Category Archives: News Western Europe

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Bologna: A campaign against discrimination

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Bologna: A campaign against discrimination

The Italian press reports on a campaign in Bologna against discrimination of migrants. Once again (we already reported on this), the campaign focuses on Rroma. The theme has always been immigrants and work, and shows posters of Rroma who work in various jobs.

Well done.

France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Frances defends itself on Rroma policies at the UN

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Frances defends itself on Rroma policies at the UN

France had to defend itself in the United Nation after having been criticised on its policies towards Rroma, especially in their camp closures as well as for tolerating an increasingly anti Rroma discourse in the country. Noting that the prime minister Valls himself made statements that can only be qualified as very depreciatory if not racist towards Rroma (they cannot integrate etc.), one cannot but agree with this assessment of the UN.

France insisted that its policies were not geared against minorities but rather were done because of the illegal nature of these camps and also to “protect” their inhabitants against insalubrious living condition. The latter argument could be taken as valid if France would respect its own recommendations to find alternative lodging to people in those camps.

France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

France: Camps closure again, and a few other news …

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France: Camps closure again, and a few other news …

A camp was closed and evacuated in Nantes, this case a camp of Manouches, as these were in caravans and cars. In Pringy, Rroma are squatting a disaffected factory.

The mud that was dumped on a Rroma camp in Hautbourdin in the north of France still makes the news, this time on a report of people helping Rroma in the region to integrate; and in Nantes, the press reports that for picking up the Mai lily.

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Amnesty: Who are Rroma

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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.

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

Rroma conference in Ulm

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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.

Italie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Italy: Rroma Petition the Pope

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Italy: Rroma Petition the Pope

Rroma are petitioning the Pope to prevent evictions from their camps due to the so-called “Year of Mercy” Jubilee in Rome. Authorities in Italy tend to “park” Rroma in makeshift camps that are under NGO and police surveillance. These camps are still provisional, although many of them exist since decades.

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

Discrimination is not acceptable

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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!

France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Meanwhile, in France

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Meanwhile, in France

Hautbourdin, the commune where the mayor dumped mud on a Rroma camp to force its eviction is still in the French headlines. In some papers such as La Voix du Nord, there is some understanding towards those actions, stating that mayors do no longer know what to do, while in other papers, such as Nord Éclair, one reports on counteractions of people incensed at the actions of the mayor.

Clearly, he was not right. And there should be consequences.

In Lyon, Rroma started squatting an empty building, while close to Paris, the fire brigade was called due to a fire in a Rroma camp (one of the excuses used by the authorities to close them). And clearly, the tour de presse could not be complete without three Rroma being arrested for burglary.

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

Critics already started on the European Roma Institute

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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

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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.

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

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.

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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.

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

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.

France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

France: Expulsions, as usual … But also solidarity

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France: Expulsions, as usual … But also solidarity

In Hautbourdin, in France, the Mayor evacuated the local Rroma camp by dumping three truckloads of manure according to international press or mud, according to the French sources. The camp in the North of France was under evacuation order, nevertheless, the actions of the municipality go beyond decency and legality.

Volunteers and people showing solidarity went to the camp and plated crosses in the fresh mud.

Another camp was expulsed in Bron, in the Rhone region and another one in Henin-Beaumont, also in the North, while in the Grenoble region, they report on a large camp with an evangelical preacher.

Finally, in Sevran, a round table and a festival has been organised to explain who the Rroma in France truly are. The round table, held on the 17th, had a minister and several Rroma activists.

Bulgarie République tchèque France Italie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest 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.

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

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.

République tchèque France Grèce Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

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.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Addressing Anti-Tziganism …

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Addressing Anti-Tziganism …

An important part of the fight against prejudices towards Rroma is learning about their history and previous persecutions, such as the Holocaust. This is key, for only when one deals with one’s past can one actually shape one’s future.

The article assess that there have not been sufficient efforts to change the perceptions towards Rroma in the general population and only when this occurs, can one hope for a better future.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Rroma in Rome denounce savage attack by police

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Rroma in Rome denounce savage attack by police

Rroma in Rome’s outskirts are denouncing what they qualify as a savage attack against hem by the police which left a young girl injured after the police used pepper spray and guns against Rroma who had been displaced the night before due to fire in their immigrant reception centre the night before.

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

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.

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