Have the National Roma Integration Strategies worked?
by Mike STANNETT
Romanian Parliament, Bucharest 4-5 March 2019
The main purpose of this high-level meeting was to evaluate and take stock of what has been achieved so far and what challenges lie beyond 2020. The EU framework / National Roma Integration Strategies, have been in place since 2011. Much efforts have been made to ensure the Roma situation has been placed on the political agenda as one of the priorities of the EU. Ground has also been gained in setting up the necessary infrastructure at national level. However, these is still much deserved criticism for lack of progress at a grass roots level, especially in the area of housing, education, health care, employment and perhaps in the overriding issue of antigypsyism.
As the EU 2020 semester is quickly coming to its conclusion, there were a lot of calls for the EU to ensure that the present momentum must not be lost and that Roma integration/inclusion remains high on the EU agenda and forms part of the new EU framework for the 2030 semester.
Considerations for the Salvation Army:
- To be more vocal against antigypsyism in our local congregations across Europe, also at municipal and state level.
- To raise awareness of Roma issues to help fight against racial prejudice
- To highlight antigypsyist rhetoric as not being acceptable.
- To ensure TSA does not mirror antigypsyist attitudes .
- To lobby at local and national level for their human rights, the social rights as embodied in the conventions and main stream policies, just as they do for non-Roma citizens.
Antigypsyism is racism
S&D MEP Soraya Post, Sweden, spoke very passionately and eloquently on Roma being deprived of their human rights and facing extreme poverty and considered too unfit to be good citizens of their country. The gap between Roma and non-Roma exists in all areas of life. It is said that the Roma do not want to be included, that they are to blame for their own situation. They hear this all their lives, for generations, that they are worthless.
Many other speakers highlighted historical injustices going back 600 years, such as slavery, poverty, extermination / the holocaust and continual prejudice.
"We do not have a Roma problem, we have a racism problem"
Romero Franz, Greens/European Free Alliance.
"Roma Issues are not conducive to elections" (Romanian Mayor) Anti Roma rhetoric wins votes. There is a growing fear that the present increase xenophobic popularism in main stream politics is feeding the more media attitudes towards the Roma and justifying institutional racist policies.
National Integration Strategies have very low take up /participation of Roma at all levels. There is a strong lack of trust between the Roma and the authorities, just as there is a strong level of institutional racism prevalent at all levels of society and government. SDG’s and the European Pillar of Social Rights were mentioned as positive policies that should be used to encourage structural funding and provision of rights, via main stream inclusion progammes rather than specific Roma project funding.
There was growing emphasis for a more rights based approach. Local Roma must be represented, no initiative without their involvement ‘For Roma with Roma’
Truth and Reconciliation – The Roma in Europe have faced similar prejudice and atrocities as the Jews, the racism they face today is no longer tolerated in Black or in LGBT, yet it is almost completely tolerated by authorities and society. It is not seen or recognised. Antigysyism is racial prejudice, it is Europe’s Apartheid.
It is clear that the Roma want inclusion, they want to be treated like everybody else. With the same rights and the same opportunities. But they cannot achieve this on their own.
"Every time I meet with a Roma community, I am charged with the positivity and the enthusiasm of the people"
Tatiana Proskuryakova, Country Manager, World Bank, Romania
The Role of the Churches
Antigypsyism is not a modern issue but hundreds of years of prejudice throughout Europe. From Roma perspective there is a call in many countries for the church to confess their historical ‘sins’ in regards to the slavery of the Roma.
There is a role for the Church: Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Free churches today to be far more supportive of the Roma .
The church is uniquely placed to be a positive and supportive influence on the lives of the Roma for a positive change, regarding spiritual renewal, encouraging the blessing of forgiveness and reconciliation and also helping seek social justice.
The EU Affairs Office
Migrating or Mobile Roma face similar problems to access their rights and social protection, the same as other EU citizens when they move to another EU Country, therefore The Salvation Army EU Affairs Office calls for improved and easiest access to social protection/ rights for all, in the next semester.
Tags: Europe