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The new Eurobarometer on Discrimination shows the persistence of antigitanism in the EU, with some improvements compared to 2015 [editar]

Over all groups, discrimination against Roma people is considered the most widespread (61% on average in the EU, and 65% in Spain).

28/10/2019
FSG Igualdad y Lucha contra la discriminación

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The new Eurobarometer on Discrimination shows the persistence of antigitanism in the EU, with some improvements compared to 2015

Anti-gypsyism remains a widespread reality in all EU countries. There is less hostility and better coexistence in countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden or the United Kingdom, and greater anti-Gypsyism in countries such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, or Italy.

 The European Commission has just published a new Special Eurobarometer on Discrimination in Europe. This is a large survey of almost 28,000 people from the 28 EU states (in Spain the sample was 1,005 people). The study includes the majority of groups or people who are often subject to discrimination: by ethnicity and skin colour, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, religion or belief, and for being a gypsy person. The previous Eurobarometer on discrimination was carried out in 2015, approximately every three years.

Of all these groups, discrimination against Roma people is considered the most widespread (61% on average in the EU, and 65% in Spain). Interestingly, among Roma people this perception is similar (64%) to that of non-Roma people.

Regarding the question of whether “would you feel comfortable having a Roma person as a maximum political position/representation”, only 49% would feel comfortable (average in the EU). Spain shows a much more positive percentage, 72% would feel comfortable with this situation. Together with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Sweden, it is one of the highest percentages.

64% of the European population would feel comfortable having daily contact with a Roma person. This data represents an improvement of 12 points compared to 2015, where only 54% felt comfortable in this situation. In Spain, again, the percentage is much more positive compared to the European average: 81% would feel comfortable. This contrasts with other countries with a high anti-Roma sentiment, such as Bulgaria, Lithuania, or Italy, where the data is only 40%.

A worrying fact is that only 48% (on average in the EU) would feel comfortable if one of their sons or daughters had a romantic relationship with a Roma person. In Spain, the figure rises to 65% (even so, it is striking that 35% of non-Roma Spaniards cannot accept this affective relationship). In spite of everything, these data represent an improvement with respect to those of 2015: 9 points in the European average, and 16 in the case of Spain.

Regarding the question of whether “would you feel comfortable if your son or daughter had a Roma boy or girl as a classmate,” only 39% would feel comfortable, in the European average. The evolution in the last 4 years is hopeful, since this data represents an increase of 8 points. Again, the situation in Spain is somewhat better, with 50% of people who would feel comfortable (although it is unfortunate that half of Spaniards and non-Roma Spaniards maintain that attitude of rejection or discomfort towards Roma children).

72% of Europeans consider that the educational curriculum should include information on the culture and history of the Roma people. In Spain this data increases to 86% (the highest percentage of all EU countries), in contrast to countries such as Bulgaria or the Czech Republic, where 45% is against this idea, despite having a significant Roma population.

61% of Europeans believe that society would benefit from better integration of Roma people (in Spain 82%). However, only 19% of Europeans believe that the efforts made by their country to integrate their Roma population are effective (Roma people support this idea more, 29%). In Spain this perception is well above the European average: 28% believe that the efforts in our country are being effective.

With regard to having lived experiences of harassment or discrimination in the last 12 months, half of the Roma (49%) have experienced situations of discrimination or anti-Gypsyism. This is one of the social groups with the highest discrimination / harassment rates, only surpassed by LGBT people (58%) and people with disabilities (52%).

As regards the fight against discrimination, only 30% of Spaniards believe that our country's efforts in this area are effective (the EU average is 26%).

As a general assessment, it is clear from these data that anti-Gypsyism remains a widespread reality in all EU countries. There is less hostility and better coexistence in countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden or the United Kingdom, and greater anti-Gypsyism in countries such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, or Italy. There is the curious circumstance that countries with very low or no Roma population also show great hostility towards the Roma people.

From the FSG we taking in consideration the importance of continuing to study the reality of anti-Roma discrimination. These data show us, on the one hand, the need to continue fighting against anti-gypsyism, and on the other, they also reveal encouraging advances in the coexistence between Roma and non-Roma people.

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