Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria, Crime, and Roma

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Bulgaria, Crime, and Roma

Sociologist Alexey Pamporov argues that organized crime is not exclusive to Roma communities but is a result of deep poverty and institutional neglect. He highlights that similar illegal groups exist globally in areas like Rio de Janeiro, Hamburg, and Paris, where law enforcement is often absent.

The lack of educational and job opportunities for youth leads them to be drawn into criminal activities as an easy alternative.

SociolHe also criticizes the institutional blindness towards illegal wealth, highlighting the presence of luxury cars owned by unemployed individuals without legal repercussions.

The involvement of children of high-ranking officials in criminal activities complicates justice efforts, and there are concerns about lenient sentences for offenders, which discourage victims from testifying.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Michalovce, Slovakia

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Michalovce, Slovakia

In Michalovce, there is a significant Roma community facing several issues, with housing being the most serious problem.

The city plans to build rental apartments in the settlement, offering hope for change.

Many Roma students choose the Alexander Dubček Secondary Vocational School in Vranov nad Topľou for better opportunities, but not all manage to complete their education; a new scholarship program could help improve this situation.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia: New Project

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Slovenia: New Project

A new Slovenian project addresses the prevention of early and forced marriages, gender equality, women’s empowerment, and combating anti-Roma sentiment to enhance the skills of public officials working with the Roma community.

A training session was held online on June 12, 2026, focusing on various aspects of working with Roma youth, emphasizing inter-institutional cooperation and the role of social work centers. The training included presentations from government representatives and educational leaders, highlighting the importance of education in the lives of Roma youth and sharing best practices in inter-institutional collaboration.

Nice, but what is the impact?

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma and Religion

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Roma and Religion

A new scientific study by sociologist Dragan Todorović explores the religious identity of Roma in Serbia, focusing on the growth of Protestant communities among them.

The study highlights the impact of religious changes on the daily lives, education, family relations, and social integration of the Roma community, particularly in southern Serbia.

Participants in the book promotion emphasized the importance of understanding the relationship between religion and social development to improve public policies for the vulnerable Roma community.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma History

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Roma History

Višnja Višnjić Milić won an award for her ethical reporting on Roma history and Holocaust remembrance, focusing on the suffering of Roma during World War II.

Her program “Građanin” highlighted the experiences of Roma in two concentration camps, showcasing journalistic integrity and high ethical standards. Milić emphasized the importance of creating understanding and dialogue about marginalized communities, viewing the award as motivation to continue her work against discrimination.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria and Transgender

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Bulgaria and Transgender

This article alleges that the gang known as “Kalashniks” has taken control of the transgender sex work market, primarily involving Roma individuals, with many providing services for high rates.

Sources indicate that around 90% of transgender sex workers are of Roma descent, and the gang profits significantly from this operation, reportedly earning around 100,000 euros monthly. There are allegations of coercion and exploitation within the community, with concerns that many Roma gay men are forced into sex work as transgender women for the gang’s benefit.

As usual, “sources” are not named …

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Appleby Horse Fair

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Appleby Horse Fair

Not so nice… Thousands of unsafe and counterfeit toys were seized during the Appleby Horse Fair, a major event for the Gypsy, Roma, and traveller community in the UK.

The toys lacked proper safety labeling and posed serious risks, including choking hazards, according to local authorities.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Group emphasized the importance of safety standards for children’s products and the need to protect cultural heritage events from criminal activities.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Romanes in Romania

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Romanes in Romania

In Cluj County, the Romanes is taught in various educational institutions, both urban and rural, with over 5,000 students identified as Roma in the educational system. The teaching is supported by 7 Romani language teachers and 26 school mediators, aiming to reduce school dropout rates in the Roma community. The National Day of the Romani Language is celebrated on June 16, emphasizing the importance of protecting and promoting the language and cultural identity of the Roma community in Romania.

Moldova News Eastern Europe

Moldovan Mediators

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Moldovan Mediators

The Moldovan government approved changes to the regulations governing community mediators to enhance their effectiveness in assisting Roma families in accessing public services.

Community mediators will now have expanded responsibilities, including identifying vulnerable individuals and facilitating their contact with relevant public services. The reform includes ongoing professional training for mediators and aims to improve service quality and resource efficiency, promoting social inclusion and educational access for Roma children.

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Illegal Dumps

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Illegal Dumps

A roundtable discussion in Brod na Kupi in Croatia highlighted the illegal dumping and burning of waste by residents of the Gusti Laz area, raising concerns about environmental damage and public safety.

Local officials called for the relocation of part of the Roma population to more suitable living conditions, citing ongoing issues with crime and environmental degradation.

There is a significant debate over the labeling of the residents involved, with some officials arguing they should not be identified as Roma but rather as Croatian citizens, emphasizing the need for legal compliance and state intervention.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Lucie Fukova

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Lucie Fukova

Lucie Fuková resigned as the Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs due to disagreements over the new coordination system for the Romani agenda, which she believes undermines her ability to fulfill her vision for the role. She highlighted concerns that transferring the Romani agenda to the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry could reinforce negative stereotypes about Romani people being associated with social issues.

