Tag Archives: Integration

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Roma Employment

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Roma Employment

Employment of Roma in regions like Dolenjska, Bela Krajina, and Kočevje in Slovenia remains a significant challenge, with discussions on barriers and potential solutions taking place at a recent mayoral school event in Novo Mesto.

Participants highlighted issues such as low education levels, lack of work experience, and community prejudices as major obstacles to Roma employment, emphasizing the need for better collaboration between organizations and local communities.

Despite efforts over the years, progress in integrating Roma into the workforce has been minimal, with calls for more effective long-term strategies and support from local governments.

Greece News Western Europe

Roma Rise

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Roma Rise

The ARSIS organization is hosting the second National Round Table in Thessaloniki as part of the Roma Rise program, focusing on the future and opportunities for young Roma.

The event aims to empower young Roma by allowing them to voice their experiences and suggestions, emphasizing their active role in shaping their future.

The organization calls for equal participation from local authorities and society to ensure that young Roma can access education, employment, and cultural opportunities without discrimination.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Integration Meeting

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Integration Meeting

A three-day meeting was held in Metlika to discuss coexistence between the majority and Roma communities in southeastern Slovenia, resulting in over 25 joint calls and 80 specific proposals for improvement, focusing on education, health, and living conditions.

Participants emphasized the need for inclusive collaboration among all stakeholders and highlighted the importance of Roma community involvement in planning and monitoring measures funded by state resources.

The meeting aimed to foster dialogue and identify common interests, with plans to present the proposals to municipalities and the state in the coming months.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and Roma

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Slovenia and Roma

A three-day meeting in Metlika, brought together citizens from both majority and Roma in southeastern Slovenia to discuss shared living conditions and potential solutions to local issues.

Participants identified over 25 joint calls and 80 specific proposals aimed at improving education, health, and living conditions, emphasizing the need for inclusive decision-making processes.

Key recommendations included enhancing Roma participation in local and national decision-making, better oversight of state funds for Roma improvement, and addressing issues like stray animals in Roma settlements.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Desegregation?

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Desegregation?

The regional council for ethnic and integration issues in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria,  will discuss the desegregation of minorities, following a meeting between local officials and the Amalipe Center leadership.

Key topics include school retention for children, overcoming segregation, preventing youth aggression, and addressing early marriages, with a report to be presented to the government based on expert opinions.

The Amalipe Center is actively working with schools and conducting a mental health survey among minority representatives, while advocating for civic engagement and addressing the lack of political representation for Roma and minorities since 2009.

  • Областна администрация и “Амалипе” с инициатива срещу сегрегацията в региона. In: Borbag. 19.10.2026. https://www.borbabg.com/2026/10/19/oblastna-administratsiya-i-amalipe/
  • Областният съвет за етнически и интеграционни въпроси във Велико Търново ще обсъди десегрегацията на малцинствата в региона. In: Utro Ruse. 189.10.2026.https://utroruse.com/amp/1328681/
Hungary News Eastern Europe

Roma Pride

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Roma Pride

Participants at the Roma Pride and Dignity Day in Budapest called for partnership with the current and future Hungarian government to address issues faced by the Roma community, emphasizing the importance of their voices in decision-making.

rganizer Oláh József highlighted ongoing issues such as poverty, housing difficulties, and educational segregation, calling for active participation of Roma communities in political changes.

The event featured a declaration advocating for shared responsibility and collaboration, with Roma professionals seeking involvement in policy-making and implementation processes.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Parliamentary Debate

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Parliamentary Debate

Participants in a parliamentary debate emphasized that political opposition should not justify personal attacks, advocating for respect for human dignity regardless of differing opinions.

Daróczi Ágnes criticized laws that disadvantage marginalized groups, particularly the Roma, and called for coordinated action against discriminatory regulations.

The discussion highlighted the need for the new government to address fundamental rights issues, including restrictions on movement and access to literature, while also exploring ways to combat social prejudices.

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Roma in Montenegro

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Roma in Montenegro

The NGO ‘Mladi Romi’ emphasizes that education and employment are crucial for overcoming poverty among Roma and Egyptian families in Montenegro, highlighting persistent issues despite some progress over the past 21 years.

Recent studies indicate that a significant percentage of Roma children lack access to early education and that only a small fraction of young adults complete secondary education, underscoring the need for systemic change.

