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Private area
Private area
European Network on Social Inclusion and Roma under the Structural Funds
Structural Funds: Investing in Roma
Private area
European Network on Social Inclusion and Roma under the Structural Funds
Structural Funds: Investing in Roma
The Roma Community across Europe has been estimated to consist of more than 10 million people: it is the biggest minority group in the EU. Throughout Europe no precise data exist on the dimension on the Roma Communities: in many countries ethnic registration is forbidden, while in others official statistics contain no information on ethnicity or self-identification.
Throughout Europe the Roma community is composed of several communities differentiated by settlement model, culture and religion, legal status, language, and period of migration. These differences impact strongly on their status, opportunities and quality of life, but in particular on their level of integration in the broader national community. Most of these subcommunities suffer from the same structural discrimination; in particular, segregation in the fields of employment, education, training and housing.
The denomination “Roma” is a term given by the non-Roma population or by the Roma themselves when distinguishing from the non-Roma population. Some authorities (such as the Council of Europe, OSCE, etc) recognize five main groups, which may be further divided into two or more subgroups, distinguished by occupational specialization or territorial origin, or both. In this study the “Roma” is used having in mind its great internal heterogeneity.
The legal status of the Roma minority differs across Europe from country to country and from group to group: it is related, on the one hand, to the period of migration of the groups, and on the other hand recognition in each country as an ethnic or national minority. Some groups of long-established migration are citizens of the country where they live where they are considered national minorities or ethnic minorities and have full citizenship. In the same countries some other groups are considered refugees or asylum-seekers and have no residence permit; in other countries they are considered asylum-seekers/refugees, but not in the condition to obtain the status. Quite a large number of Roma are nationals of countries now members of the European Union such as Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Slovakia: they are entitled to free circulation as European citizens, but in some Member States they lack full rights as workers. In most of the countries many of the Roma have no birth certificates or identity documents and are therefore considered illegal immigrants.
A considerable part of the Roma population in the European Member States does not have any authorized legal status. This is a fundamental issue, as it strongly influences rights to the social security and health system and to education, as well as the standard of living and possibilities to participate in public and political life.
Across Europe the Roma experience greater social exclusion than the majority community, especially in accessing employment, education, health and social services: The Roma present high rates of illiteracy and poor school attendance of children. They usually live in segregated, isolated districts where the living conditions are frequently poor, with problems of extreme overcrowding, lack of basic facilities. This contributes also to aggravating their health condition. The Roma show very scant use of health care services because medical treatment may conflict with the Roma rules of hygiene and modesty, and because of the negative attitudes/racism/ discrimination of some health care professionals and hospitals. For cultural reasons they also show limited use of family planning services.
Many European and national surveys show that an appreciable proportion of European citizens take a negative view of the Roma population, based mainly on stereotypes and prejudice. Throughout Europe Roma discrimination is frequent. Some local studies have revealed an important role of the media in the reproduction of Roma stereotypes.
The EU has an advanced legal framework which provides for protection against discrimination. The Racial Equality Directive (Directive 2000/43/EC - RED) has been adopted with the aim of combating discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin and prohibits direct or indirect discrimination in employment, education, social protection, property matters and services.
Source: "The social situation of the Roma and their improved access to the labour market in the EU" (IP/A/EMPL/EWC/2006-05/SC4)
