Category Archives: Bulgaria

Bulgaria and Islam

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Bulgaria significantly increased state funding for religions, including Islam, in an attempt to prevent radical Islam. The bad point here is that the Roma are mentioned in the same sentence together with radical Islam. And while many Roma are Moslems, up till now they haven’t radicalised at all. Anyhow, best weapon against this is integration …

– La Bulgarie légifère pour mieux contrôler l’islam radical. In: i24 Europe. 21.12.2018. https://www.i24news.tv/fr/actu/international/europe/191452-181221-la-bulgarie-legifere-pour-mieux-controler-l-islam-radical [link-preview url=”https://www.i24news.tv/fr/actu/international/europe/191452-181221-la-bulgarie-legifere-pour-mieux-controler-l-islam-radical”]

Bulgaria: Weapons …

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The extreme right and anti-Roma Bulgarian MP Angel Dzhambaski was arrested at Sofia’s airport with a weapon…

– Bulgarian MEP Angel Dzhambazki was Detained with Weapon at Sofia Airport. In: Novinite. 27.11.2018. https://www.novinite.com/articles/193517/Bulgarian+MEP+Angel+Dzhambazki+was+Detained+with+Weapon+at+Sofia+Airport?fbclid=IwAR2PxLlRkP7d7lvxC0x2QdfsSrjGlRuyiUB2QRFCiQYggFVedQpVbAfbIR0 [link-preview url=”https://www.novinite.com/articles/193517/Bulgarian+MEP+Angel+Dzhambazki+was+Detained+with+Weapon+at+Sofia+Airport?fbclid=IwAR2PxLlRkP7d7lvxC0x2QdfsSrjGlRuyiUB2QRFCiQYggFVedQpVbAfbIR0″]

Bulgaria: Mothers Manifest

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Mothers of handicapped children have been manifesting in Bulgaria to complain about the help they get and about the minister in charge, Mr. Simeonov who said disparaging things about Roma suggesting among others that they created the handicaps so as to get money from the state.
He should be fired.

– Bulgarie : des mères d’enfants handicapés contre le pouvoir. In: Handicap. https://informations.handicap.fr/art-bulgarie-mamans-enfants-handicap-Simeonov-63-11306.php [link-preview url=”https://informations.handicap.fr/art-bulgarie-mamans-enfants-handicap-Simeonov-63-11306.php”]

Roma in Bulgaria

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Two articles on the situation of Roma in Bulgaria. They somewhat miss the point – Integration was quite extensive in Bulgaria, the situation deteriorated after the fall of communism and with the rise of nationalism…

– LES ROMS DE BULGARIE : DES CITOYENS EUROPÉENS QUI VIVENT DANS DES GHETTOS. In: Taurillion. 29.10.2018. https://www.taurillon.org/les-roms-de-bulgarie-des-citoyens-europeens-qui-vivent-dans-des-ghettos
– L’INTÉGRATION DES ROMS DE BULGARIE EN 15 ANS : « C’EST POSSIBLE » ! In: Taurillion. 30.10.2018. https://www.taurillon.org/l-integration-des-roms-de-bulgarie-en-15-ans-c-est-possible [link-preview url=”https://www.taurillon.org/les-roms-de-bulgarie-des-citoyens-europeens-qui-vivent-dans-des-ghettos “]

Sliven, Bulgaria

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Bad news from the North Eastern Bulgarian town of Sliven indicating the tense relations between Roma and authorities.
Bad.

– Nine detained for assaulting police officers in Roma neighbourhood. In: Focus News Agency. 19.10.2018. http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/10/19/435192/nine-detained-for-assaulting-police-officers-in-roma-neighbourhood.html [link-preview url=”http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/10/19/435192/nine-detained-for-assaulting-police-officers-in-roma-neighbourhood.html”]

Plovdiv – Destructions

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The city of Plovdiv has started destroying “illegal” Roma houses in the Mahala of Sheker.
Bad.

– Demolition of illegal Roma homes in Plovdiv began amid heavy police presence. In: Focus. 17.10.2018. http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/10/17/435146/demolition-of-illegal-roma-homes-in-plovdiv-began-amid-heavy-police-presence.html [link-preview url=”http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/10/17/435146/demolition-of-illegal-roma-homes-in-plovdiv-began-amid-heavy-police-presence.html”]

Bulgaria and Extreme Right Politicians

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The rape and murder of Viktoria Marinova, a journalist took yet another turn after it was reported that the suspect, a Bulgarian arrested in Germany, is apparently a Rom.
This was immediately seized by right wing politicians who anyhow speak about “Roma Terror”…
Bad.

– Marinova murder grist to mill of Bulgaria’s far-right politicians. In: The Sofia Globe. https://sofiaglobe.com/2018/10/12/marinova-murder-grist-to-mill-of-bulgarias-far-right-politicians/ [link-preview url=”https://sofiaglobe.com/2018/10/12/marinova-murder-grist-to-mill-of-bulgarias-far-right-politicians/”]

Education and Segregation

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An article on the education of Roma in Bulgaria and the de-facto segregation of schooling – with disastrous results.

