Who
are the Roma?
Roma are a unique
minority in Europe. Unlike other groups, they have no historical homeland
and are found in nearly all countries in Europe and Central Asia.
From 7 to 9 million Roma are thought to live throughout Europe. Approximately
70 percent of this population lives in the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and of this group, nearly
80 percent live in countries that are currently in accession negotiations
with the European Union. In Central and Eastern Europe the share of the
population that is Roma has reached between 9 and 11 percent of the
population in Bulgaria, FYR Macedonia, Romania and the Slovak Republic.
Estimated Roma Populations
in Central and Eastern Europe
Where
are they from?
The
roots of the Roma in Europe have long been a subject of mystery and
controversy. Historical records indicate that Roma arrived in Europe
from northern India in waves between the ninth and fourteenth centuries,
although the reasons for their migration into Europe and their paths
in moving into the continent are unknown. Linguistic roots and limited
documentation suggest that the Roma came first through Persia and
the Caucasus through the Byzantine Empire into southern Europe, although
some Macedonian legends place Roma in Europe at the time of Alexander
the Great as early as the fourth century B.C. The first detailed references
to the Roma in Central and Eastern Europe are found in twelfth century
records from the Dalmatian Coast area and records from Hungary (now
the Slovak Republic).
For more information on the history of Roma in Europe
refer to:
Crowe, D. 1996. A History of the Gypsies of Eastern Europe and Russia, New York: St.
Martin’s Griffin.
Fraser, A. 1995. The Gypsies,
Blackwell: Oxford.
What
is the World Bank doing in Roma Issues?
The
involvement of the World Bank in Roma issues stems from our
agenda of economic and social development in Central and Eastern Europe.
Poverty among the Roma minority
is one of the most challenging development issues facing the countries
of the region. While living standards have declined for all population
groups during the transition to a market economy, there are growing
indications that conditions for Roma have deteriorated more severely
than for others, and that Roma have been poorly positioned to take
advantage of emerging economic and civic opportunities. Poverty among
Roma is complex and multidimensional and is related to a broad range
of factors including poor health and education status, limited chances
in the labor market, as well as discrimination and unique aspects
of the social organization of Roma society, which together contribute
to their exclusion.
Addressing
the challenges facing the Roma is central to the success of economic
transition and is an integral part of the process of building cohesive
and inclusive societies in the region. Fortunately, the countries
of Central and Eastern Europe are not alone in this journey. The Roma
are a European minority and consequently the European institutions,
as well as NGOs have been increasingly active in supporting initiatives
and providing assistance. In particular, the EU accession process
is focusing attention on the conditions of the Roma in Central and
Eastern Europe, and increasing international involvement provides
an unprecedented window of opportunity for tackling issues through
programs and projects.
The countries which are currently in accession
negotiations are: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary,
Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and
Slovenia.
