Civil rights organizations condemn insufficient representation for Roma in European Parliament despite right-leaning party progressions

Newly elected members from over 70 countries across Europe will gather for their first meeting on Tuesday. Among them, no representatives identify as Roma, according to advocates for this ethnic minority group, who describe it as a significant setback.

“We’re facing an unprecedented situation,” said Ismael Cortés, an associate professor at the Unesco Institute of Philosophy for Peace. “Out of 720 seats in the European parliament, none are designated for Roma people.”

Since the EU's expansion in 2004, the number of Roma MEPs had grown steadily, reaching four in previous sessions. However, this time around, an estimated six million Roma living throughout the EU will not have representation within the parliament.

However, parties on the right-wing fringe - particularly those based in France, Germany, Italy, and Austria - secured substantial gains during elections, gaining them a voice when it comes to determining the future of Europe's institutions.

“It’s extremely paradoxical,” said Cortés, pointing out instances where far-right groups have targeted Roma communities. “The European minority that has been scapegoated most and continues to be marginalized is now without representation.”

This could pose significant risks for Roma populations, as these individuals had previously played a crucial role in countering anti-Roma rhetes and hate speech within the parliament. Without this platform, such negative sentiments may go unchecked, affecting not only Roma communities but also potentially other marginalized groups.

The lack of representation could undermine efforts to address ongoing challenges that many Roma communities face - including access to quality housing or education for their children in schools throughout the EU. Without a voice within parliamentary discussions, these issues may be overlooked altogether.

As they expressed concerns, advocates for Roma rights blamed political parties for this situation, citing exclusion from top positions on candidate lists during recent elections as one potential factor. Discriminatory practices and prevalent biases against minority groups have contributed to a lack of trust within the Roma community in the political system.

“This is a significant loss,” said Hrabanova, an executive director at an organization dedicated to supporting Roma grassroots movements across Europe. “We feel invisible everywhere. We’re not present in media or high culture.”

Although statistics on ethnicity and race are not maintained by the European parliament, advocates estimate that there may be over 10% of Roma people in certain regions of the EU. Without any representation, they argue, this lack of diversity runs counter to Europe's values.

“The absence of even a single representative from such a significant minority group is deeply troubling,” said Hrabanova. “We must ensure that our institutions mirror and reflect the society we aspire for.”

In order to navigate policy decisions impacting Roma communities, advocates will have to rely on allies within parliament - an arrangement that may not adequately address issues of exclusion and inequality without broader representation.

Cortés emphasized the importance of aligning institutions with Europe's motto of “United in Diversity” while acknowledging current shortcomings in including Roma voices. He added, "If we allow discriminatory practices to persist within our political system, what message do we send to European society as a whole?"