Ministers' Deputies / Working Parties
GT-ROMS

Working Party with the task of examining the question of a possible forum for Roma and Travellers

GT-ROMS(2003)9-prov. (restricted) 17 September 2003

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Preliminary analysis of the replies to the questionnaire on forms of participation of Roma / travellers and related groups in decision-making processes

Item to be considered by the GT-ROMS at its meeting on 18 September 2003

Prepared by the Secretariat of the Migration and Roma / Gypsies Department -
DG III Social Cohesion

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Preliminary remarks

To date (10 September 2003) 25 Council of Europe member states have answered the questionnaire on the participation of Roma and Travellers in decision-making processes:

– Albania

– Andorra

– Belgium

– Cyprus

– Finland

– France

– Germany

– Hungary

– Ireland

– Iceland

– Latvia

– Lithuania

– Luxembourg

– Moldova

– Norway

– Poland

– Portugal

– Romania

– Slovakia

– Slovenia

– Spain

– Sweden

– Switzerland

– "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"

– Ukraine.

The text of the replies can be found on the Committee of Ministers website.

We have not yet received replies from a dozen countries with substantial Roma populations.

Some countries (Andorra, Iceland) said that there were no Roma or Travellers on their territory and consequently did not answer the questionnaire.

Little information has been collected on participation by Travellers.  France did not provide an exhaustive reply to the questionnaire, arguing that the French Constitution does not recognise the status of ethnic minority.  Issues relating to Travellers’ poverty and hand-to-mouth existence are dealt with under ordinary policies for combating exclusion.  Ireland considers that a distinction must be drawn between Irish Travellers, an indigenous community, and Roma, many of whom are asylum-seekers with a settled lifestyle; it therefore answered the questionnaire primarily in terms of its Roma population.  As a result, some questions on Travellers which could have been answered in greater detail were not dealt with (for example, strategy for Travellers’ access to healthcare).

Some countries gave specific and detailed answers to the questionnaire, while others replied in a more evasive manner.

Some member states (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden) stressed that it was difficult to give details of ethnic origin because it was legally impossible for them to collect statistics on an ethnic basis.

As this exercise is part of the discussions held by the GT-ROMS on the possibility of setting up a European forum for Roma and Travellers, the Secretariat has attempted in this preliminary analysis of the replies to the questionnaire to identify information that might contribute to the Deputies’ discussions, especially information providing indications as to the composition of such a forum and the representativity of its members on the basis of the various practices at national and local level.

This brief analysis therefore focuses on participation by Roma and Travellers:

– at the level of political parties;

– at the level of parliament;

– at the level of ministries, (inter)ministerial commissions and other governmental structures;

– at the level of non-governmental consultative structures and anti-discrimination councils;

– at the level of self-governments and/or representation at national, regional and local level;

– at the level of civil society;

– in terms of groups (tribes), languages and religious denominations.

The replies to questions on ombudspersons for minority and/or human rights (Chapter III) and on public institutions (Chapter VIII) have not been analysed in detail at this stage because they did not include indications as to the composition of a possible European forum and/or the representativity of its members.  However, the replies under Chapter III are of interest in the context of a future discussion by the Deputies of the possibility of setting up a post of European Ombudsperson for Roma, as proposed by Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1557(2002) on the legal situation of the Roma in Europe.

I.          At the level of political parties (Chapter I of the questionnaire)

Most of the member states which acknowledge that there are Roma and/or Travellers on their territory replied that there were no political parties at national/federal level specifically representing Roma or Travellers (Belgium, Cyprus, , Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine).  This may be for a variety of reasons:

1.         legislation formally prohibits the formation of political parties on an ethnic basis (which was the case in Albania until the adoption of the electoral law of February 2000);

2.         legislation authorises it, but the Roma minority has not formed a political party whether because of restrictive conditions or by choice or for lack of co-ordination;

3.         the interests of the Roma minority are represented by other parties, whether generic political parties, ie parties not defined on an ethnic basis (Hungary, Latvia), or parties belonging to other minorities (Albania, Finland).

