EU-Report Accession Bulgaria

Minority rights and the protection of minorities

As reported in previous years, Bulgaria has a good Framework Programme on integration of minorities targeted at the Roma. Regrettably, however, this has not yet been put into practice. There has been very little change in the situation of the Roma minority since the last Regular Report, and there are no significant developments in their socio-economic situation and living conditions to report. Roma continue to suffer from social inequalities due to the accumulation over time of factors that have worsened living conditions. There has been no change in the very high rates of unemployment. If serious actions are not taken urgently, further deterioration can be expected. Discrimination, and cases of violence against members of the Roma community continue to be reported. This situation needs to be addressed urgently. In this context, the adoption of comprehensive antidiscrimination legislation would be an important step forward.

Living conditions for the Roma remain extremely poor. There is little progress to report on the call in the Framework Programme for municipalities to legalise illegally-built homes in Roma neighbourhoods, which means there is very limited access to public services. Where measures are taken, this is mainly through EC and other donor-funded projects. Major urbanisation projects are under way in Sofia and Plovdiv. Few municipalities in Bulgaria have approved strategic plans for regional development where projects for legalising the illegal Roma housing and the urbanisation of Roma quarters are included.

Problems remain as regards access to the health care system. Not all of the Roma population is aware of the procedures and the need to have health insurance. Financial contributions required from the patients, no matter how small, are often too high. Participation in education remains poor. Poverty is one of the factors in this, as families cannot provide their children with basic items for school or children have to help with income generation. Out of Roma children who do enter school, very few go on to secondary education. As reported last year, schools in Roma areas remain in practice segregated and offer low-quality education and poor facilities. Roma make up about 32% of children in ``special'' schools and 21% of children in labour education schools. Efforts need to be made to combat segregation and encourage integration. Whilst some initiatives are underway through donors to address segregation, this is not yet in practice a Government policy.

If the Framework Programme is to be effectively implemented, institutional and administrative strengthening of the National Council on Ethnic and Demographic Issues (NCEDI) is essential. Whilst some new appointments of well-qualified people have been made, this is insufficient. Roma representation in the public administration at central level is very limited. At municipal level, many municipalities have a Roma expert or Roma Council. At local level, as of May 2002, 12 out of 28 districts had adopted district programmes on integration of minorities and five of these planned concrete activities.

There have been signs of increased tension between the Roma and ethnic Bulgarian communities. Roma protests were observed in some cities where people claimed that they have not been paid welfare benefits for a long time. Violent protests by the Roma community took place in Stolipinovo, one of the areas most densely populated by Roma families on the outskirts of Plovdiv, after the local electricity company cut off the power due to unpaid electricity bills.

The Turkish minority is integrated into political life through elected representation at national and local levels and increasing representation in public administration. Further efforts are still needed for the socio-economic integration of those ethnic Turks who live in economically underdeveloped regions.

In April 2002, the Minister of Education and Science created a Consultative Council on Education of Children and Schoolchildren from the Minority Groups. Its role includes the preparation and implementation of a national education strategy for the integration of children from the minority groups, including proposing concrete measures for the desegregation of schools.

Seminars for journalists from local, regional and national media were carried out to raise positive public awareness on minority issues.

As reported in previous years, Bulgaria is a party to the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. In view of delays on the Bulgarian side in reporting on the implementation of the Convention, the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention has not yet adopted an Opinion on Bulgaria.

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