Category Archives: News Western Europe

Austria News Western Europe

Lackenbach

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Lackenbach

Approximately 4,000 Roma and Sinti were deported from the Lackenbach detention camp during the Nazi era, with only a few hundred surviving, most of whom were murdered.

The commemoration event emphasizes the importance of remembering these atrocities, which occurred within local communities, and the need to confront the past to ensure a peaceful future.

Political leaders stress the necessity of protecting minority rights and combating hate and discrimination as part of honoring the memory of the victims.

Germany News Americas News Western Europe

Memory

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Memory

Frieda Daniels, a 93-year-old former high-wire artist, shares her experiences during the genocide at the time of the Holocaust to educate younger generations about the atrocities faced by the Sinti and Roma community.

She and her family were persecuted by the Nazis, with an estimated 500,000 Sinti and Roma murdered during the genocide.

Now living in California, Frieda continues to travel and speak about her past, recently reflecting on her experiences during a visit to an exhibition in Heidelberg, Germany.

Greece News Western Europe

Roma in Greece

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Roma in Greece

Many members of the Roma community in Greece live on the margins of society, facing poverty, poor housing conditions, and limited access to education and healthcare.

Roma settlements are often located on city outskirts, lacking proper infrastructure and basic utilities, leading to high unemployment and social exclusion.

Despite government programs aimed at better integration, progress is slow due to deeply rooted barriers, including low education rates and widespread discrimination against the Roma.

Austria News Western Europe

Vienna Memorial Service

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Vienna Memorial Service

A memorial service for Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust will take place on August 2 at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, led by Auxiliary Bishop Franz Scharl, with a wreath-laying ceremony to follow.

Austria officially recognizes August 2 as a National Holocaust Remembrance Day for Roma and Sinti, commemorating the murder of approximately 4,300 individuals in Auschwitz in 1944.

The 30th Roma Pilgrimage to Mariazell is scheduled for August 9, celebrating faith and culture, with participation from Roma communities across Europe.

Austria News Western Europe

Austria and Roma

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Austria and Roma

In May, the police in Neusiedl am See issued a warning about a group of Roma in Parndorf, which sparked public outrage and criticism.

The warning referred to members of the ‘traveling people’ who were in the area, specifically a group of Roma from Alsace, France, and Germany, who frequently stop in Austrian communities during their travels to Evangelical Mission meetings.

It now turns out that the warning was vetted within the police …

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Ando Glaso

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Ando Glaso

The Ando Glaso Roma Fest, Scotland’s largest festival celebrating Roma arts and culture, will be held on September 4-5 at the University of Glasgow and Destiny Church, featuring free events including live music and educational activities.

The festival aims to promote Roma culture through performances by renowned artists and a focus on youth engagement, with activities designed to build confidence and community ties among young Roma talent.

Key performances include Hungarian pop star Jázmin and various Romani ensembles, with the festival supported by local organizations and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Germany News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Slovakia

Berlin Exhibition

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Berlin Exhibition

The exhibition “You Are All Our Children in One” opens at the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture in Berlin, exploring the ongoing impact of racial classification and forced sterilization on Roma and Sinti communities post-World War II.

Slovak artist Emília Rigová, who works under the pseudonym Bári Raklóri [Big (non-Romani) Girl], presents her work addressing the suppression of Roma identity through installations and performance art, including a piece on the forced sterilization of Roma women in Czechoslovakia.

Rigová shares her personal connection to the issue, revealing that her mother was sterilized without consent, which deeply affected her childhood and emotional world, highlighting the broader historical trauma faced by women in similar situations.

Greece News Western Europe

Greece and Roma

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Greece and Roma

The Regional Governor of Western Greece, Nektarios Farmakis, has signed the inclusion of two new social structures aimed at enhancing social cohesion, specifically for the Roma community in the municipalities of Ilida and Pindos, with a total budget exceeding €1.38 million.

The project in Ilida will provide personalized social support, educational interventions, and legal guidance to the local Roma population, which constitutes 9% of the area’s total population.

The initiative is part of a broader program to improve living conditions and promote equal participation of all citizens in social and economic life in Western Greece.

Europe France News Western Europe

Roma in Europe

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Roma in Europe

The European Union’s new strategy for combating discrimination against Roma, adopted on January 21, 2026, aims to address historical and institutional discrimination with more radical measures.

Roma, the largest ethnic minority in Europe, face significant socio-economic challenges, including high poverty rates and discrimination in access to education and healthcare.

The new strategy emphasizes education, equal rights, and political participation for Roma, while acknowledging the need to address broader societal issues that contribute to anti-Roma discrimination.

Greece News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Romania

Slavery

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Slavery

The article discusses the historical and contemporary devaluation of Roma lives, highlighting a 1852 advertisement for the sale of Roma slaves in Romania.

It explores the etymology of terms used for Romani people, noting the negative connotations associated with the word “Gypsy” and its implications of being marginalized and dehumanized.

