Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovénie

Slovenia and Roma

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On World Roma Day, the President of the Slovenian Republic, Nataša Pirc Musar, organised a consultation in the presidential palace attended by members of the Council of the Roma Community and councillors from municipalities where Roma have the right to elect their representatives to the municipal council.

She bemoaned the lack of access to clean water, and the fact that the health and social services have let the Roma down in many communities.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovénie

Roma day in Slovenia

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According to the Slovenian Ombudsman, the Constitution guarantees equality to the Roma, but in fact they are pushed away and excluded from society. The president of the Association of Roma in Slovenia, Jožek Horvat – Muc, assessed that the situation of the Roma community in Slovenia is better than in many other countries, despite this, many problems remain. Many Roma settlements are still communally unorganized, there are challenges in the education of Roma children and the employment of adult Roma. In order to improve the situation, it would be necessary to renew some measures that have proven to be outdated and ineffective in recent years, he warned.

Montenegro Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Montenegro and Begging

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The President of the Montenegro Roma Council, Mensur Šalaj, warned that the problem of child begging is widespread throughout the country. According to the council, there are no systemic measures to fight child begging, and often only the consequences, and not the causes, of this phenomenon are dealt with.

République tchèque Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Czech Republic: Segregation?

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Speaking to the Upper House of the Czech Parliament last week, Senator Jana Zwyrtek Hamplová called mixing Roma and non-Roma students in schools “an unworkable idea.” According to her, separate classes would give Roma children a better chance of succeeding. These remarks have aroused strong criticism in a country where school segregation largely remains and is often criticized by international institutions. Hungary was recently condemned for exactly this reason.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Serbie

Roma in Serbia

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It is difficult to accept one’s Roma identity. All nations in Europe have a majority population, but Roma are a minority in all European countries. That they are the same and yet different is a realization that Roma arrive to very early.

Bojan Branković (34) tells DW that as a child from a mixed marriage, he grew up in a small community, in Trstenik. He experienced discrimination for the first time at school: “Given that I am a child of different cultures, there was prejudice in my primary school, at the expense of my mother, who is a Romni.”

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Serbie

Roma Days of Culture

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With the traditional greeting “Bibijako sastipe” (To the health of Auntie), the Days of Roma Culture began in Čačak, Serbia. These culture days will last from April 7 to 12,.

Bibija, Romani patron saint, healer and not yet canonized saint, is celebrated among Roma of the Orthodox faith. This celebration has been included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Serbia since 2019.

This year, Bibija will be commemorated in Čačak with a special program organized by Roma associations. The following will be organized: an exhibition, a traditional meal, performances by cultural and artistic societies and dance groups, film screenings and concerts by the bands Kal and Pretty Loud.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia and Roma Integration

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One year after the adoption of the first action plan of the Strategy for Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation until 2030, it will be necessary to strengthen communication and monitoring of the completion of the tasks. Ján Hero, the representative of the Slovak government for Roma communities, admitted it. Former Roma plenipotentiary, current Member of the European Parliament Peter Pollák Sr. points out that even the perfect strategy and action plan cannot improve the situation of marginalized Roma if all those involved do not make increased efforts.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Ukraine

Ukraine and April 8th

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A round table was held in Ukraine’s Commissioner’s Secretariat on the occasion of the International Roma Day. The discussion was attended by the management and representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman, Ukrainian state institutions, international and public organizations.

During the introductory speech, Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets noted that the issue of the status of national communities is one of the conditions for Ukraine’s accession to the EU, therefore this issue is extremely important for Ukraine as a whole and for the work of the Ombudsman’s Office. In particular, the protection of the rights of the Roma minority, which is one of the most vulnerable national communities.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Serbie

Vojvodina and Roma TV

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Acting General Director of Vojvodina Radio and Television, Jožef Klem, and the President of the National Council of the Roma National Minority, Dalibor Nakić, discussed the possibilities and ways to improve programs in the Roma language in Novi Sad. They also highlighted the problems that hinder further progress.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovénie

Slovenia and Roma

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The President of the Association of Roma in Slovenia, Jožek Horvat Muc, says that assessments of the situation of Roma in Slovenia vary, depending on who gives them, but in his opinion, this is better than in many other countries. Compared to other EU countries, the position of the Roma is relatively good, but there are also areas to which more attention should be paid, the President of the Roma Association, Jožek Horvat Muc, and the Director of the Office for Nationalities, Stanko Baluh, warn ahead of World Roma Day. In doing so, they highlight the areas of education, employment and security.

