove to be right.

Hungary News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Zigeuner / Gypsy

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Zigeuner / Gypsy

The German Paper the TAZ launched a controversy when they published an article entitled “Political Correctness: Me, a Gypsy” (Politische Korrektheit; Ich, Zigeuner). The author, starting with the “Zigeunerschnitzel” argues that in some countries, such as in Hungary, Rroma call themselves Cigany, so – Tsigan / Gypsy. There is thus nothing bad in using the word, it depends on its utilisation, as in any other case.

The article is written by a young intern from Hungary, Tobor Racz who is a Cigan … It prompted some fiery reactions from various quarters, most notably from the page “Sag Nicht Zigeuner.

France Italy News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Serbia

Turkish article criticises Italy, France, and Serbia on Roma

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An article in Daily Sabah, a Turkish based paper, sharply criticised the handling of Rroma in Italy, France, and in Serbia. Especially on the Italian side, their critique is to the point and seldom mentioned in the Press in Europe: Namely that in many cases in that country, Rroma are artificially segregated into camps and prevented from integrating. Police and NGO are working hand in hands on this. And these Rroma in camps are only a minority … Like iN France.

News Eastern Europe

Sulukule: Gentrification is stopped

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Sulukule: Gentrification is stopped

Years after Rroma were expelled from their oldest settlement in Europe, from the neighbourhood of Sulukule in Istanbul, the plans from the ruling AK party who intended to gentrify that part of town have now been cancelled.

This stop follows a ruling of the court of appeal against the government-based project. The court basically did not accept the government arguments that the development plans were for the good of the public.

Bravo, but pity it took so long, as Rroma are now mostly gone.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Documentary on Rroma in Bulgaria

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Documentary on Rroma in Bulgaria

Gregori Stoev filmed for a year in the Mahala – the Rroma quarter – of Kjustendil, a city in Bulgaria. This documentary shatters the usual stereotypes of poverty, hopelessness, and shows that the neighbourhood also has middle class and even rich Rroma who are working, have education, etc.

According to the author, people who have seen the movie have had to re-think their views on Rroma.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

European Roma and Traveller Forum in Slovenia

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A round table with the European Roma and Traveller Forum criticized the lack of access to drinking water in some of the Rroma settlement in Slovenia. It is to be noted that Slovenia has a tiny Rroma minority.

Hungary News Americas News Eastern Europe

Canada Mission to Miskolc, Hungary

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Canada Mission to Miskolc, Hungary

An official Cancadian delegation is currently visiting Hungary to understand the reasons and true situation of the 40 to 50 families from the region who fled Miskolc and asked for asylum in Canada. This exodus is due to the expulsion currently under way in a Rroma neighbourhood, to make way for a parking lot for a football stadium. Rroma were pushed outside of the city. This action initiated by the mayor has already generated quite a bit of noise. Let’s see what the Canadian officials come back with, and let’s hope that they will see these were illegal expulsions.

Meanwhile, Canada expulsed a Hungarian criminal kingpin who trafficked people into Canada, coaching them to tell they were persecuted Rroma. Neither he nor most of his victims were Rroma …

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Green Party sues Rroma Autonomy in Hungary

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The Green party (LMP) is currently suing the Roma Autonomy, the Rroma self Government on Hungary for lack of transparency. They had requested information as allowed by the law but have not yet received anything.

The Roma Autonomy has been shrouded in controversy. One of his previous heads in under investigation, the current one is close to the Orban government, and anyhow the effectiveness of this organisation is far from proven.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

England: Rroma accused of Human Trafficking

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England: Rroma accused of Human Trafficking

The Daily mail published a lurid article on a Rroma family who trafficked Czech immigrants and who were subsequently forced into effective slavery and mistreatment.

Human trafficking is a criminal offense and we fully condemn the acts of that family. However, the Daily Mail, by stressing the ethnicity of the offenders further the amalgamation in the public of Rroma to criminal migrants. This is totally racist and should not be tolerated.