The organization calls for increased investment in education, legal employment opportunities, and active involvement of the Roma community in creating sustainable solutions to poverty.

Greece News Western Europe

OSCE and Greece

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OSCE and Greece

Sabihah Suleiman, president of the Roma Women’s Cultural Association “ELPIDA”, addresses the rights of Roma in Thrace at the OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw, focusing on education, housing, and identity issues. She emphasizes the need for transparency in social inclusion programs and the importance of Roma community participation in decision-making processes.

Suleiman raises concerns about self-identification rights for Roma and questions the role of the Turkish consulate in Thrace regarding these communities.

Croatia News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and Croatia

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Slovenia and Croatia

Slovenia and Croatia are collaborating to improve the situation of the Roma community through joint initiatives and solutions in key areas affecting their lives.

Key focus areas include better living conditions, education and employment opportunities, combating anti-Roma discrimination, and strengthening political representation for Roma.

The meeting aimed to foster long-term partnerships and develop concrete project proposals based on the actual needs of the Roma community.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Roma Projects

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Roma Projects

In 2022, €335,845,065 was spent on the action plan for the Strategy for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation of Roma by 2030, according to a monitoring report.

Out of 159 planned activities for 2025, only 10 were completed, while 125 were in progress, 22 were being prepared, and 2 were deemed unfulfilled, particularly in education.

The report will be presented to a working group for monitoring and evaluating the Strategy after government discussion.

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Roma in Montenegro

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Roma in Montenegro

The Roma Council of Montenegro warns against discussing European values and the rule of law while ignoring the long-standing discrimination of Roma in political representation. They call on lawmakers to address the electoral census for the Roma community and rectify injustices in political representation.

The Council emphasizes that if constitutional changes proceed without addressing these issues, it undermines the principles of equality and non-discrimination in Montenegro.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Education in Bulgaria

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Education in Bulgaria

The municipality of Montana is continuing its project for the educational desegregation and integration of Roma children for the fourth consecutive year, funded by a national program from the Ministry of Education and Science.

Five partner schools will provide free transportation and educational materials to 222 students from the ‘Kosharnik’ neighborhood, along with the appointment of an educational mediator to support school-family connections.

Various activities throughout the school year, including sports events, workshops, and literary readings, will involve both the children and their parents, with additional training planned for the parents.

Europe Montenegro News Eastern Europe

EU Enlargement and Roma

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EU Enlargement and Roma

The seventh ministerial meeting on the integration of Roma in the EU enlargement process was held in Podgorica, Montenegro, emphasizing the need for concrete actions to improve the situation of the Roma community.

Officials highlighted the importance of transforming policies into tangible results, focusing on education, employment, and combating discrimination.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment to regional cooperation and the belief that Roma inclusion is crucial for human rights and economic potential in the Western Balkans.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Project

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Slovakia: Project

Development teams in Slovakia will receive over 28 million euros from European sources to assist marginalized Roma communities with employment, education, housing, and social issues.

The project, named Development Teams II, aims to build on the successes of the previous initiative, Development Teams I, which helped over 2,600 families and improved living conditions for many.

The new initiative will also focus on the professional development of team workers to better meet the needs of local residents.

Austria News Western Europe

Roma in Austria

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Roma in Austria

Josef Schmidt, born in 1971, grew up in a former Roma settlement in Burgenland, Austria, and faced discrimination during his school years, including being called derogatory names.

A recent police warning about “traveling people” has reignited feelings of discrimination among Roma, with Schmidt expressing concern that it unfairly stereotypes all Roma.

Organizations like Romano Centro in Vienna support both long-standing and newly arrived Roma and Sinti in Austria, focusing on employment, crisis support for women, and educational assistance for students.

Greece News Western Europe

Roma Education in Greece

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Roma Education in Greece

The 1st Conference on the education of Roma students will take place in Volos, Greece, involving various stakeholders from education, local government, academia, and the church, aiming to address ongoing issues and promote inclusive schooling practices.

The conference will focus on combating school ghettoization and establishing organized educational programs for Roma students, emphasizing the need for safe transportation, teacher training, and supportive structures.

Activities will include presentations and workshops with mixed groups of Roma and non-Roma students, showcasing successful educational practices to foster a democratic and inclusive school environment.

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.

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