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EU accession: the Copenhagen political criteria in ten Central and East European countries
Minorities in Romania
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    Romania: 
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APADOR - Romanian Helsinki: ERRC:  UN documents: MINELRES Romania Page

European Commission on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI): First Round Report (1997)

Project on Ethnic Relations:

Access to Legal Aid for Indigent Criminal Defendants in Central and Eastern Europe: Romania Country Report, Monica Macovei, 1997 [Public Interest Law Initiative]

Human Rights Internet: For the Record 1998 and For the Record 1997

U.S. Department of State: Romania Human Rights Practices

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights Annual Reports on Romania Amnesty International reports on Romania:
  • AI Annual Report entry (1999)
  • AI Annual Report entry (1998)
  • AI Annual Report entry (1997)
Human Rights Watch Minorities at Risk Project files: Miscellaneous documents:
EU 
From the Commission's Regular Report on Romania's Progress Towards Accession, 1999:
 Prejudice towards Roma remains widespread. The Roma continue to be one of the most exposed social groups and the current economic crisis has resulted in deterioration  in their living conditions. Officially discrimination is not allowed by law. However, in practice there are numerous examples of illegal discrimination in employment and education. Anecdotal evidence indicates police brutality, prejudice, racist harassment and violence  but it is difficult to quantify. On the other hand there are examples of positive discrimination in the education system although this is still pilot projects.

 An Inter-ministerial Committee for National Minorities has been established and has contributed to strengthening the mechanism for Roma participation in the decision making process on Roma issues. The Roma community has set up a Working Group of Roma Associations  including elected representatives from the community, thus facilitating liaison with public authorities. 

 An agreement on  elaboration of a strategy for the protection of the Roma minority  has been signed between  the Department for the Protection of National Minorities and the Working Group. The Working Group of Roma Associations  has nominated 8 Roma experts as members of a sub-committee of  the Committee for National Minorities.

While progress can be registered in establishing the institutional framework to improve the conditions of the Roma, progress on the ground is very slow. It is important that both the Government and the Roma community remain committed to the elaboration and implementation of the strategy for the protection of Roma. Particular attention will have to be paid  to enforcement at regional and local levels  and the proper budgeting of measures foreseen. 

Phare
A search on the Phare Search Facility yields two programmes dealing with minorities (Roma) in Romania:
Objectives: The main objectives of the programme are to: contribute to the more efficient, effective and modern operation of the magistracy and enhance its capacity to meet the requirements of the acquis communautaire; provide in the short-term for the basic welfare needs of children in care and, in the longer-term, assist the central and local authorities to strengthen and diversify activities in the field of the protection of children's rights and improve the effectiveness of all services and institutions involved in child welfare.
Budget: 28 million Euros (none of which is allocated specifically to minorities)
Objectives: The objectives of the programme are to: set up, through a government strategy, the institutional, legal and policy basis for improving the social and economic situation of the Roma community, including respect for rights, as defined in national and international law; assist the government in implementing its comprehensive child care reform strategy, a priority in the context of meeting European Union pre-accession requirements. 
Budget: 12 Million Euros (of which 2 million is allocated to the Roma component)