There are almost no countries left in Europe that expressly prohibit the setting up of political parties on an ethnic basis.  However, restrictive conditions may be enshrined in legislation.  These conditions seem justified when the purpose is to ban political parties that promote racial hatred or may endanger the country’s territorial unity.  On the other hand, the obligation to obtain a relatively large number of citizens’ signatures, as is the case in Albania, can restrict access to political participation.  Many Roma do not have papers.  As they cannot prove their identity, citizenship or place of residence, it is impossible for them to exercise their electoral rights.

In case no.3, except for countries where Roma representatives have effectively succeeded in securing representation in parliament on the lists of so-called generic political parties (Hungary) or on the lists of parties representing minority interests, it is hard to check whether this system for participation in the political decision-making process really works for Roma.  In Slovakia, for example, it would seem that there are no elected Roma parliamentarians who were candidates on generic parties’ lists.  Finland said that three Roma candidates had stood in the last elections on generic parties’ lists but that none of them had been elected.  In addition, this system has two major disadvantages: Roma’s representation in generic parties will inevitably be marginal and will also be subject to the majority policy in the political movement to which the Roma representatives belong.  Roma/Travellers’ influence is consequently fairly limited.

Interestingly, it is just as difficult for Roma to carve out a place for themselves in political parties which also defend the interests of other minorities, where those who are elected and sit in parliament are usually (if not exclusively) representatives of other minorities (Albania, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"). 

Other member states such as Germany pointed out that although Roma’s interests were not represented in political parties, the latter were in agreement on the need to promote activities in favour of Roma, as evidenced by the virtually unanimous ratification of international legal instruments such as the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.  It is nonetheless difficult to assess this statement, given that these instruments do not exclusively concern the Roma minority.

However, there are some countries in Europe where political representation of Roma is not only possible but has materialised with the emergence of one or more political parties which have an ethnic basis or defend the interests of Roma communities.

In Slovakia, for example, there are up to 20 political parties representing the interests of Roma at national or regional level.  In Hungary there are also ten or so political parties, most of them active at regional level.  In these countries this does not preclude the incorporation of Roma issues into the election platforms of generic political parties or parties which defend the interests of other minorities - quite the reverse.  In Romania a party promoting the interests of Roma is represented in parliament.  In “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" there are five political parties which specifically represent the interests of the Roma community (out of a total of 69) and two others which defend the interests of Egyptians.

In the above-mentioned countries several competing Roma parties often emerge, reflecting different political slants as in the case of generic parties.  Admittedly, this system is probably more representative in terms of the interests of the community, which is directly identifiable, but it also has the disadvantage of generating division between the Roma parties, which usually benefits the generic parties.  To palliate this disadvantage, Roma parties have two options: either they decide to form a coalition among themselves to boost their chances of entering parliament and influencing policies on Roma communities (as in "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia") or they negotiate their support for a generic party and their entry into the government (as in Romania and Hungary).

II.         At the level of parliament (Chapter II of the questionnaire)

Only Romania indicated that it had a system of reserved seats for representatives of minorities.  Under the electoral law, a seat is reserved in the Chamber of Deputies for a Roma organisation (Partida Romilor) if it obtains at least 5% of the average number of votes required for the election of an “ordinary” MP.  In Romania, national minorities’ non-governmental organisations may stand for election in order to enter parliament.  Each national minority (except the Hungarian minority) may obtain only one seat, but the total number of representatives of minorities sitting in parliament is not restricted (it varies according to the number of minorities which obtain enough votes in the elections). 

This system of reserved seats does not exist in the other member states, or else this possibility does not apply to Roma but to other minorities (Slovenia).

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of Roma candidates elected on the lists of so-called generic political parties.  In Slovakia, for example, four Roma candidates have succeeded in entering parliament.  In Hungary, in the latest parliamentary elections in April 2002, four Roma were elected on the lists of two so-called generic parties (the Roma candidates on the list of a third generic party represented in parliament were not elected and other Roma candidates were included on the lists of political parties which did not manage to enter parliament).  Interestingly, this practice is on the increase. 