Fuková emphasized her achievements in fostering dialogue, combating antigypsyism, and promoting Romani participation in decision-making during her tenure, while vowing to continue advocating for Romani rights despite her resignation.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Unemployment in Serbia

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Unemployment in Serbia

Roma face high unemployment and discrimination, often leading them to work in the informal economy with low-paying jobs.

Marko, a 25-year-old from Kraljevo, struggled for three years to find a job after completing his hospitality education, facing consistent rejection due to prejudices against Roma. His experience reflects a broader issue in Serbia, where many Roma encounter similar barriers in the job market.

The articles discuss the broader challenges faced by Roma, including high unemployment rates, lack of access to education and healthcare, and the prevalence of working in the informal economy.

The BBC one emphasizes the need for targeted support and educational opportunities to improve the employment prospects of Roma, particularly women, who face additional discrimination and economic dependency.

Greece News Western Europe

Greece and a Dead Nurse

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Greece and a Dead Nurse

A nurse died in Nafplio. According to several early reports the 55-year-old nurse collapsed while on duty at the General Hospital, reportedly due to a cardiac arrest during a tense situation involving injured Roma. The incident apparently escalated when relatives of the injured Roma reacted aggressively after being informed that no doctor was available, leading to threats against medical staff. The number of articles reporting this and accosing Roma is so long that we cannot publish it here.

Now, the story is somewhat different, highlighting a bias against Roma in the Greek press. Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis clarified that the death of a nurse in Nafplio hospital was not related to violence from a Roma family, who were concerned about their unconscious child. The hospital workers’ union president stated that the nurse should not have been in the emergency department at that time, as she was not on duty.

Bosnia News Eastern Europe

Bosnian Unity

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Bosnian Unity

Leaders of Roma organizations in Bosnia emphasize unity among Roma to improve living conditions, education, and employment opportunities. Future collaboration will focus on joint projects, youth support, and preserving Roma culture while strengthening ties with local communities.

The situation for Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina is gradually improving, with education and community involvement seen as key to further progress.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Brawl in Bulgaria

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Brawl in Bulgaria

The leader of the Roma neighborhood “Kremikovtsi” in Garmen municipality, Krasi Aydarov, was hospitalized after a brawl in the area.Following the incident, police were dispatched to prevent escalation as a group of his friends and relatives gathered outside the hospital.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the clash, and the situation remains under control.

Bad

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Louisa Price

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Louisa Price

Louisa Price, known as the ‘queen of Gypsy queens’, is being honored in an exhibition celebrating Romany and Gypsy culture in Walsall, where she lived for over 70 years. The exhibition also highlights the contributions of Pat Collins, a prominent fairground businessman and politician, who played a significant role in the local community and served as Walsall’s MP and mayor.

The event aims to celebrate the diversity of Walsall and recognize the historical presence of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities in the area.

Germany News Western Europe

Reaction against AfD

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Reaction against AfD

The German AfD party publicly humiliated Roma individuals in Gelsenkirchen by forcing them to clean the streets, which sparked a response from the art exhibition “Radikale Hoffnung” that addresses resistance against racism.

The exhibition features works by Roma artists, including Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, who highlights the struggles of Roma women against discrimination, and Selma Selman, who critiques societal exclusion through performance art. The exhibition emphasizes the importance of collective action and social justice, linking historical labor struggles to contemporary issues of marginalization and identity loss.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Young Roma

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Young Roma

The Romanian National Meeting of Roma Youth took place in Brașov, focusing on civic engagement, leadership, and community development for young Roma aged 16 to 30 in Romania.

The program included discussions on civil society, project management, financial education, and the importance of Roma identity, featuring speakers from various fields to inspire participants. The event aimed to foster dialogue among youth and representatives from student organizations, emphasizing the role of youth in civic participation and decision-making processes.

Moldova News Eastern Europe

Moldovan National Program

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Moldovan National Program

The central goal of the Moldovan Roma National 2027-2030 Program is to enhance social inclusion and ensure equitable access for Roma to education, health, employment, social protection, and public participation.

The program includes measures to combat discrimination, develop community mediators, and promote Roma culture, validated by a meeting involving various stakeholders including government representatives and civil society organizations. Emphasis is placed on reducing inequalities and increasing access to quality public services, with active involvement from all stakeholders deemed essential for the program’s success.

Hungary News Eastern Europe Serbia

Hungary and Roma

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Hungary and Roma

Under the new leadership of Prime Minister Peter Mađar, Hungary is taking significant steps to address discrimination against the Roma community, marking a historic moment in the country’s political landscape.

The new government includes four Roma parliament members, with Krištijan Kesegi becoming the first Roma vice president, signaling a shift towards greater representation.

Despite the positive gestures, Roma leaders remain cautious and are waiting to see if these symbolic changes will lead to real policy reforms and improvements in their socio-economic conditions.

However, Aba-Horváth István, a Roma minority spokesperson in Hungary, expresses disappointment over the loss of prestige in parliamentary representation for the Roma community, feeling they missed a historic opportunity for a genuine voice in parliament.

He criticizes the lack of cooperation from Debrecen representatives and the prevailing divisive political culture, which he believes undermines collaboration and community building.

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