The author reflects on societal attitudes towards Romani people, exemplified by the recent police killing of a young Romani man, emphasizing ongoing discrimination and violence against this community.

France News Western Europe

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Al the articles this week on Roma in France focused on two fires in two Roma camps in Nantes and Saint Herblain. In the “Prairie des Mauves” in Nantes, 10 hectares burnt down, most caravans were destroyed. In the other fire in Saint Herblain, nearly 8 hectares and several caravans burn down. Now nearly 200 people have nowhere to go.

According to the police, the fire in the Prairie des Mauves started when a car caught fire.

In Saint Herblain, one paper suggests that the Roma were invovled in planting canabis, although there are no proofs that the plants found were planted by Roma.

Austria News Western Europe

Harri Stojka

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Harri Stojka

Harri Stojka, born on July 22, 1957, in Vienna, is a prominent Austrian jazz guitarist known for blending jazz, blues, rock, and Roma musical traditions, which he calls “Gipsysoul.”

He began his musical career in the early 1970s, founded the Harri Stojka Express in 1973, and has performed internationally, gaining recognition for his work on Gypsy Jazz and his engagement with Roma culture.

Stojka has received numerous accolades, including the Golden Honorary Badge for services to the Republic of Austria, and continues to perform and release new music while advocating for the remembrance of Roma history and culture.

Greece News Western Europe

Social Integration

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Social Integration

The Greek Central Macedonia Region is implementing a targeted social integration program for vulnerable groups, allocating 3 million euros through regional funding to support Roma children and parents.

The program will cover seven municipalities with significant Roma populations, including areas in western Thessaloniki and the regions of Veria and Naousa.

The initiatives align with the National Strategy for Roma 2021-2030, aiming to enhance social cohesion and create a protective network for the most vulnerable social groups.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Trash – Continued

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Trash – Continued

The reality show “The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives” has faced backlash from the traveller community, who find it embarrassing and insulting, calling for it to be taken off air.

The show follows Trewley-Precious Wass, a TikTok star navigating her mixed Romani and non-Romani heritage, and her struggles with traditional gypsy rules imposed by her family.

Critics argue that the portrayal of gypsy wives in the show does not accurately represent the community and perpetuates negative stereotypes.

Greece News Western Europe

Police Operations

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Police Operations

Targeted police operations were conducted in Messinia, Argolis, and Corinthia as part of the Greek Police’s efforts to prevent and combat crime, particularly in areas inhabited by Roma communities. In Messinia, checks focused on camps in Meligalas, Panagakia, and Agia Triada, resulting in the arrest of 10 individuals for various offenses.

A 46-year-old Roma woman was arrested in Kalamata for not possessing a police identity card, and five traffic violations were recorded during the operations.

Seems meagre if, as the Greek press reports, Roma are responsible for the majority of the criminality in the country… What about the officials who embezzled millions of EU agrar help?

Greece News Western Europe

Heat and Roma

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Heat and Roma

The Community Center of Sparta conducted an awareness campaign to prevent heatstroke, focusing on local Roma settlements.

The initiative aimed to educate vulnerable populations about the dangers of extreme heat, particularly for children who are often outdoors during peak sun hours.

Social workers provided information and distributed illustrated pamphlets with safety tips to ensure the message was accessible to all age groups.

Nice but what about better housing?

Austria News Western Europe

Jenisch

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Jenisch

Markus Josl speaks Jenisch, a language influenced by German and Romani, which is now spoken by only a few people and is part of his cultural identity.

Jenische people share a mixed European culture with Roma, Sinti, and Jews, historically connected through travel and craftsmanship.

Josl, a Jenisch activist, aims to preserve his culture and language, advocating for political recognition of the Jenische as a distinct ethnic group in Austria.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Trash

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Trash

Trewley-Precious Wass, a 26-year-old TikTok star, is featured in Channel 4’s reality series “The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives,” showcasing her life as a half Romani gypsy and half Gorger.

The show highlights her struggle with family expectations, particularly regarding her career as an influencer, which contrasts with traditional Traveller customs.

Trewley-Precious has a unique full name and three sisters with equally distinctive names, and she shares a close bond with her brother, Jamie John, who supports her choices.

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Not much this week in France about Roma. A concert titled “Vent d’Est” in the South of France; the closure of acamp near Nantes will not be closed before next spring; and finally, an article about the accusation by the rightist oppposition in Nantes, that Roma were registered to vote (which by the way in legal for EU citizen to vote in local elections in France.

Austria News Western Europe

Roma in Burgenland

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Roma in Burgenland

The documentary “Roma in Burgenland – Stories We Tell Ourselves” by director Robert Dornhelm explores the history, culture, and current challenges faced by the Burgenland Roma, a group rooted in Austria for centuries but still facing prejudice and discrimination.

It spans from the 1930s to the present, highlighting the Roma’s vibrant culture through music, traditions, and personal stories, while also addressing their historical victimization.

The film features contributions from the Roma community and includes reflections on the legacy of figures like Charlie Chaplin, emphasizing themes of identity, memory, and dignity.

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