– Wenn Bildung zur Sackgasse wird. In: Deutschlandfunk. 08.10.2018. https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/bulgarische-schulen-fuer-roma-wenn-bildung-zur-sackgasse.795.de.html?dram:article_id=429956 [link-preview url=”https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/bulgarische-schulen-fuer-roma-wenn-bildung-zur-sackgasse.795.de.html?dram:article_id=429956″]

Bulgaria and Roma Schools

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Nearly a third of Roma children in Bulgaria are going to Roma only schools. With bad results.

– Bulgarien: Roma-Schulen als Sackgasse. In: Deutsche Welle. 14.09.2018. https://www.dw.com/de/bulgarien-roma-schulen-als-sackgasse/a-45472186 [link-preview url=”https://www.dw.com/de/bulgarien-roma-schulen-als-sackgasse/a-45472186″]

German Child Benefits

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The polemic on the German child benefits reached the Balkan Press …

– Romanians, Bulgarians Accused of Abusing German Child Benefits. In: Balkan Insight. 10.08.2018. http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/romanians-and-bulgarians-targeted-as-benefits-abusers-in-germany-again-08-10-2018 [link-preview url=”http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/romanians-and-bulgarians-targeted-as-benefits-abusers-in-germany-again-08-10-2018″]

Forced Labour

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Not a surprise, unfortunately, but the Mafia is exploiting Bulgarian Roma as cheap labour in Southern Italy.

– Bulgarian Roma – Labor Force Under Mafia Control in Southern Italy. In: EUScoop. https://www.euscoop.com/en/2018/7/23/bulgarian-roma-work-force-mafia-control-southern-italy [link-preview url=”https://www.euscoop.com/en/2018/7/23/bulgarian-roma-work-force-mafia-control-southern-italy”]

Slovakia and Others

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A new program was launched in several countries. It aims to develop initiatives that further the public dialogue and abolish the increasingly sharp divides between Roma na d the rest of the population as well as and deducing radicalization in a polarised society in seven countries (Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany).

– Ako práčovňa na Horehroní rieši problémy nezamestnanosti Rómov. In: TV SME. 04.07.2018. https://tv.sme.sk/v/36852/ako-pracovna-na-horehroni-riesi-problemy-nezamestnanosti-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://tv.sme.sk/v/36852/ako-pracovna-na-horehroni-riesi-problemy-nezamestnanosti-romov.html”]

Bulgaria and Integration

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The Bulgarian parliament rejected the 2017 monitoring report on Roma integration. The rejection is seen as a move against the minister in charge of Roma integration Valery Simeonov (Deputy Prime Minister).

– Parliament rejects 2017 monitoring report on national strategy for Roma integration. In: Focus. 14.06.2018. http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/06/14/431470/parliament-rejects-2017-monitoring-report-on-national-strategy-for-roma-integration.html [link-preview url=”http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/06/14/431470/parliament-rejects-2017-monitoring-report-on-national-strategy-for-roma-integration.html”]

French Chronicle …

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The news this week in France are dominated by criminality. A ring of Bulgarian Roma was arrested near Toulouse for having exploited people for mendicity, allegedly holding them like slaves and even torturing them. Bad indeed. Near Paris, other Roma are being investigated for the theft of over a million Euros of smartphones. Finally, a large fight in a Roma camp in Triel sur Seine resulted in 6 arrestations.
Then, in Nice, a rightist politician wants to forbid begging. This has never been a solution and is totally ineffective. This is pure demagogism.
The rest of the news are the usual ones: In the North, some land is being set aside for Roma; in Tours, some Bulgarian Roma camping by the river will be expulsed; and near Paris, Roma are squatting an empty house, much to the anger of neighbours.

