Tag Archives: Integration

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Roma Projects

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Slovak Roma Projects

A total of €335,845,065 was utilized last year to implement the action plan for the Strategy for Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation up to 2030. This is according to the monitoring report on the implementation of the action plans for the Strategy for Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation up to 2030 for the year 2025. The government is scheduled to review the document on Wednesday, October 7.

The Government Office of the Slovak Republic, which is submitting the report, specifies in the document that out of 159 activities designated for 2025, ten were successfully completed, 125 were in the implementation phase, 22 were in preparation, and two were assessed as unfulfilled. These tasks related to the field of education—specifically, supporting the acquisition of the Slovak language by pupils from Roma communities via their mother tongue through the creation of innovative teaching materials, and implementing activities to help pupils (including those from marginalized Roma communities) attain secondary vocational education.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Job Market

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Job Market

The United School in Čaklov is launching a project aimed at helping disadvantaged students integrate into the job market, with a budget of over 315,000 euros over 32 months.

The initiative will collaborate with a civic association working with Roma communities and a private sector representative providing vocational training. The project aims to strengthen social inclusion, connect education with practical skills, and create a pilot model for a simulated school integration social enterprise.

It will be interesting to see how many disadvantaged” students, aka Roma will find a job. One could then say if this was an efficient use of the money.

Bulgaria France News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Bulgarian Roma in France

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Bulgarian Roma in France

The Bulgarian Roma community in Moissac, France, is in conflict with local authorities, primarily due to issues of integration and social welfare abuse, as highlighted by Mayor Romain Lopez (Rassemblement National – an extreme right party).

The mayor has increased police presence and surveillance to control gatherings of the community, while community members feel targeted and discriminated against, claiming they must hide their origins to find work.

Tensions are rising as the local population perceives the Bulgarian community as a burden on social services, with some locals preferring workers from other countries, and the upcoming presidential elections may further exacerbate these issues.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and Roma

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Slovenia and Roma

The Roma Community Council of Slovenia has opened its first office in southeastern Slovenia, located in Kočevje, to improve connections with the Roma community, municipalities, and organizations in the region.

A full-time coordinator will manage the office, facilitating initiatives, sharing information, and enhancing communication between local Roma and the council.

Local and state representatives expect the office to foster better dialogue on issues related to education, employment, and the integration of Roma individuals.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Theatre

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Theatre

On September 18, 2026, the International Youth Center in Ruse hosted a youth theater event featuring forum theater, where Romanian youth presented social issues to a Bulgarian audience through improvised performances.

The plot focused on the experiences of a young Roma girl facing betrayal, stereotypes, corruption, and exclusion, intertwining with European values and contemporary issues faced by European citizens.

The initiative aimed to foster dialogue, tolerance, and active civic participation among youth from Bulgaria and Romania, emphasizing the rights and values of European citizens.

Austria News Western Europe

Braunau …

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Braunau …

Braunau am Inn celebrates the 25th anniversary of the RoSi-Rastplatz, a unique project supporting Roma and Sinti travelers, recognized for promoting integration and tolerance.

The anniversary features two cultural events: a film screening of “Black Cat, White Cat” and a reading by author Karl-Markus Gauß, highlighting minority cultures.

The RoSi-Rastplatz has received multiple awards for its contributions to civil courage and human rights, emphasizing the importance of peaceful coexistence.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Inclusion of Marginalised Communities

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Inclusion of Marginalised Communities

The Slovak Government Council for the Inclusion of Marginalized Roma Communities held its first meeting on September 22, 2026, in Bratislava, focusing on procedural operations and the current status of EU funds for Roma inclusion.

The Council aims to propose and coordinate effective public policies for the integration of marginalized Roma communities, aligning with Slovakia’s commitments to Roma inclusion and the Slovakia Program 2021-2027.

Key discussions included the implementation of the Slovakia Program budget, recommendations from the final evaluation report, and preparations for the National and Regional Partnership Plan for 2028-2034.

Greece News Western Europe

Roma in Greece

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Roma in Greece

A meeting was held between Thessaly’s regional governor, Dimitris Koureta, and representatives of the Roma community to discuss issues related to education, health, employment, and housing.

Key challenges faced by Roma communities in Thessaly were addressed, with a focus on school dropout rates, access to health services, and the need for targeted interventions.

The governor emphasized the importance of dialogue and collaboration with Roma representatives to develop specific proposals for funding and improve living conditions for Roma families in the region.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Barber Story

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Barber Story

Mihácsi Patrik, a Roma barber shop owner in Győr, refuses to be seen as a victim and is proud of his heritage, actively helping disadvantaged children through his business.

His barbershop was vandalized with a racist slur, prompting local support from the Jojó Box Club, which offered solidarity and a voucher to the shop.

Patrik emphasizes the importance of challenging stereotypes about Roma people and believes in the value of character over ethnicity, showcasing positive examples through his work and community involvement.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Czech Consul Torak

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Czech Consul Torak

Petr Torák, Czech Honorary Consul and director of the British NGO COMPAS says that “If Roma are not integrated and segregation deepens, it will have a massive impact on how the majority society perceives them.” “When I was a teenager in the Czech Republic, I wanted to show everyone that, even though I am Roma, I could be just as capable as anyone else,” he recalls.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenian Project

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Slovenian Project

The project has involved over 200 Roma individuals from three municipalities, focusing on individual and family counseling, educational support for children and youth, and workshops to promote education and social inclusion.