Several member states exercise positive discrimination in respect of parties representing minority interests, by lowering (Albania) or completely removing (Germany, Poland in the Lower Chamber) the electoral threshold allowing these parties to be represented in parliament.

Legislation in some countries (Germany) allows political parties defending minority interests to be funded by donations from the parent state.  However, in the specific case of minorities without a parent state, such as Roma, they cannot claim such a windfall and are therefore penalised by comparison with other minority groups.  No country appears to have put forward an alternative solution to this problem.

There are many parliamentary committees and sub-committees in Europe which deal with minority issues and therefore Roma issues, such as:

– human rights committees (and minority rights and/or religious affairs committees etc) - Albania, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Ukraine;

– domestic affairs committees - Germany, Slovenia;

– social affairs committees - Latvia;

– legal affairs committees - Germany, Ireland;

– education and cultural affairs committees - Latvia;

– regional development committees - Norway;

– petitions committees - Slovenia.

Where members of the Roma community have been elected to parliament, they tend to sit on these committees (Hungary, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia") or even to chair them (Romania).

Some countries do not have parliamentary committees dealing with minority issues (Luxembourg, Switzerland).

In 1999 Spain experimented with a parliamentary sub-committee which specifically looked into Gypsy issues (under the supervision of the Committee on Social Employment Policy); this committee no longer meets.  Likewise, in Hungary, there is a sub-committee specifically dealing with the employment of Gypsies (under the authority of the Committee on Employment Issues).

In countries with a federal structure such as Germany, the committees of each Land’s parliament responsible for dealing with Roma issues are those in charge of monitoring the affairs of the ministry with a predominant role in the defence of national minorities.  This varies from one Land to another.  In Spain regional parliaments (Andalusia, Aragon, Catalonia, Murcia) have tabled or indeed adopted a number of parliamentary initiatives specifically concerning Gypsies.

In some countries there is also the possibility of appointing representatives of minorities or religious groups (Cyprus) as observers in parliament with an advisory function in religious and educational matters, but this does not appear to concern Roma. 

An alternative solution practised in Finland is that of parliamentary hearings to which Roma representatives are invited if the topics discussed in parliament affect them.  Likewise, in Slovakia, there is an advisory body on the rights of the Roma minority, whose members are not parliamentarians; this body advises the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights.

In Cyprus “minorities” are defined as religious groups which have been asked, in order to make the Constitution applicable, to choose between membership of the Greek community or the Turkish community.  It appears from the answer to the questionnaire that the Roma have not been recognised as a fully-fledged religious group, but that “because of their religion (Muslim) [they are] considered as members of the Turkish-Cypriot community”.  They apparently live in the northern part of the island.

This is an indication which would have to be taken into account if the criterion of religious affiliation were adopted for the purposes of the composition of a European forum.  While it would seem normal, for the sake of equity, for all religious denominations to be represented in a European forum for Roma and Travellers, the fact remains that religious affiliation is not an essential cultural feature of these communities.  Consequently, legislation and parliamentary representation based on religious affiliation will on the whole fail to take account of the whole spectrum of Roma communities’ interests. 

III.        At the level of ministries, (inter)ministerial commissions and other governmental structures (Chapters IV and V of the questionnaire)

Nowadays representatives of the Roma community are quite often present at the level of the highest government bodies, in the form of advisory bodies or posts for Roma issues in a given ministry, or indeed in the Cabinet or the President’s Private Office.

–          Finland: Secretary General of the Advisory Board on Romany Affairs in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health / Cultural secretaries in the Romany Educational Unit in the National Board of Education / Roma advisers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

–          Hungary: State Secretary for Roma Issues under the Prime Minister’s Office and the Minister responsible for Minority Issues / Roma ministerial commissioner in the Ministry of Education / Roma desk officers in the Ministries of Education, National Cultural Heritage, the Interior, Information and Communication, Defence, Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Employment, Health, Social and Family Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment and the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as the Office for National and Ethnic Minorities.