Frankly, this is not quite the truth. The situation is quite bad, as the press in Slovenia loves to highlight.

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

Germany: Deportations

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Germany has resumed the deportation of rejected refugees. This is particularly controversial in the case of Moldova. Most of the people from Moldova requesting asylum in Germany are Roma, and there, they are discriminated against.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia: 4 Books

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An article on 4 books about exceptional women. What is truly exceptional is that one of this book is one written by a Czech Romni Elena Lacková’s  called “I was born under a happy star”. The first author is Elena Lacková with her memoirs, the second is the Czech romani studies professor Milena Hubschmannová, who recorded them all, transcribed them and prepared them for printing.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Serbie

Serbia: Gala Evening for April 8th

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The Serbian Minister of Culture, Maja Gojković, said on the occasion of the gala evening in the House of the Army, organized on the occasion of the International Day of the Roma, that fostering friendship and coexistence, equally interwoven with victories and sufferings, the Roma today are an inseparable and extremely important and valuable part of our society.

Gojković pointed out that the Roma community is an integral part of society and that it has always considered Serbia its homeland, just like the Serbian people, and that it is important to make our climate a better place for both Serbs and Roma to live, as well as all other nations and national minorities that they live in Serbia.

Really????

Autriche République tchèque Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Čeija Stojka

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An article in the Czech press about Čeija Stojka, who survived the Holocaust, and went to write a book about it and paint.

She was a great woman.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Bulgaria, the Elections, and Roma

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The upcoming elections in Bulgaria represent a key moment both for the political crisis in the country and for its Roma. For too long, Roma have been systematically excluded from mainstream politics and left vulnerable to those in power. However, new anti-corruption parties have emerged that offer policies that offer hope for change.

While their efforts are laudable, they must recognize that systemic state failures are inextricably linked to the plight of the Roma and require a comprehensive approach to address them. Failure to do so risks perpetuating anti-Roma corruption, symbolism and racism. The election results will determine the lasting progress and stability of Bulgaria and whether the country can truly become an inclusive and fair democracy that represents all its citizens. The Roma refuse to be marginalized anymore and are determined to challenge the status quo to make their voices heard. It is up to the political class to recognize their ability and determination and work towards a more inclusive and just political system.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia, Work, and Roma

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A video on Roma and work. It cites Jan Hero, the plenipotentiary of the Slovak Government for Roma, who says that the society has not made great progress in employing Roma. But is also says that “some Roma simply do not want to work”.

Bad.

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

Brussel: Exhibition

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On the occasion of International Roma Day, Fidesz EP representative Lívia Járóka organized a contemporary art exhibition entitled “Time of the Gypsies” in honor of the diverse and special Roma culture and art in the EP building in Brussels.

By presenting the works of eleven Roma visual artists of Hungarian origin, the exhibition explores the unique perspectives of Roma visual art and describes its diverse style and specific traditions in its pictorial world.

Lívia Járóka is herself subject of controverses: She is firmly behind Viktor Orban, and thus in effect and in spite of her origins, supports discrimination and segregation of Roma in Hungary.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Bulgaria: Bleak future

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Bulgarian elections are coming, and with them articles about vote buying, especially in Roma communities. On one of the dark days of the last election week, the leaders of the Roma community in the neighborhood of the village of Kalipetrovo, located near Silistra, gathered for a cup of tea to share their grievance that “they promised to buy them a bicycle, but another time”. This other time, however, there are not even promises.

They are happy with their mayor, but one bird does not make spring. And they want simple things – a better life for the grandchildren they are raising while their sons and daughters are in England and somewhere else in the world.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Jan Hero on Employment

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The topic of employing disadvantaged applicants on the labour market is more and more a hot topic in Slovakia. According to the Association for Culture, Education and Communication, the finalists of the Roma Spirit award are a real proof of effectiveness in the inclusion in the employment of low-qualified persons. In this context, the government representative for Roma communities, Ján Hero, stated that the percentage of employed people from marginalized Roma communities is growing only very slowly, but the situation is improving. While meeting employers awarded within the framework of Roma Spirit, which took place this week in Poprad this week, Jan Hero stated:

“With segregation and non-inclusive approaches, the concentration of poverty multiplies, and it is very difficult to get out of that situation. We have experience that Roma people also get jobs outside their homes, but they often do not have a permanent job and thus even better housing is more inaccessible for them.”

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