Concrete activities have been implemented to improve living conditions, including the installation of raised garden beds to encourage gardening and healthy eating, along with community engagement.

The project emphasizes understanding Roma culture, history, and language, and aims to strengthen trust and social inclusion between the Roma community and the local environment.

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Education in Montenegro

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Education in Montenegro

Education is crucial for the social inclusion of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro, with ongoing challenges and improvements in the educational system highlighted by Sultan Beća from the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights.

Significant measures include dedicated scholarships and housing support for students from the Roma and Egyptian communities, aiming to enhance their educational success and social integration.

The government is committed to continuing efforts to prevent early school dropout and ensure that students from vulnerable backgrounds have the resources needed to pursue higher education.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and Integration

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Slovenia and Integration

A delegation from the Office for Nationalities visited Kočevje to discuss the integration of the Roma community, highlighting both progress and ongoing challenges in education and employment.

The mayor emphasized the need for reform in social welfare to encourage employment among the Roma, as current benefits can disincentivize work.

Concerns were raised about the financial burden on the municipality due to damages caused by individuals in the Roma community, with a call for accountability and support for those willing to integrate and work.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary and Roma

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Hungary and Roma

Bódis Kriszta, a Hungarian MP, discussed the challenges of working within the state compared to civil organizations, emphasizing the need for a system that addresses everyone’s needs equally.

She acknowledged the ongoing discrimination against the Roma community and the necessity for their representation in government, while also addressing the structural issues that perpetuate their marginalization.

Regarding Tisza’s policy on Roma issues, the government commissioner stated that they do not intend to restructure Roma advocacy from an administrative standpoint. While they attach great importance to minority self-governments, they will take care to ensure these bodies do not become tools of political power. Kriszta Bódis believes that the Roma—specifically those in the most vulnerable situations—have been deliberately kept in poverty.

Greece News Western Europe

Greece and Roma

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Greece and Roma

On September 15, mayors from the municipalities of Thermi and Thermaikos met with Michael O’Flaherty, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, to discuss the living conditions of Roma communities in the area.

The mayors expressed concerns about the dire conditions in the Roma settlement in Tsairia, including lack of electricity and water, and highlighted issues of crime and inadequate policing.

O’Flaherty emphasized the importance of social services in supporting the Roma and called for collaboration with local authorities to improve their living conditions and ensure children’s education.

O’Flaherty highlighted the ongoing human rights violations faced by Roma, including lack of access to healthcare and educational segregation, and called for Europe to wake up to these issues.

The exhibition, showcasing the lives and rights of Roma and Travellers, will be held in Thessaloniki until September 18, 2026, featuring works by photographers George Moutafis and Candice Imbert.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Mahala Beats

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Mahala Beats

Mahala Beats is a collaborative project aimed at empowering young Roma in the Nadejda neighborhood of Sliven, Bulgaria, through media education and music, addressing issues of trust, representation, and resilience against misinformation.

The project includes workshops that engage participants as active producers of content, exploring local narratives and misinformation, culminating in the creation of music and video productions.

The initiative seeks to foster critical thinking and community engagement, ultimately aiming to reshape the narrative around Roma identity and representation in the public discourse.

Europe

ADI-ROM

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ADI-ROM

A meeting of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (ADI-ROM) took place in Strasbourg on September 8-9, 2026, focusing on desegregation and inclusive education policies for Roma children.

The proposed recommendations aim to eliminate school segregation and create a quality, inclusive, and non-discriminatory educational environment, addressing issues beyond schools such as residential segregation and anti-Roma racism.

The Slovak Republic’s participation allowed for sharing experiences and contributing to the development of common standards, with a focus on sustainable funding for the implementation of these recommendations.

Austria News Western Europe

Coexistence

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Coexistence

Austrian Minister for integration Claudia Bauer presented a new survey on coexistence in Austria, which has been criticized for questionable methods and results.

The online survey was conducted by pollster Peter Hajek and social scientist Rudolf Bretschneider for the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).

What is controversial? Well, that only 11% of respondents declared having a migration background, whereas in Austria, this is closer to 29%. But the article presents one of the best critique about the question “who can be my neighbour”. The journalist notes that actually what is missing are “racists”, “nazis” and other “extrem-right” …

Well spotted.

Greece News Western Europe

Thessaly and Roma

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Thessaly and Roma

The Meeting of the Roma Federation of Thessaly with the Deputy Regional Governor Andriana Komitsa focused on initiatives by the Thessaly Region to support vulnerable social groups, particularly the Roma community, addressing issues like education, health, and employment.

Emphasis was placed on targeted interventions tailored to local Roma community needs, combating social exclusion, and improving access to services.

The discussion included the importance of ongoing communication and collaboration between the Thessaly Region and the Roma Federation to enhance the living conditions of Roma families.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Roma in Slovenia

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Roma in Slovenia

Melisa Gutmann and Sandi Horvat are members of the Slovenian Roma Academic Club (RAK), which was founded in 2008. Horvat joined it two years later and has been its president for the past few years, while Gutmann is the vice president, who has been working in the club for ten years. We bring you their stories, their rich experiences, observations and warnings about what the real problem is… Read the double interview, from which it is clear: “The problem is not the Roma, the problem is in the system, which has been repeating the same mistakes for decades.”

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