–          Romania: Under-Secretary of State heading the National Office for Roma under the Department for Inter-Ethnic Relations, recently transferred from the Ministry of Public Information to the Prime Minister’s Office / Roma adviser to the President of the Republic / Adviser to the Prime Minister’s Office / Roma adviser to the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs.

–          Slovakia: Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities / Roma adviser to the Minister of the Interior.

–          Slovenia: Roma organiser in the Ministry of Culture.

In the absence of actual Roma advisers, there are government bodies or posts of minister, state secretary or adviser with specific responsibility for minority issues in general, such as:

–          Albania: Office for Minorities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

–          Belgium: Federal Minister of the Interior and regional ministers;

–          Cyprus: Ministry of the Interior;

–          France: Ministry of Social Affairs (Directorate General of Social Welfare);

–          Hungary: Office for National and Ethnic Minorities under the responsibility of the State Secretary for Roma Issues, who is attached to the Prime Minister’s Office;

–          Latvia: Minister without Portfolio for Social Integration Issues;

–          Lithuania: Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad;

–          Moldova: Department of Inter-Ethnic Relations of the Moldovan Government / Administration of Education for National Minorities in the Ministry of Education;

–          Norway: Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development;

–          Portugal: Office of the High Commissioner for Immigration and Ethnic Minorities;

–          Slovakia: Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Human Rights and Minorities;

–          Slovenia: Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Nationalities;

–          Spain: Administrative unit in charge of the programme for Gypsies in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs / Education Committee of the Gypsies Development Programme in the Ministry of Education;

–          Sweden: Ministry of Justice;

–          "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia": Roma adviser to the Ministry of Education and Science, Roma proof-reader/adviser to the parliament;

–          Ukraine: Ukraine State Committee on Nationalities and Migration.

Here again, one system does not preclude another.  However, given the specific nature of the issues concerning the Roma population and the fact that action to raise their living standards has been delayed for so long, a specialist government body would seem preferable to a body representing all minorities, in which Roma issues are diluted.

Most countries mentioned at least one ministry in which Roma or Travellers’ issues are dealt with.  This type of information would be of interest to the members of a possible forum to ensure a regular exchange of information with the ministries concerned.

In a few countries there is no system for addressing Roma or Travellers’ issues at governmental level.  In Switzerland two cantons have committees dealing with issues relating to campsites for Travellers.

Several countries have adopted a national and/or regional programme specifically for Roma or Travellers:

–          Albania: Government strategy for improving the Roma minority’s living conditions, in the process of being adopted (2003);

–          Belgium: In the Walloon Region, guidelines for the reception of Travellers issued in February 2000;

–          Finland: Strategies of the Policy on Roma published in 1999, followed by a working group memorandum published in 2001;

–          Hungary: Package of medium-term measures for improving Roma’s living conditions adopted in 1997, amended in 1999 and 2001 and accompanied each year by an action plan.  A new package of measures is being drawn up in 2003;

–          Lithuania: Government programme for the integration of Roma for the period 2000-2004 issued on 1 July 2000 (initial phase covering the central regions, to be extended to the entire country in 2005-2009);

–          Moldova: Government decision of 16 February 2001 on measures in support of Moldova’s Roma population for 2001-2010 (the framing of a national programme for Roma is currently under discussion);

–          Poland: Pilot governmental programme for the Roma community of the province of Malopolska for the period 2001-2003, adopted on 13 February 2001 and to be extended to the entire country in 2004;

–          Romania: Romanian Government strategy for improving the situation of Roma adopted on 25 April 2001 for the period 2001-2010, together with an action plan to implement it covering the period 2001-2004;

–          Slovakia: Strategy of the Government of the Slovak Republic for the solution of the Roma national minority’s problems and set of measures for implementing it (first stage for national level adopted in September 1999; second stage for regional and local levels adopted in May 2000) / basic theses of the policy conception of the Government of the Slovak Republic on the integration of Roma communities, adopted in April 2003;

–          Slovenia: Programme of measures to assist Roma adopted on 30 November 1995 (additional measures adopted on 1 July 1999);

–          Spain: Gypsies Development Programme adopted on 3 October 1989;

–          Ukraine: Regional programme (Zakarpattia) “Roma population for the period 2003-2006” adopted on 25 September 2002.

