80 per cent of Roma at risk of poverty

The human rights of Roma are undermined by widespread deprivation in EU member states, according to a new report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).

The report found 80 per cent of Roma at risk of poverty, compared with 17 per cent across the EU.

Michael O’Flaherty, FRA director, said: “Our manifest inability in Europe to honour the human rights of our Roma communities is unacceptable.

“The levels of deprivation, marginalisation, and discrimination of Europe’s largest minority is a grave failure of law and policy in the EU and its Member States. The publication of these findings provides an opportunity to galvanise policy makers into action and focus resources on redressing this intolerable situation.”

The report’s findings were derived from face-to-face interviews with nearly 8,000 Roma in nine EU member states.

The FRA said the report underlines the need for early childhood learning support and integrated schooling; better employment opportunities and greater social protection; and targeted education and training to specifically help Roma youths and Roma women in their transition from primary to secondary education and then work.