Serbia, Macedonia Visa proposals fuel Roma tensions

20 Jun 2011 | asylum roma

‘Public Service’ reports that EU proposals to allow temporary reintroduction of visas for third countries are fuelling ethnic tensions for Roma in Serbia and Macedonia. In 2010, according to Eurostat data, 17,745 Serbian and 7,550 Macedonian nationals applied for asylum in the EU, the overwhelming majority being Roma. The EU proposal is a clear answer to this surge in asylum applications, whereas the article points out the various forms of discrimination Roma children and adults face in these countries. Local media and policy makers have labelled the asylum seekers bogus asylum seekers who are merely motivated by the perspective to cash on the return assistance, increasing tensions between Roma and non-Roma communities.

Source : Public Sevice