The influence of the EU-negotiation process on the socio-economic position of the Roma in Slovakia

The enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004, with mainly Central and Eastern European countries, was the first in which human and minority rights were included in the accession criteria. The protection of minority rights as a condition for EU-membership seemed promising for the large Romani minority in Slovakia. During the negotiation process in particular, the European Union had the opportunity to influence the socio-economic position of the Roma in Slovakia using possible EU-membership as a carrot.

However, during the first five years after Slovakia’s official application for EU-membership in 1992, the European Union turned out to be incapable of improving the situation of the Roma. This can be explained by the fact that although the respect for minority rights had been formulated in the "Copenhagen-criteria", the standards with which the acceeding counties needed to comply were not clearly defined. The policy agenda which the new member states needed to follow had not yet been set. In the same period the Slovak government led by prime minister Vladimir Meciar did not show much interest in obtaining EU-membership or integration in western structures. When the international community criticized the authoritarian and nationalistic approach of the regime, Slovakia reacted defensively if not offended. The unclear formulation of standards for human rights and minority protection by the EU and the unwestern orientated attitude of Slovakia did not contribute to a change of the social-economic position of the Roma in Slovakia.

Better times seemed to have arrived with the arrival of Mikulas Dzurinda as prime minister in 1998. Dzurinda proved himself to be a great protagonist of Slovak accession to the European Union. At the same time the European Union started the publication of annual reports by the European Commission. These reports detailed areas of improvement required for EU-membership, including the poor situation of the Roma. These clearer standards for minority protection combined with the western orientated new government resulted in the adoption of several laws and policies to improve the social-economic situation of the Roma in Slovakia. First of all, the controversial Language Law of 1995 (which Meciar, despite pressure from the European Union, had refused to change) was amended which gave more space for the usage of minority languages such as the Romani language.

In accordance with European directives a new Labour Law was adopted which sought to improve the position of Roma on the labour market. In addition, the "Action Plan Against Discrimination, Racism and Xenophobia" and the so called "Roma Strategy" were launched in order to improve the socio-economic position of the Roma in Slovakia. These developments contributed greatly to the establishment of a juridical foundation for the protection of Romani rights.

At first sight the newly adopted laws and policies seemed promising. However, in practice not much changed for the Roma on 1 May 2004 when Slovakia officially entered the European Union. Perhaps it is still too early to note the exact effects of the new approach of minority protection. On the other hand, the new laws and policies lack adequate implementation due to the low commitment to minority rights of Slovak officials. Prejudices and discrimination against Roma can be found in all layers of Slovak society and form the biggest obstacle for real change of the socio-economic situation of the Roma.

With the official entry of Slovakia to the European Union, minority protection has again become a matter of domestic Slovak policy. EU-membership can no longer be used to influence the Slovak government to improve the situation of the Roma. It can be said that de jure the situation of the Roma in Slovakia has improved during the negotiation process, but that de facto the Roma did not experience any difference. Now it is up to the Slovak government to prove if Slovakia is really committed to the improvement of the socio-economic situation of the Roma or that the new laws and policies were only a result of the eagerly wanted EU-membership.

Jetje Schram – This is a summary of Ms. Schram’s MA thesis for ‘Policy and Government in International Relations/International Organisations’, State University of Groningen, the Netherland. Full text is available here (in Dutch).