Other countries, including the members of the European Union, deal with these issues under Article 13 of the Treaty of European Union on discrimination on grounds of ethnic origin etc (Luxembourg).

The existence of specific governmental programmes for Roma communities and Travellers does not automatically lead to the setting up of interministerial commissions responsible for monitoring these programmes.  In Ukraine, for example, there is no such commission as yet.  Where these commissions exist, it is not always mandatory for Roma representatives to participate in them on a regular basis (Slovakia).  They nevertheless remain essential partners for implementing Roma policies at national level and should therefore be in contact with the members of a European forum.  The following interministerial commissions may be listed by way of example:

–          Albania: Interministerial commission under the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs (the network of Roma organisations appoints Roma representatives);

–          Hungary: Interdepartmental Committee whose vice-president is the State Secretary for Roma Issues; the President of the National Roma Self-Government, the Secretary of the Council for Roma Affairs, the Minorities Ombudsman and the public foundations in charge of Roma issues take part in the committee’s work as permanent guests;

–          Lithuania: Interdepartmental commission responsible for implementing the Roma Integration Programme (it includes representatives of the main Roma NGOs);

–          Poland: Sub-Team for Roma Issues, which is open to Roma representatives;

–          Romania: Joint Committee for Implementing and Monitoring the National Strategy on Roma (chaired by the Roma adviser to the Prime Minister);

–          Slovakia: Inter-Sectoral Commission for Roma Community Affairs;

–          Slovenia: Interdepartmental Committee for the Protection of the Roma Ethnic Community;

–          Spain: Advisory Commission for Monitoring the Gypsies Development Programme, composed of representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Self-Governing Communities and representatives of regional federations of Gypsy associations.

In Sweden, though there is no national programme for Roma, a Council for Roma Issues has been set up; its members include 16 representatives of Roma organisations.  It also includes various government bodies and is chaired by the Minister for Minority Issues.  However, the appointment of the Roma members, who are proposed by Roma organisations, can be vetoed by the minister. 

In Finland the Advisory Board on Romany Affairs in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is appointed by the government.  It has a maximum of 18 members, half of whom are Roma representatives.  The other half is composed of representatives of various ministries.  The General Secretary is of Roma origin.

In Hungary, besides the above-mentioned Interministerial Committee, an advisory Council for Roma Issues was set up in 2002.  It has 21 members, including the President of the National Gypsy Self-Government, the State Secretary for Roma Issues and Roma and non-Roma personalities.  It is chaired by the Prime Minister.

In France a National Advisory Commission for Travellers was set up in August 1999 and includes a 10-member college of Travellers. 

In Belgium, in the Walloon Region, a Mediation Centre for Travellers was set up in September 2001; it includes Travellers’ associations and is responsible for informing the communities and intervening in the event of disputes. 

In Ireland the Traveller Monitoring Group organised by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is responsible for monitoring progress on Traveller-related policies.  The NGO Pavee Point Traveller Centre is represented on this group, but Roma representatives are not.

Lastly, there are other types of ministerial commission or governmental council for minorities as a whole, which in principle include Roma or Travellers’ representatives.  In Norway, for example, a contact committee between representatives of national minorities and the authorities is to be set up in autumn 2003.  This country already has an interministerial co-ordination group on national minorities.

Ministerial commissions which offer Roma representatives the possibility of taking part in discussions and/or decision-making - on the model of interministerial commissions for Roma issues - should engage in exchanges of information with the members of a possible European forum.  They include the following ministerial commissions:

–          Finland: The Romany Educational Unit under the National Board of Education, composed of both Roma representatives and civil servants / the Advisory Board on Ethnic Relations in the Ministry of Labour and the Advisory Board on International Human Rights in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health sometimes deal with Roma issues too;

–          Romania: 16 ministerial commissions to discuss Roma issues, each of which includes a representative of a Roma NGO with expertise in the subject as well as the State Secretary (who is also a member of the Joint Committee);

–          Slovakia: Expert Commission for Minority Cultures: three Roma representatives / Governmental Council for National Minorities and Ethnic Groups: two Roma representatives.

