Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

Bulgarie France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Roumanie

French “Normality”: Summer expulsions

Published by:

French “Normality”: Summer expulsions

The French Press is again full of news on forced eviction of illegal Rroma camps in France. This is nearly the only news that is given about Rroma in France.

Several articles are devoted to the evacuation of the camp in Saint-Herblain near Nantes. In this case, these are to a large extent French Rroma / Manouches, and not newer migrants from Romania and Bulgaria.

Other than that, a camp emptied in Argenteuil; another one in Limeil-Brévannes; one in Bonneuil-Limeil; while a Rroma camp is blocking the reconversion of a former prison in Loos; and in Ivry, Rroma are appealing against an imminent expulsion. Finally, Rroma who were recently expulsed are asking the prefect for new lodging, as is required by the French law prior to an eviction.

Albanie France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Roumanie

French Prefect in front of tribunal

Published by:

French Prefect in front of tribunal

The prefect of Lyon, Mr. Michel Delpuech, has to appear in front the administrative tribunal of Lyon following a complaint from about 60 Romanian Rroma who were expulsed from their illegal camp by order of the prefect. There is a further complaint from Kosovars and Albanians for the same reason. The Prefecture states that there is no legal basis for asking to be re-lodged, as this is purely required for asylum seekers and not for EU citizen.

We hope he gets convicted…

France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Roumanie

France: Integration is also possible

Published by:

France: Integration is also possible

An nice article on a young Rrom from Romania who managed to get out of the camps, get a job, a flat, and a nearly normal life.

It shows that in spite of Mr. Valls’ statement that Rroma cannot integrate that they do, given the chance.

Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Hungarian Rroma Murders – Conviction upheld

Published by:

Hungarian Rroma Murders – Conviction upheld

The appellate court in Budapest upheld the first instance judgment against the perpetrators of the hate crimes against Rroma in Hungary. Three of the perpetrators are sentenced to life without parole, while another forth one to 13 years in Prison.

République tchèque Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Roumanie Slovaquie

European Commission slams Slovakia

Published by:

European Commission slams Slovakia

The European Commission criticised Slovakia for systematic discrimination of Rroma children in education. It started legal proceedings for breaches of EU anti-discrimination law, referring to discrimination against Roma children in education. After the Czech Republic where such a procedure was started in September 2014, this is the second country in Europe that is being targeted.

Segregation in schools has been common in both the Czech and Slovak republics, but also exists in Romania and in Hungary. The practice of sending Rroma children systematically to schools for mentally disabled people is unfortunately also part of this pattern.

We welcome these actions!

République tchèque Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovak Police trains their Czech counterparts

Published by:

Slovak Police trains their Czech counterparts

The Slovak police is training their Czech counterparts in dealing with the Rroma minority. Looking back at the latest scandals in Slovakia where police brutality against Rroma is common and widespread, one can ask whether this is really a good idea.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles suisses Roumanie

Romania: Between poverty and the hope of integration

Published by:

Romania: Between poverty and the hope of integration

Swissinfo reports on Swiss help for Rroma in villages in Romania and on the fact that the Swiss government is making Rroma a priority for their foreign aid, especially to Romania and Bulgaria.

The report focuses on an initiative of Terre des Hommes, funded by the Swiss government in several villages in South Western Romania.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Roumanie

Sweden Municipality hires wrong translators

Published by:

Sweden Municipality hires wrong translators

The Swedish municipality of Helsingborg hired Rroma translators instead of Romanian translators in order to communicate with Romanian immigrants. Needless to say that most Romanians did not understand a word, showing that contrary to people’s beliefs, not all Romanian immigrants are Rroma …

République tchèque Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Roumanie

Amnesty International condemns the Czech Republic for segregation

Published by:

Amnesty International condemns the Czech Republic for segregation

alJazeeraAmnesty International condemned the fact that the Czech Republic has failed to comply with a European court order to stop placing Roma children in schools for the mentally disabled regardless of the students’ capabilities. Placing Rroma in schools for mentally disabled people has a long tradition in the Czech and Slovak republics as well as in Hungary and Romania. This is simply no longer acceptable in the 21. Century.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles suisses Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Amnesty: Who are Rroma

