Interview: The Status of Roma in Europe -- Part 1

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A plethora of myths, stereotypes and outright lies about the Roma and their culture have been propagated throughout history.

Now, in the beginning of the 21st century, as Eastern Europe and the Balkan nations have thrown off the yoke of Communism and seek to join the more economically-advanced nations of Western Europe through the enlargement of the European Union (EU), the status and fate of the Roma – believed to be the EU's largest ethnic minority – becomes an important issue.

IBTIMES spoke to two experts on the European Roma – Dr. Nando Sigona, senior researcher at the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society, University of Oxford, UK; and Dr. Nidhi Trehan, an independent scholar who recently completed her post-doctorate at the UCL School of Public Policy/Political Science, University of London -- about the current legal, economic and political status of the Roma in an ever-changing Europe.

IBTIMES: Can you estimate how many Roma live in Europe currently? Do they form a significant percentage of the population in
any one country?

TREHAN: In eastern Europe, it is conservatively estimated at about 6-7 million (more if you include Russia), with a huge proportion residing in Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria and Hungary, where over 5 percent of the population is Romani.
In Slovakia it's almost 10 percent (although many Hungarian-speaking Roma declare themselves as “ethnic Hungarians” in the census). Similarly, many Romanian-speaking Roma declare themselves as “Romanians” in the census, likewise with Bulgaria and Hungary.

In Western Europe, Spain has the largest percentage -- with its indigenous Gitano community and the 'Hungaros' – the later arrivals who came from eastern Europe in the late 18th century after emancipation from slavery.

SIGONA: At the horizon, the enlargement of the EU to include Turkey could potentially bring significantly more Roma into the EU. Overall, in the last two decades, as result of the wars in Yugoslavia and the EU enlargement, we have witnessed a remarkable mobility among Eastern European Romani communities which has significantly transformed the demography and distribution of the Roma in Europe.

TREHAN: Identity politics plays a huge role in estimating Romani population figures. Generally, Romani activists play up the figures and governments play them down. Because of centuries of persecution, many Roma are loathe to reveal their identity, as it could be tantamount to social suicide, this holds true for many Roma who can 'pass' or assimilate (either because of lighter skin color or better education). Over generations, some Romani families have completely assimilated.
[Ed.: While numbers are not exact, there are estimated to be between 10- and 16-million Roma in Europe.]

IBTIMES: Does the EU make demands of Eastern European countries regarding the treatment of their Roma minorities (the way they do with Turkey and its Kurds)?

TREHAN: Yes, especially during the time of pre-accession, beginning in the late 1990s -- accession has taken place in two rounds, one in 2004 and the most recent one in 2007 (which also gave EU citizenship to Bulgarian and Romanian Roma).
The EU used the 'Copenhagen Criteria' -- a series of human rights standards/norms which it used with Eastern European accession countries. Those countries that drew closer to market/neo-liberal capitalism and human rights legislative reforms were rewarded with quicker access to the PHARE [Poland and Hungary: Assistance for Restructuring their Economies] & EU mechanisms, eventually culminating with EU membership.

But it is important to note that EU membership did not confer equal rights to these new entrants (there are still many labor and social welfare access restrictions for EU citizens from Romania and Bulgaria, for example).

Hungary was a leader in projecting its 'progressive' policies on Roma by adopting in the early 1990s its 'Law on National and Ethnic Minorities' , which also resulted in minority self-governments (MSGs) across Hungary. Today, there are over 3,500 MSGs, a significant number of them have Romani mayors at the helm.

SIGONA: The treatment of ethnic minorities, among which the Roma were by far the most significant, was one of the main criteria for assessing the readiness of accession countries to the EU.

I believe that one of the main driving forces behind the EU's interest in the better treatment of Romani minorities was to prevent the Roma's westward migration. However, after the EU enlargement, the EU came to realize that it has now less power over the now-new member states and cannot force them to improve the conditions of Roma minorities.

IBTIMES: Do the Roma have full rights of citizenship in Eastern European nations? Or are they subject to any restrictions regarding education, employment and property ownership?

TREHAN: Yes, [they have full citizenship] especially in countries where Roma underwent a process of Socialist-engineered integration/assimilation. This would include countries like Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, etc., but also the former Yugoslavia which had a model minority policy which benefited Roma tremendously.

SIGONA: As a result of the pressure put on by the EU, Eastern European countries comply with EU legislation on anti-discrimination and equal opportunities. However, it is the implementation of this legislation that is often partial and incomplete. Access to education, employment and health care are often difficult for Roma in Eastern Europe, but research shows that the situation is not much better in many Western EU states either.

TREHAN: During times of war and nation-state building in Europe, Roma tend to bear the brunt of nationalism. For example, during the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia and the Balkan wars, thousands upon thousands of Roma lost citizenship rights and had to struggle hard to regain them with the help of national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international human rights organizations. Also, during the Kosovo war, over 80,000 Roma were forcibly displaced or removed.

To place this into historical context, remember that Europe was just emerging from the ravages of WWII and Romani/Jewish communities (amongst many other Europeans) were just picking up the pieces post-genocide.

IBTIMES: Are the vast majority of Roma in Eastern European still living in dire poverty, or is that an exaggeration?

SIGONA: Research from United Nations Development Program (UNDP) shows that poverty and social marginalization are widely spread amongst Romani people. However, there are important differences within the Romani minorities.

TREHAN: Poverty stats in the Roma community are difficult to come by and vary from country to country.

What we can definitely say -- based on unemployment/employment stats – is that since the late 1980s, Romani communities have become increasingly impoverished. Of course, this does not hold true for a tiny number of Roma who have managed to swim quite well in the neo-liberal economic order, a small entrepreneurial class which continues to do well for itself.

Part of the problem also has to do with the current skills deficit, though the Communist/Socialist project offered Roma some entry into the labor markets, it was usually at the lower end -- unskilled labor, construction, factory work, etc.
Nonetheless, some Roma did become skilled laborers as well as professionals during Socialist times -- engineers, doctors, technicians, teachers, journalists, etc.
Many Roma continue to practice as musicians -- wedding musicians/restaurant entertainment, etc. in central Europe/Balkans. This has been one mainstay profession, though this too has been hard hit by the economic changes, and more recently, recession across Europe.

IBTIMES: Can you provide any numerical data on jobs?

TREHAN: Here's one sobering statistic: in 1983, the Romani male employment rate in Hungary was over 80 percent, almost on par with the non-Romani male employment rate. Today, less than 60 percent of Roma are officially employed in Hungary.

Another point is that the 'informal economy' may have also expanded post-Socialism. Hence, many Roma now find employment to be a precarious, low-paying experience, and many have only seasonal work.

Long-term employment possibilities have also shrunk (except for the tiny professional class). On the flip-side, of the small number of Roma who are highly educated, many are now 'coming out' and declaring their identity, and getting involved in Romani activism and community upliftment.

Part 2 of the interview