However, these commissions do not systematically include minorities.  In "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" there is an interministerial committee for improving the participation of national minorities, including Roma, in the public administration and in industry, but it does not include Roma representatives.  Likewise, in Latvia, there are no representatives on the Consultative Council on Integration and Minority Issues.  As these bodies do not exclusively deal with Roma issues and do not necessarily envisage Roma taking an active part in decision-making, they are of little interest from the point of view of a European forum.

IV.        At the level of non-governmental consultative/advisory structures and councils for combating discrimination (Chapters III and VI of the questionnaire)

Roma representatives’ position and room for manoeuvre is all the more limited if the representative bodies on which they sit are non-governmental or purely advisory and if these bodies include representatives of all minorities.  That is the case in the following countries:

–          Belgium: In the Flemish Region there has been a Flemish Centre for Minorities since 1998, on which Travellers’ associations are represented.  There are Travellers units in some provincial integration centres;

–          Moldova: The Co-ordination Council of Ethno-Cultural Organisations, under the Department of Inter-Ethnic Relations, comprises representatives of the 20 ethnic groups.  At local level there is a similar body (Soroca district) which includes representatives of two Roma organisations;

–          Romania: The Council of National Minorities comprises 18 minorities, including three representatives of the Roma minority;

–          Spain: The State Council of Non-Governmental Social Welfare Organisations comprises representatives of all public interest groups; provision is made for the participation of two members of Gypsy organisations and social groupings;

–          Ukraine: The Council of Representatives of Civil Organisations of National Minorities: one Roma representative (of the Zakarpattia region) out of 33 / consultative body of representatives of pan-Ukrainian civil organisations of national minorities to the Ukraine State Committee on Nationalities and Migration: the chair of this body is Roma.

Generally speaking, consultative non-governmental bodies exclusively reserved for Roma are preferable.

In some countries there are anti-discrimination bodies of this kind which in practice, despite a generic title, deal among other things with the problems affecting Roma or Travellers.  This gives these communities an opportunity to be represented and/or defended at national level. 

–          Belgium: Centre for Equal Opportunities and Action against Racism.

–          Ireland: Pavee Point Traveller Centre hosts and sponsors the Roma Support Group, which provides information to asylum-seekers.

–          Luxembourg: Special Standing Committee against Racial Discrimination (a subordinate body of the National Council for Foreigners).

–          Latvia: National Human Rights Office dealing with discrimination issues. 

–          Portugal: Advisory Council for Immigration Issues.

–          Romania: National Council for Combating Discrimination (without Roma representatives) / there is a Roma representative in the ombudsman’s office.

–          Switzerland: Federal Commission against Racism / public Foundation “Securing Swiss Travellers’ Future”: five Travellers’ representatives out of 11.

V.         At the level of self-governments and representation at national, regional and local level (Chapter VII of the questionnaire)

Most countries do not have the system of self-government.  In some countries the system exists, but does not concern Roma (Slovakia).  On the other hand, this system has been highly developed in Hungary since 1994 at national, regional and local level.  There are currently 998 Roma self-governments.

In "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" the system of self-government operates at local level.  For example, a municipality (Šuto Orizari) with a substantial majority of Roma is headed by a Roma mayor and 14 of the 17 local councillors are Roma.

Some Roma candidates are elected at municipal and/or regional level:

– in Hungary four Roma have been elected mayor and there are 478 Roma representatives in local authorities;

– in Slovakia 158 Roma parliamentarians (out of 756 Roma candidates) and 10 Roma mayors have been elected in the local self-governments (out of 21 Roma candidates for the office of mayor in towns and villages);

– in Slovenia three laws were amended in 2002 to enable Roma to participate in local affairs.  Roma now have the right to elect a councillor in 20 municipalities.

