The Enlargement of the European Union and Ethnic Minorities Dr Dimitrina Petrova Presentation for ENAR conference “The Phenomenon of Racism in the New EU Member States” February 25, 2005, Budapest

Introduction: joining the acquis Role of EU enlargement process: (+) Same obligations for all accession countries but different levels of pressure Different degrees of transposition of EU Directive 2000/43 at May 1, 2004 and at present

Victims of racism in New MSs Roma (CZ, H, LT, LV, PL, SK, SLO) Russian speakers (EST, LV) Ethnic minorities (SLO the “erased”) Jews Muslims/Arabs/”terrorists” “Visible minorities”: Africans, Arabs, Asians Foreigners

Historical context 1 Why Roma Why ethnic minorities Communist legacy regarding racism: the reasons for denial –stress on social equality –downplaying of the Holocaust

Historical context 2: xenophobia in new MSs The specific ways in which BORDERS were drawn in the region Zygmunt Bauman: mixophilia and mixophobia as human propensities in urban cultures Why mixophobia is growing: the migrant stands for the frailty of the human condition Mixophobia strong when new borders and new order appear as values - which is the case resulting from a) post-communism; b) EU borders

Historical context 3: anti-Gypsism The “Gypsy” invasion in Europe Anti-Gypsism - born in Western Europe, 15th Century: combination of late arrival and otherness Prosecution in the West and movement back eastward Why the anti-Romani stereotype survived in Eastern Europe - role of communism Post-communist anti-Romani racism

Anti-Gypsism in public opinion polls CZ 1996: 87% don’t want Roma as neighbours CZ 1998: 65% generally negative attitude to Roma SK 1999: 87% don’t want Roma as neighbours SK 1999: 80% would not allow child to marry Roma PL 1996: 71% generally negative attitude to Roma PL 2000: 55% generally negative attitude to Roma (most disliked Belorussians) PL 2000: 77.1% Roma are dishonest PL 2003: 65% generally negative attitude to Roma (most disliked group) SK 1999: 60% in favor of housing and school segregation of Roma

Historical context 4: anti-Russian sentiment in Baltic States WWII - Pact Molotov-Ribbentrop: annexation or occupation in 1940 Between Europe and Russia: historic choices Russian’s sensitivity re WWII Recent offensive speech by politicians (e.g. LV President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, 30/01/2005

Manifestations of racism in education School segregation of Roma –ghetto schools –schools for the mentally handicapped (Ostrava case) Racism in the classroom Education reform in Latvia

Manifestations of racism in healthcare Denial of emergency care Segregated health care facilities Coercive sterilisation of Romani women Requirements for informal payments (bribes)

Manifestations of racism in housing Evictions from city centres of tenants (CZ) Preventing Roma from settling or buying houses in certain places (Gyure case, H) Discriminatory social housing regulations (against squatters, with disparate impact on Roma, H)

Legislative developments: ADL

Challenges of transposition of Art 13 Directives Delays due to insufficient political will Lacking or inadequate consultation process Technical legal problems concerning the consistency of the national legal system Problems arising from the novelty of legal concepts and approaches

Most frequent dilemmas on ADL One comprehensive anti-discrimination law vs different laws for the different grounds of discrimination Detailed descriptions of hypothetical discrimination cases vs framework/brief/general provisions Single equality body vs bodies specialised according to ground or sectoral field

Anti-racism movement: NGOs Relatively recent preoccupation with racism Role of international advocacy stronger Types of organisations and their funding Strong Romani civil society Mobilising role of –The UN Cf against racism Durban 2001 –The Race equality directive: legislative advocacy, AD test litigation

Comparing Old and New MSs Migrants (esp. “visible”) a more sensitive issue Expressions of racism more subtle and coded Corporate practices of diversity exist Case law exists incl. on indirect discrimination Stronger role of ethnicity in prejudice patterns Discrimination of Roma more systemic and larger-scale but also more policy: H, Decade RI Stronger racist bias among general population Expression of racism more overt No corporate practices of diversity Case law at very start