– Mendiants violentés, esclavagisme, torture… Ce qu’on sait sur le réseau démantelé à Toulouse. In: Actu.fr. 08.06.2018. https://actu.fr/occitanie/toulouse_31555/mendiants-violentes-esclavagisme-torture-ce-quon-sait-sur-reseau-demantele-toulouse_17199842.html
– Toulouse : démantèlement d’un réseau de Roms bulgares exploitant des mendicants. In: Europe 1. 08.06.2018. http://www.europe1.fr/societe/toulouse-demantelement-dun-reseau-de-roms-bulgares-exploitant-des-mendiants-3676148
– Réseau de mendicité et traite d’êtres humains : opération de police dans un camp de Roms à Toulouse. In: Actu.fr. 05.06.2018. https://actu.fr/occitanie/toulouse_31555/reseau-mendicite-traite-etre-humains-operation-police-camp-roms-toulouse_11816177.html
– Vaste opération de police à Toulouse. In: Toulouse 7. 05.06.2018. https://www.toulouse7.com/2018/06/05/vaste-operation-de-police-a-toulouse/
– Seine-et-Marne et Oise : six Roms mis en examen pour un million d’euros de smartphones volés. In: Le Parisien. 05.06.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-et-marne-77/seine-et-marne-six-roms-mis-en-examen-pour-un-million-d-euros-de-smartphones-voles-05-06-2018-7754601.php
– Triel-sur-Seine : violente bagarre au camp de Roms, craintes de représailles. In: Temps Réel 78. 08.06.2018. https://tr78.fr/triel-sur-seine-violente-bagarre-au-camp-de-roms-craintes-de-represailles
– Nice: Dans les rues, la mendicité sera bientôt interdite. In: 20 Minutes (FR). 06.06.2018. https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2284683-20180606-nice-rues-mendicite-bientot-interdite
– Nice : Christian Estrosi va prendre un arrêté contre la mendicité. In: Europe 1. 06.06.2018. http://www.europe1.fr/societe/nice-christian-estrosi-va-prendre-un-arrete-contre-la-mendicite-3673064
– Bientôt un terrain, mis à disposition par la ville, pour les familles roms du Pont-Royal. In: La Voix du Nord. 08.06.2018. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/393106/article/2018-06-08/bientot-un-terrain-mis-disposition-par-la-ville-pour-les-familles-roms-du-pont
– Les Roms des Iles Noires condamnés à l’expulsion ? In: La Nouvelle République. 09.06.2018. https://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/indre-et-loire/commune/la-riche/les-roms-des-iles-noires-condamnes-a-l-expulsion
– Thorigny-sur-Marne. Une maison abandonnée est squattée, les riverains vivent « l’enfer ». In: Actu.fr. 07.06.2018. https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/thorigny-sur-marne_77464/thorigny-sur-marne-une-maison-abandonnee-est-squattee-riverains-vivent-lenfer_17145526.html [link-preview url=”https://actu.fr/occitanie/toulouse_31555/mendiants-violentes-esclavagisme-torture-ce-quon-sait-sur-reseau-demantele-toulouse_17199842.html “]

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

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The Bulgarian authorities have begun destroying “illegal” houses, i.e. undocumented constructions, in the Stolipinovo neighbourhood of Plovdiv. Stolipinovo is one of the largest mahala (Roma neighbourhood) in the city.

– Събарят незаконните постройки в кв. Столипиново в Пловдив. In: Novini. 22.05.2018. https://www.facebook.com/Novini.bg/videos/1873962609337056/ [link-preview url=”https://www.facebook.com/Novini.bg/videos/1873962609337056/”]

Germany and Bulgaria

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Stolipinovo is the largest “mahala” or Roma neighbourhood in Plovdiv. Many of its residents are now working on a regular basis in Germany – generally short term manual work in construction. And this has an influence on Stolipinovo itself. A story of two worlds!

– How the ‘Germans’ are changing the largest Roma enclave in Europe. In: Deutsche Welle. 08.04.2018. http://www.dw.com/en/how-the-germans-are-changing-the-largest-roma-enclave-in-europe/a-43298822 [link-preview url=”http://www.dw.com/en/how-the-germans-are-changing-the-largest-roma-enclave-in-europe/a-43298822″]

Access to Justice

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There is a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (CAHROM) from Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Spain in Helsinki (Finland), on 21-23 March 2018, to discuss access to justice for Roma, and especially for Romnja.

– CAHROM thematic visit on Roma and Traveller’s access to justice (with a focus on women). In: Council of Europe. 14.03.2018. https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/cahrom-thematic-visit-on-roma-and-traveller-s-access-to-justice-with-a-focus-on-women- [link-preview url=”https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/cahrom-thematic-visit-on-roma-and-traveller-s-access-to-justice-with-a-focus-on-women-“]

It is good but …

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Good intentions – getting poor Roma children to school, wrong presentation, especially for Bulgaria. This country had until recently one of the most integrated Roma minority with many of them having completed higher education.
Roma in Bulgaria are Orthodox or Moslems. Why convert them? Religion and humanitarian help are not the best friends.

– Bulgaria: ACN project encourages Roma children to go to school. In: Independent Catholic News. 12.03.2018. https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/34499 [link-preview url=”https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/34499″]

Roma, Work, and Slovenia

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Although the high rate of Roma unemployment in Central and South-Eastern Europe is often attributed to a low level of education and professional skills, one of the more important reasons is discrimination that prevents Roma from entering the labour market on an equal footing.
Integration into the labour market should be a priority in promoting a full social inclusion. Some steps towards this goal were made by the recently completed two-year international Working Roma project, which included the Novo Mesto Society for the Development of Volunteer Work.
As project coordinator Tina Cigler says, in the Working Roma project, partners from nine European countries have tried to develop new tools to prevent intolerance against Roma in the labour market, thereby increasing their employment prospects. The tools and recommendations were developed on the basis of study visits by partner countries, consultations within different groups and good practices that we detected in our partner countries: Italy, Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Greece, Malta and the United Kingdom.
Let’s see.

– Se zaposlovanju Romov obetajo boljši časi? In: Dolenski List. 28.02.2018. http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2018/02/28/191553/novice/dolenjska/Se_zaposlovanju_Romov_obetajo_boljsi_casi/ [link-preview url=”http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2018/02/28/191553/novice/dolenjska/Se_zaposlovanju_Romov_obetajo_boljsi_casi/”]

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