The plight of the Roma in central Europe

After May 1st the Roma will be the European Unions largest minority. They are arguably Europe's most marginalized and persecuted minority too - Attacked in their homelands and often rejected as spongers elsewhere. At least that's how they're being portrayed in some British newspapers at the moment. Those reports have raised fears of a flood of Roma migration after EU enlargement. But is that really likely to happen.

During the accession process, negotiations have led some member states to apply a transition period in several fields. Regarding the right of free movement of people and labour, 13 out of 15 member states have taken restrictive measures. Increasing press and media campaigns, made the two, in this issue, most liberal countries Great Britain and Ireland accept plans to tighten access to social benefits. When asked why he plans to leave Slovakia, Vojtech Kotlar, a Roma man from the east Slovak village of Pavlovce nad Uhom, doesn't speak about the benefits:

"I go there because we have problems here for discrimination. People here don't like Roma. We can't work here. They don't give jobs if they see little bit black skin. That's why we go out to England or Holland. We want to find some new life for children, for me. We want to find something good."

In many aspects, a latent form of racism can be traced in Slovak society. Discrimination is considered along with low social benefits the main reason for Roma emigration to countries with far longer traditions of democracy.

"I also told in England when they sent me home that I will come back. But they told me if you come back, we will put you in detention. I don't know why."

Vojtech Kotlar belongs to over 2000 Roma who left Pavlovce nad Uhom several times. In his 30's, he belongs to the most probable group of people leaving for better job opportunities in abroad. According to estimates published by a private TV station, about 20 000 non Roma Slovaks want to leave.

PERSON 1: "I would like to live in one of the countries of the EU. I see better future in these countries than here in the Slovak Republic."

PERSON 2: "I'll stay here and after I have some recommendation from my present work, I'll go abroad. But I don't want to stay there for good. I want to come back."

According to Erika Godlova, a Roma activist, Roma people will make 1% of 20 000 Slovaks leaving after May 1st. Is then the fear portrayed in the British media justified?

"Their predictions are rather paranoiac and their information come from probably some political representatives of Slovakia who want to may be scare some foreign countries of such a high level of Romany migration to western countries. I would say that it's a kind of blackmailing the western society."

The free movement of people and labour brings a cheaper work force to high cost western Europe. It also brings tax revenues taken away from the workers' east European homelands. Some analysts indicate that the ageing western European population could be pleased were it not so biased, despite all their democratic traditions. East Europeans should reconsider their prejudices and try to make living conditions more attractive for locals to stay home. This way they could avoid the dissatisfaction of their citizens over entry into the Union. With different chances at their entry it might seem that citizens of the former eastern block countries will be treated less equally than their western European fellowmen. Similar fears in the case of EU entry of Spain, Portugal and Greece were not confirmed.