Roma, the last EU citizens

Europe can’t protect its largest minority
In spite of the efforts made by NGOs and the distribution of EU funds, Europe’s main minority is no better off than it was 10 years ago. Anno 2012 the significant proportion of Europe’s 12 million Roma live in deplorable conditions. Ethnic tensions are on the rise. Dutch journalist Hellen Kooijman reconstructed more than ten years of failed European policy. A lack of appropriate supervision in Brussels, the corruption of local leaders and the indifference of national governments are at the root of the problem.

The article was published in the April issue of MO * magazine. In addition a special dossier was published on the website of MO * with an overview of the instruments the EU can use to compel governments to better policy (and why it fails), an analysis of the responsibility the Roma themselves bear and an insight into the problem of the (missing) data on Roma.