Czech Romanies feel most discriminated from EU countries

published: 22.04.2009, 17:47 | updated: 22.04.2009 17:59:12

Romové v ČR se cítí diskriminováni nejvíc v EU

Vienna - Almost two-thirds of Romanies in the Czech Republic felt some discrimination over the past 12 months, which was the highest figure in EU countries, according to a European survey on the situation of minorities conducted by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and released.

The poll focused on the situation of immigrants and ethnic minorities in EU countries, enquiring whether they encounter discrimination.

The Romanies were watched in seven countries, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.

Roughly 83 percent of Romanies in the Czech Republic believe that discrimination is rife in the Czech Republic.

In Slovakia, the view is held by 80 percent of Romanies, in Hungary by 90 percent, in Greece by 78 percent, in Poland by 76 percent, in Romania by 41 percent and in Bulgaria by 36 percent.

The survey of unequal treatment focused on search for jobs, housing, health care, social services, restaurants and banks.

Discrimination in these spheres was experienced by 64 percent of Romanies in the Czech Republic.

Discrimination in services was experienced by 42 percent of Czech Romanies and the same figure was found among Slovak Romanies.

In Poland, 48 percent of Romanies complained about unequal treatment in services.

The number of Czech Romanies is very roughly estimated at 250,000, but no reliable data are available.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz

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Tags: Europe, EU, Slovakia, minorities, discrimination, Romanies,