The Roma came to Europe more than 500 years ago and their history and culture has become

an integral part of most European countries. Despite the fact that the Roma people have never caused

no international conflict, started no wars and never tried to conquer territory

another country, the Roma have always been the target of hatred, oppression and attacks. Over the last

300 years the Roma have been persecuted, enslaved, oppressed, tortured, exterminated,

Despite the existence of international conventions guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of all citizens,

Roma are often the victims of systematic human rights violations and

democratic freedoms.

The biggest socio-economic and security problems on a pan-European scale

we see in:

Poverty – For more than two decades, the European Union has been spending huge amounts of

resources to eradicate this Roma poverty and to improve the overall situation

But the problem is that these financial flows that go to the

European countries where the Roma live are not controlled or are not controlled by anyone.

is insufficient and ineffective. Due to the lack of control and audit of these

of these financial flows, there is enormous corruption, fraud and

even greater impoverishment of the Roma, which is artificially perpetuated to highlight

the lack of financial support for the Roma. Instead of effective and targeted use

European subsidies, new ghettos, excluded localities and

Roma settlements. These are places to live where people do not know the water supply, do not have

electrification, gasification and, above all, no municipal waste. They are known

cases where containers have been taken away after 10 years in places where people live

at least 5,000 people. Waste is piling up and bringing in rats, there are reports of

cases of children being bitten by rodents, not to mention the terrible sanitation

conditions and diseases. From a sociological point of view, these places are fertile for

crime, prostitution and drug-addicted young people looking for

drugs for solace, often out of hunger or to deal with depression and other health problems.

problems.

Violence and racism – Despite being part of the European continent

for more than 1,000 years, some individuals still consider the Roma to be foreigners and outlaws,

who should not merge and live on this continent.

One of the biggest social but also security problems

threatening communal harmony in Europe today is the rise of infiltration of far-right and neo-Nazi parties and supporters.

Governments tolerate or under-represent racist attacks. There are several examples

several – the assault of young Roma children, several hundred racial murders across

Europe, hateful and offensive political discourse, the emergence of new xenophobic

political parties – in other words, the whole of society is being radicalised.

And we are calling for strict repressive laws across Europe to protect

all citizens, without distinction.

Lack of Roma representation in all spheres of public life
Segregation of Roma children, who are still often placed in segregated

schools or classes and do not receive an adequate education.

Discrimination in the labour market and housing
Political discourse denigrating Roma and the suffering of Roma during the Holocaust
Non-transparent use of European subsidies for Roma integration
Institutions and organisations representing Roma interests without Roma representation

We therefore call on all governments and European institutions to prevent further

violations of Roma rights and freedoms and ensure equal opportunities for integration and citizenship

engagement.

We believe that by applying the following measures and working together we will be able to

avoid tensions in society and provide a first and humane opportunity for all

Roma to become a recognised part of the European community.

Action 1: Roma Congress – a new institution accountable to the Council of Europe. Congress

will be responsible for coordinating projects aimed at improving

socio-economic conditions of Roma in European countries.

There are more than 12,000,000 Roma people in Europe. This number is

larger than the population of some Member States. Since the Roma

do not have a country that sends a representative, we propose the establishment of

a Roma Congress.

Action 2: Full audit of European subsidies for Roma integration

by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

Action 3: Review and amend legislation on hate crimes in all

Member States

Drafted by Štefan Pongo and Petr Torák