Tag Archives: Settlements

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Šutar Act

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Šutar Act

Nearly a year after the death of a pub owner, Aleš Šutar, and the subsequent implementation of the Šutar Act what is the situation like in Roma settlements in Slovenia? Some mayors believe that the most significant impact has been on social welfare payments, which are now cut for non respect of laws and regulations.

What is scary are the proposed solutions from the mayors. These include fencing settlements, special schools, and employment centers resembling prisons, as suggested by the mayor of Ribnica.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and Roma

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Slovenia and Roma

Mayors from Southeast Slovenia and Posavje met with government representatives to discuss long-term solutions for issues related to the Roma community, focusing on public safety, social policy, education, and employment. The mayors emphasized the need for collaboration between the state and local communities to address administrative barriers and implement effective measures.

They called for a comprehensive legislative framework that integrates public safety, social policy, and employment to achieve sustainable improvements in the community.

Well, again without Roma. This will not solve any problems …

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Southern Slovenia and Roma

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Southern Slovenia and Roma

Three government ministers met with mayors from southeastern Slovenia and Posavje to discuss security and social issues in areas with Roma populations, as well as potential solutions.

The mayors expressed concerns that security has worsened despite police presence, reiterating similar sentiments from three months ago.

Interior Minister Franci Matoz acknowledged that while police are fulfilling their duties, the security situation remains unsatisfactory, emphasizing the need for improvements in the judicial system.

Mayor Gregor Macedoni highlighted the importance of addressing social policy and employment for Roma communities, focusing on the root causes of public order violations.

Economic Minister Anže Logar stressed that social benefits should come with responsibilities, urging Roma to engage in community work and improve their employment rates.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Housing in Serbia

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Housing in Serbia

A significant number of Roma in Serbia live in informal and substandard settlements, lacking access to basic utilities and safe living conditions, prompting YUROM Center to call for prioritizing housing solutions for Roma by state and local institutions.

On International Housing Day, YUROM Center emphasizes that adequate housing remains unattainable for many Roma families and is a matter of human rights and Serbia’s European integration.

The organization urges authorities to prioritize housing issues for Roma through investments in infrastructure, social housing, and measures to prevent further segregation, asserting that adequate housing is essential for dignity and equal participation in society.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Forced Evictions

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Forced Evictions

The forced eviction of Roma families from their homes in Bulgaria leads to severe long-term consequences, worsening social isolation and vulnerability, especially for children.

A report by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee highlights that 90% of eviction orders since 2012 target Roma homes, despite widespread illegal construction across all ethnic groups.

The report calls for legislative changes to ensure protections against arbitrary evictions and emphasizes the need for social housing policies and training for authorities on housing rights.

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.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Drought

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Drought

A prolonged drought in Rudňany, Slovakia, has led to a severe water shortage in local Roma settlements, particularly in Pätoraká, where wells have dried up.

The municipality has provided a water tanker for daily supply, but residents are resorting to unsafe water sources due to insufficient clean water.

Efforts to improve conditions include a newly opened hygiene center in Zabijanec, which offers showers and laundry facilities, positively impacting local hygiene and children’s well-being.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Some SMARK Results …

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Some SMARK Results …

The report reveals that 51% of Roma communities in Slovakia lack sidewalks, with many also facing barriers like rivers or railways separating them from the rest of the municipality. While the Sociographic Mapping of Roma Communities (SMARK 2025) indicates improvements in technical infrastructure since 2019, particularly in water supply, sewage, electricity, and public lighting,

significant disparities remain between Roma localities and surrounding municipalities, particularly in access to gas and other utilities.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

SMARK

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SMARK

The SMARK initiative aims to provide updated data on the living conditions of people in Roma communities, helping to identify and address specific issues.

The mapping shows an increase in the Roma population since 2019, with changes in the municipalities providing data, including the largest Roma community now being Jarovnice instead of Košice-Luník IX.

Positive developments in integration efforts are noted in Nové Zámky, where principles of desegregation and destigmatization have led to significant progress.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Waste – Slovakia

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Waste – Slovakia

The Slovak government’s Office for Roma Communities emphasizes the need for a systematic solution to illegal landfills, rejecting the association of this issue with the Roma community.

The office has allocated significant funds for the construction of waste collection points and the removal of illegal landfills, stressing the importance of a coordinated approach involving all stakeholders.

The issue of illegal landfills is framed as a matter of responsibility and environmental health, with a call for equal application of rules for all citizens, regardless of ethnicity.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Illegal Houses

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Illegal Houses

The Romanian government has amended the urban planning and construction code to allow municipalities to legalize unauthorized constructions, including those built without permits, until August 2027.

This change is seen as a political maneuver to gain favor with voters ahead of the 2028 elections, particularly benefiting mayors who have historically allowed illegal constructions in rural areas.

The new regulations raise concerns about safety and legality, as they may enable the legalization of unsafe buildings and increase the power of mayors in local governance.

Hungary News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Relocation – Slovak View

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Relocation – Slovak View

The relocation of several Roma families from an illegal settlement in Košice to Hungary has sparked political support for local mayor Lenka Kovačevičová from Zoroslav Kollár and his party, Právo na pravdu.

