Discrimination of the Roma minority in a multicultural Europe

Abstract

The European Union (EU) today represents a mixture of cultures and a model of democracy. The democracy model of the EU promotes and encourages equal opportunities, the principle of equality, respect of human rights, social equity as well as tolerance and multiculturalism. Together with the creation of the EU came the freedom of movement in the member states that has led to a multicultural and diverse European Union we witness today, as well as a great collaboration between member states, while still holding on to the cultural, historical and individual differences. Acknowledging today’s reality, the EU is confronted with the integration and social inclusion of the Roma minority. There is an urgent need for a unitary compact set of policies that can be implemented and adopted across the entire EU. In order to fully integrate the Roma minority, these policies need touch all areas of inclusion such as education, housing, employment, healthcare, culture, the political area, without neglecting the economical aspects The results of the 25-5-2014 elections at the EU Parliament are disturbing; the fact that far right parties were elected with such high percentages is alarming. Considering nowadays’ realities, such as the financial crisis, the intolerant nationalistic attitudes of some member states of the EU, determined by the low rate of inclusion of immigrants, the Roma minority cannot find its place in the EU. There is an absolute need for a complex, unitary and compact set of policies so that the Roma can achieve a satisfactory rate of inclusion. The necessities for inclusion of the Roma communities cannot be met by adopting social policies in certain areas only, there is an urgent need for a complex and long-term project that can cover and offer the Roma people the same rights and obligations as other citizens of the EU without any form or type of discrimination. Spain is known for the Spanish model of integration, a quite successful model of inclusion of the Roma minority. Approximately 75% of Roma people living in Spain 3 have an income and about 85% are literate. The culture and mentality of the Spanish people also played a big role in this success. Not all countries in todays Europe have the same governmental agenda and the same goals, so the results of the integration, social inclusion policies and projects vary a lot due to the fact that each member state of the EU has its own particularities, political interests and economic targets.