Published by:

Amnesty: Who are Rroma

amnestyAmnesty wrote a FAQ sheet on Rroma. Not bad, but still perpetuating some stereotypes. Rroma “travelled from place to place”. This is clearly false in many places, in the Balkans but also in Western Europe. Pity that they couldn’t get over their stereotypes.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Police Brutality in the Slovak Republic

Published by:

Police Brutality in the Slovak Republic

The Slovak Police raided the village of Vrbnica on April 3rd to seek people who faiuled to show up for prison sentences. Rroma activists state that the police action was brutal and violent, and showed their injuries. The police had not been using cameras, making any proof of these allegations extremely difficult, but this raid and the violence is reminiscent of another case in Moldava nad Bodvou.

Fact is, the police there is prone to use violence against minorities and has an extremely negative view of Rroma. This has to change.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Turkish PM pledges to help Rroma

Published by:

Turkish PM pledges to help Rroma

The Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has pledged to help Rroma with an 11 legal article commitment during a meeting in Istanbul with Rroma representatives. This is pretty much a first, as the dominant AK party has been more eager to evict Rroma rather than to help them, as in the case of the Sulukule neighbourhood in Istanbul. Fact is, “Çengene”, the name Turks give to Rroma is still very much of a swearword in that country. Let’s see what comes next.

Allemagne Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Rroma conference in Ulm

Published by:

Rroma conference in Ulm

More than 100 organisations from various countries around the Danube gathered in Ulm, Germany, to discuss the situation of Rroma in Europe. Consensus seems to be that the Rroma are the losers of the changes that followed the fall of communism, and that in spite of the Rroma decase that started in 2004, their situation has gotten worse.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Discrimination is not acceptable

Published by:

Discrimination is not acceptable

The EU Parliament newspaper published an article by Tanja Fajon on Rroma discrimination in Europe and stating that this is no longer acceptable. Rroma are after all Europeans!

Hongire News Americas Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Canada toughens legal assistance requirements

Published by:

Canada toughens legal assistance requirements

Following a scathing report on lawyers who did not defend Rroma refugees from Hungary properly, the Ontario state has passed a slate of new measures requiring competency tests for lawyers. There were a number of cases that were lost due to the incompetency of lawyers, resulting in several expulsions back to Hungary.

Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Hungary: Rroma only schools

Published by:

The Hungarian supreme court allowed Rroma only religious schools in that country. The Hungarian minister for Education, Integration, and Human resources had been supporting the views from the schools who had lost a case in lower instances. The EU and the Chance for Childrne Foundations were clearly against it.

So are we… Segregation on any reason is not an answer. The answer is integration.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Critics already started on the European Roma Institute

Published by:

Critics already started on the European Roma Institute

Several critiques were already aimed at the newly created European Roma Institute, especially. Yaron Matras, a renowned linguist and Rroma specialist led the charge: It already questions the “Roma led” side of the initiative; lobs a few well aimed barbs at the “Roma Decade” also initiated in part by the Open Society Foundations and a de facto failure; but mostly fears that such an institute would prevent free academic research, as people who were meant to be part of the ERI, openly criticised the fact that research so far has been devoid of Rroma input and scholars, and is thus biased.

We can side with the concerns of the academics, as such an institute can easily turn into a watchdog for political correctness, on the other hand, we have to side with the ERI, saying that many scholar writing on Rroma wrote fairly idiotic thing too, and in total impunity. This is not to say that all research is bad, but it is often very limited (a small group in a specific country), and perpetuates fake research such as the one from Wlysslocky, a 19th century “scholar” who wrote totally inept facts but is still cited by all scholars…

So let’s hope and see!

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Creation of a European Roma Institute

Published by:

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.

Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Zigeuner / Gypsy

Published by:

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 Italie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Serbie

Turkish article criticises Italy, France, and Serbia on Roma

Published by:

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.

rroma.org
fr_FRFR
en_GBEN de_DEDE fr_FRFR