The social situation of the Roma and their improved accessto the labour market in the EU : Study: IP/A/EMPL/FWC/2006-05/SC4

This study sets out to analyse the social and legal situation of the Roma and the policies of inclusion adopted in the European Countries with particular attention to those fostering accessto the labour market. To address these issues the study outlines the legal and socio-economic condition of the Roma Community across Europe, providing a brief overview of the maincharacteristics of a population composed of sub-communities with some common features butwith different historic and cultural backgrounds. The study focuses more on the differencesbetween the communities than on the similarities. As the aim of the study is to offersuggestions and policy options, it is worth pointing out that policies designed to take thesedifferences into account have better chances of being accepted by the communities, and soproving more effective, than ‘generic’ polices for ‘the Roma’. For example, policiesaddressing isolated and rural communities of illegal Roma have to consider specific issuesdifferent from those for urban Protestant Roma legally resident in the country and vice versa.Specific attention is paid to the legal status of the Roma, as it is highly differentiated acrossthe European Member States and within each country according to the specific group considered