Kollár views the controversy surrounding the relocation as a positive step, advocating for better living conditions for both Roma and non-Roma communities.

Martin Halás from Právo na pravdu claims that families moving to Hungary faced police harassment, leading to legal actions against the Hungarian police and appeals to various political entities.

Hungary News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Relocation – Hungarian Reporting

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Relocation – Hungarian Reporting

Lenka Kovačevičová, Mayor of the Košice-Lázně District, claims there are 15 illegal settlements in Košice, housing around 2600 people in dire conditions without basic utilities, prompting the formation of a civic association to assist affected families.

The mayor of Košice apparently supports the relocation of Roma families to Szalonna, Hungary, emphasizing their right to freedom of movement and criticizing media narratives suggesting forced relocations.

The Právo na pravdu party advocates for Roma issues, with leaders expressing confidence in addressing these social problems if Kovačevičová becomes mayor, while criticizing the current mayor and Hungarian authorities for their treatment of Roma citizens.

Greece News Western Europe

Clashes in Greece

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Clashes in Greece

Two police officers were slightly injured during a clash with a group of young individuals attempting to free an 18-year-old suspect outside the Police Station in Piniou, Greece.

The incident occurred on August 15, when the police were attacked by three young Roma individuals while escorting the detained suspect, who was wanted for fraud.

Targeted police operations in Roma settlements were conducted in Argolis, Corinthia, and Messinia, resulting in the arrest of 14 individuals for various offenses.

In Argolis, 21 individuals were checked, leading to 5 arrests, while in Corinthia and Messinia, 13 and 21 individuals were checked respectively, with 4 and 5 arrests made.

This is escalating …

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and Roma

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Slovenia and Roma

The Šentjernej People’s Initiative claims that police had to intervene multiple times due to violations of public order by local Roma after 10 PM.

They criticized Amnesty International Slovenia for not addressing the concerns of local residents who face harassment and threats from nearby Roma communities.

The initiative, formed by local residents, advocates for equal treatment under the law and zero tolerance for violence, and gained prominence after organizing a protest in 2025 over safety issues.

They actually support rather extreme measures, such as cutting social care if Roma don not “behave” or send their children to school, and want to remove Roma settlemens which they mostly deem illegal.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Roma Civil Guard

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Roma Civil Guard

Fülek, Slovakia, established a voluntary Roma civil guard in 2004, which transitioned to a professional service in 2014, supported by EU funding, but has faced funding challenges over the years.

Local authorities have been urging the government to finance the civil guard’s operations to ensure continuity and avoid layoffs, as the current project has ended and a new funding call was delayed.

The civil guards play a crucial role in community safety and support during city events, and the municipality has recently applied for funding to restart the program with a reduced project duration of 18 months.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Housing in Romania

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Housing in Romania

The Cluj-Napoca Local Council approved a program worth over 400 million lei to purchase 350 homes for Roma and other vulnerable communities, aiming for social integration rather than segregation.

Mayor Emil Boc emphasized that the initiative will use the SIEG mechanism to legally facilitate the purchase of homes and provide social services to the relocated families.

The program aims to eliminate informal settlements like Pata Rât by 2030, with over 500 individuals already relocated to decent housing through previous projects.

This is a drop of water on a hot stone …

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Settlements

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Slovak Settlements

Slovakia is working to improve living conditions in marginalized Roma communities, investing nearly one billion euros, yet many still lack basic necessities like drinking water and sanitation.

Local officials report ongoing struggles, with some residents traveling long distances for water, while government representatives claim investments are being made systematically in housing, infrastructure, and education.

A new initiative has been launched to fund local civic and order services, with over 15 million euros allocated to help maintain public order in various municipalities.

Uncategorized

Greece and Settlements

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Greece and Settlements

Two articles in the Greek press on Roma settlements. The first one, descriubes the living conditions of the Roma community in Heraklion which are dire, with as rodents, harmful insects, and inadequate sanitation being reported by residents.

The president of the Roma Association “Elpida” will address these concerns at the upcoming municipal council meeting, advocating for a clean and safe environment for families.

The second one states that the European Court of Human Rights is reviewing a case involving the threatened eviction of Roma community members in Thessaloniki, Greece, without alternative housing provisions.

The case highlights broader issues of housing, forced evictions, and discrimination against Roma communities, emphasizing the need for adequate housing solutions.

The Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, argues that the eviction threat violates the right to respect for private and family life, and the case could set a precedent for protecting vulnerable communities from forced evictions.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Housing in Slovakia

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Housing in Slovakia

The Slovak government has launched a call for proposals aimed at improving housing for marginalized Roma communities, with a budget of 30 million euros from EU funds.

The initiative focuses on socio-economic inclusion, particularly for low-income households and disadvantaged groups, emphasizing the need for accessible housing and services.

New requirements include the necessity of a valid building permit at the time of application and specific benchmarks for technical equipment and accessibility in housing projects.

The latter point will prevent this being implemented in most Roma settlements…

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