In Moldova there is an expert body on national relations and the functioning of languages, which is answerable to local authorities. 

In Poland the offices of the Plenipotentiary of the Provincial Government for National Minorities have been opened, but the offices’ legal basis and functioning have not yet been clearly worked out.

In Finland advisory boards on Romany affairs will be made permanent in four provinces by government decree at the beginning of 2004.  Their mode of operation and membership are identical to those of the national board (see above).  Some of these boards employ Roma secretaries.

In Romania county offices on Roma are placed under the authority of the Ministerial Commission on Roma under the Ministry of Local Administration; they are responsible for implementing the strategy at local level.  At least one of the three or four people employed by these offices must be of Roma origin (42 regions altogether).  There are also posts of local experts on Roma affairs in the municipalities, but these duties are combined with the existing duties of municipal officials and do not therefore guarantee membership of the Roma community.

VI.        At the level of civil society (Chapter IX of the questionnaire)

In the past 15 years a substantial number of Roma associations have been officially registered in Europe (the term “association” used here covers citizens’ associations, foundations, religious institutions, non-profit organisations etc).  Some countries have more than 100 such associations.

– Albania: 8 Roma organisations.

– Belgium: A Travellers’ association at national level, a Travellers’ association in the Walloon Region and a Roma association in Flanders.

– Finland: 7 organisations at national level and several local organisations.

– France: About 50 associations.

– Hungary: Between 250 and 270 Roma associations.

– Latvia: An association at national level and an association at local level.

– Lithuania: 7 Roma organisations at national level and one branch at local level.

– Moldova: 7 organisations at national level and 5 at local level.

– Norway: 4 national organisations and a branch of an international organisation.

– Poland: 20 or so Roma organisations.

– Romania: More than 100 associations.

– Slovakia: 223 Roma associations.

– Slovenia: 22 Roma associations at municipal level.

– Spain: About 350 Gypsy associations at national, regional and local level.

– Sweden: 30-40 local associations.

– Switzerland:  2 organisations.

– "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia": More than 100 associations.

– Ukraine: 45 organisations.

Not all these organisations can be placed on the same footing, since some of them have only a few members, often from the same family (“vitsa”).  Others are represented only at local level, while still others cover the regional and/or national levels.  Some have specific aims (sports associations, women’s associations, cultural and artistic associations), while others aim to deal with all issues.  In some countries there are hierarchical systems in which umbrella organisations are divided into national branches which are themselves divided into local branches:

–          Albania: A Network of Albanian Roma NGOs was set up on 7 March 2003;

–          Hungary: There are three large umbrella organisations (Lungo Drom, Roma Parliament, National Foundation of Roma Organisations).  The Roma self-governments have also set up federations in some counties and there is a network of 60 Roma community centres and 50 legal aid offices.

–          Ireland: Roma Support Group - informal;

–          Slovakia: Numerous unspecified umbrella organisations;

–          Slovenia: Association of Slovenian Roma;

–          Spain: Three organisations operate as a network (Union Romani, Foundation of the Gypsy Secretariat General, National Association of the Gypsy Community);

–          Sweden: National Roma Union for a majority of Roma groups and Roma International for Kaale;

–          Switzerland: Radgenossenschaft der Landstrasse;

–          "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia": Roma 2002, a network of 14 Roma NGOs;

–          Ukraine: Congress of Ukrainian Roma.