Bulgaria Czech Republic France Italy News Eastern Europe News Western Europe North Macedonia

ERRC Criticises several countries on Rroma

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ERRC Criticises several countries on Rroma

The European Roma Right Centre criticised several European countries on their handling of Rroma in general and on very particular cases too, such as in the case of France.

France, Macedonia, Italy, Czech Republic, and Bulgaria were cited.

News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Romania

Testimony of a Romanian Rromni

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Testimony of a Romanian Rromni

A Romanian Rromni speaks out on past discriminations, current issues, and her views on the situation of Rroma. She says it right: You cannot dump people in camps and then say, it is their way of life. It is not.

Czech Republic France Greece News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Amnesty International in appeal for Rroma in Europe

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Amnesty International launched an appeal on the international Rroma day on April 8th, denouncing prejudices against Rroma that still prevail in Europe and give rise to violence and exclusion. They specifically cite the Czech Republic, France, and Greece in this appeal.

News Eastern Europe

International Roma Day: Ongoing discrimination and exclusion

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International Roma Day: Ongoing discrimination and exclusion

While many countries mark the international Rroma day on April 8th, discrimination, exclusion, and ongoing issues are still the norm for many Rroma in Europe. Europe should mark the day and remember its largest transnational European minority.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria issues statement on International Roma Day

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Bulgaria issued a statement on the International Roma Day today. While we greet the fact that the country acknowledges its minority (about 10% of the population for the last thousand years), the situation in Bulgaria has gotten much worse for Rroma in the last few years. Segregation, racism, and discrimination are on the rise. Let’s stop this in a country where Rroma have been integrated for so long!

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Life behind the wall…

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Life behind the wall…

A propos Bulgaria. In Vidin, in the North Western part of the country, the Rroma settlement, the Mahala, is hidden behind a wall. This is new, for a few years back, the wall and this segregation was not there. Yes, there was a Rroma Mahala – neighbourhood – as in the entire Balkan, exactly like there were Turkish, Armenian, Jewish, Bulgarian neighbourhoods in all Balkan cities. But not a wall. And not segregation. And certainly not for “security” as is being claimed by the municipality.

This has to stop!!!!

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia observes International Roma Day

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Slovenia observes the international Roma day with the presence of the Culture minister. This country has a tiny Rroma minority. Unfortunate choice of picture on the article which furthers standard stereotypes… But discussion is always welcomed.

Hungary News Americas News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Canada: Systematic discrimination against Rroma refugees

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Canada: Systematic discrimination against Rroma refugees

CBC News report that Rroma refugees in Canada, mostly from Hungary, have been facing massive bias and discrimination in their cases. The report making this claim, authored by Sean Rehaag, a law professor, is damning for the immigration authorities in Canada. He speaks of “luck”, of little hope at appeals, and at denials at the actual situation of Rroma, especially in Hungary.

Bulgaria France News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Rroma camps, thieves, and the usual clichés … France

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Rroma camps, thieves, and the usual clichés … France

Rroma camps still make the headlines in France. As if a small minority of 15 thousand Rroma was representative and was news. News is that they are being used, misused, and are becoming victims of French politics.

In Marseilles, a camp was closed; while in Antibes, the expulsion will have to wait a little; and in the North, around Roubaix, volunteers and Rroma are still mobilising to further integration and to prevent further expulsions; and in the South West of France, an expulsion of Bulgarian Rroma is reported while in Antibes, they are getting a short respite. Finally, In Nantes, a judge granted a permanent address to Rroma currently living in a camp, are-requisite to any integration in France.

The real pity is not the fate of these migrants, it is the fact that the French Press can’t seem to get over their short sighted stereotypes…

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Russia

Prague: A Rrom is a member of the Prague Minority Committee

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Prague: A Rrom is a member of the Prague Minority Committee

As more than 5% of the Prague population is officially a member of one of the recognised minorities, the city is mandated by law to establish a minority council. Besides Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Jews and Rroma are also represented.

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