EU Member States Not Doing Enough to Integrate Roma
by Vera NYGARD
European Parliament 19.03.2019
The event Evaluating the EU framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS) was organised by Hungarian MEP Benedek Javor. In his welcoming words he reminded the audience of the importance of an evaluation of the Roma Integration Strategies, as its implementation has had very varied success in the different member states. Javor expressed a hope that the EP would always pay attention to the Roma situation. The reasons why it has not been successful is that some societies have not understood the importance of it. There is simply no will to integrate Roma, stressed Javor. He gave examples of possible solutions for the situation: Racism, whether hidden or not, influences the mindset of society. We need to find ways to combat this. Furthermore, not every member state has done the evaluation, which is a significant loss. We need to find ways to use EU resources more efficiently, Javor emphasised.
In the first panel of the day, Szabolcs Schmidt, DG JUST, expressed a dissatisfaction about the fact that the Roma education levels have not risen since the last evaluation, and the employment gap keeps widening. The biggest problem remains the discrimination and segregation of Roma. EU added value can be found mainly in the fact that Roma agenda is high both nationally and on an EU level. Even member states with small Roma population have emphasised its importance, Schmidt remarked.
Marek Hojsik, project manager for the Roma Civil Monitor, shared information on the project thus far. This pilot project was initiated by the European Parliament and is implemented by 100 NGOs, both pro-Roma and Roma organisations. The goal of the project is to build civil society capacity amongst Roma. The results so far show that the project is an added value to the National Roma Integration Strategies, in that it has made Roma inclusion a political agenda. It has increased transparency and accountability and further developed governance structures and processes.
Antigypsyism was highlighted in the second panel, which focused on the “Reality check” project, which is part of the Roma Civil Society Monitor and focuses on combatting antigypsyism. The panel was chaired by Romeo Franz MEP, who is Roma himself. He stated that he often feels like a visitor in his own country, Germany, due to racism. Franz criticised the lack of emphasis on public awareness in the NRIS.
“If we want to achieve something, we need a better plan to fight antigypsyism!”
Romeo Franz, MEP
He further encouraged Roma in the audience to speak up and tell their story: “We need to hear your voices! Put your hand up, participate!”
Jelena Jovanovic from ERGO went further into explaining the concept of antigypsyism and its consequences for Roma. “Antigypsyism is racism: racist people, institutions and structures”, Jovavonic stated. In the EU member states antigypsyism is not explicitly recognised. There is very little knowledge in the member states regarding Roma genocide, and hate crimes against Roma are not recognised as hate crime. In order to change this, Jovavonic suggested that there should be specific recommendations made to both the EU and national governments.
The panel moved on to talk about the implementation of the NRIS in the member states. Donatella De Vito, Casa della Carita, Italy, shared that 25.000 Roma still live in segregated communities in Italy. The communities are located in remote areas, far from basic services, with a constant risk of being evicted. De Vito was of the opinion that infringement procedures should be started against Italy in order to tackle basic human rights violations. Dijana Pavlovic, Activist, Italy and Daniel Strauß, BAG RomnoKher, Germany, gave their reactions to this, and both perceived that the focus is all wrong at the moment. “We need to leave hypocrisy and look at what’s actually happening”, said Pavlovic. “The far right parties are building on our failure and there is a lack of political will to do apply what we said we would”, she continued. Strauß stressed that we need to stop talking about a “Roma problem”, the problem is lack of equality!
The third and final panel of the day focused on experiences from Central Eastern Europe, mainly Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Some main findings presented by András Nun, Autonómia, Hungary and Jarmila Lajcakova, CVEK, Slovakia, were that the period of 2016-2018 does not mark significant advance in the implementation of the NRIS. Some improvements had been made in regards to usage of EU funds for Roma inclusion and education, but in general serious challenges remain in all fields.
In the concluding remarks, Romeo Franz stated that what we are speaking of reminded him of apartheid.
“The member states are saying that they are for integration, for Roma, when evidence shows the opposite”.
Romeo Franz, MEP
Franz asked for a change of focus, as the most important thing is to fight antigypsyism on an institutional level and involve Roma on the same level. Equal participation is key.
Tags: Europe