VII.       In terms of groups (tribes), languages and religious denominations

Country	Official number of Roma/Travellers (census)	Estimated number of Roma/ Travellers	Groups/tribes (recognition under the Framework Convention)	Languages (recognition under the Languages Charter)	Religious denomination
Albania	No information.	-	-	-	-
Andorra	No Roma	-	-	-	-
Belgium	No information.	-	Belgium has not ratified the Framework Convention.  However, in the Flemish Region, Travellers belong to the “minorities” group together with “allochthonous” people and refugees	-	-
Cyprus	-	1,500	Regarded from the constitutional point of view as belonging to the Turkish-Cypriot community.	-	Muslim.
Finland	-	10,000 (plus about 3,000 or 4,000 Finnish Roma in Sweden)	Finnish Roma (Kaale). Recognised as an “ethnic national minority”.	The Romani language is used only as a second language.	Belong mainly to the Lutheran Evangelical Church
France	No information	-	-	-	-
Germany	-	70,000	Two groups: the Roma and Sinti are recognised as a “national minority” (associations of German Sinti do not want to be recognised as a “national minority” but as an “ethnic group within the German people”).	Romani dialect (about 60,000 speakers) protected by the Charter.
Hungary	190,000 (2001)	600,000	Three main groups: Hungarian gypsies (Romungro, about 80%), Vlach Roma (10-15%), Beash Roma (5-10%). Roma are recognised as an “ethnic minority”..	The Romungro speak Hungarian.  The Vlachs speak dialects (Lovari) of the Romani language.  The Beash speak a variety of old Romanian.  According to official statistics, Hungarian is the mother tongue for 90%, Romani for 5% and Beash for 5%.  The two languages are protected by the Charter (Part II).
Ireland	-	2,000-2,500 Roma (no figures supplied for Travellers)	Roma asylum-seekers since 1998, from the Balkans and east Europe.  They have the status of “foreign ethnic minority”.	-	-
Iceland	No Roma	-	-	-	-
Latvia	-	8,000	No information on the groups.  Latvia has not ratified the Framework Convention.		Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox
Lithuania	2,570 (2001)	-	Mainly Polish Roma.  Recognised as a “national minority”.	Local dialect of the Romani language.	Mainly Catholic
Luxembourg	No Roma	-	-	-	-
Moldova	11,571 (1989)	-	No information on the groups.  Roma have the status of “national minority”	-	-
Norway		2,000-3,000 Roma/ Travellers and 300-400 Roma/Gyprsies	Two distinct groups: Roma/Gypsies (Vlachs) and Roma/ Travellers recognised as “national minorities”.	No statistics.	-
Poland	…. (2002)	20,000	Three groups which are currently becoming settled: Polska Roma (the largest), Lovara and Kalderasha. A settled group: Carpathian Roma.	Various dialects of Romani.	Mainly Catholic.
Portugal	No information	-	-	-	-
Romania	535,000 (2002)	1.2 million - 2.2 million	No information on the groups. Roma recognised as a “national minority”.	The Romani language will be recognised by the Languages Charter.	-
Slovakia	89,920 (2001)	370,000-400,000	Rumungri (settled) and Vlach Roma (nomadic) and some Sinti.  Status as a “national minority”.	Several variants of Romani Chib (that of eastern Slovakia has gained the upper hand).  49 of the 53 provisions of Part III of the Charter apply to the Romani language.

Slovenia	3,246 (2002)	7,000-10,000 Roma	Three groups originally from Hungary, Croatia and Austria (Sinti).  Recognised as an “ethnic group/minority”.	3,834 speakers of the Romani language (officially). Recognised under Article 7, § 1-4 of the Charter)
Spain	-	600,000-650,000	-	-	-
Sweden	-	40,000-50,000 Roma (including Sinti and Travellers)	Non-Nordic Roma from central Europe and the Balkans (Lovara, Arlija), Kelderasha, Finnish Kaale and Travellers (Roma are recognised as a “national minority”.	Romani Chib is recognised as a national minority language; Arlij is spoken by the group from the Balkans.	Arlija are Muslim.
Switzerland	-	35,000 Yenish: 32,000 settled and 3,000 semi-settled	Yenish (main group), Sinti (Travellers are regarded as a “national minority”).	Yenish (recognised as a traditional language under Article 1.c)	-
"the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"	43,707 (1994)	-	Roma (Barucii, Topaancani, blacksmiths, Dzjambas and others), and Egyptians.  The Roma are recognised as a “national minority” or “nationality”.	Romani language recognised under the Charter.	Muslim, Christian (Orthodox), atheist (31%)
Ukraine	47,600 (2001)	-	Lovari, Servys, Colderari (Roma are regarded as a “national minority”.	-	Christian (Orthodox)

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