NRC

What is your name and current position?

Viktoria Mohacsi, MEP

What is your political belonging as a member of the European Parliament?

Alliance of Liberal Democrats for Europe.

Please describe your previous activities before becoming an MEP (short biography).

Arany János Gimnázium, Berettyóújfalu (1989-1993). Philosophy Faculty, Szeged University, Communication Department, Budapest (1997-2002).

Boom Film documentary film series (Dutch), reporter (1996-1999). Joint Eastern Europe Centre for Democratic Education and Governance Assimilated with Syracuse University, education project, expert (1998-2000). BBC World Service Training, Budapest (1998). International Deliberative Democracy Workshop, Washington D.C. (1999). World Bank: Researcher, Roma Programmes in Hungary (2000). Member, Board for Legal Protection of the Roma and Media Aspects, Soros Foundation (1999-2000). Educational Research Institute: Researcher and adviser, research project on segregation of the Roma in schools (2000-2001). Editor, BeszélÅ‘ television programme, Hungarian ATV. Presenter, ‘Amit szabad Jupiternek’ (What is permitted to Jupiter) human rights magazine.

Ministerial commissioner, Ministry of Education (2002-2004).

What is your opinion about the current Roma situation in Europe?

The post-1989 era in Europe has seen an outbreak of intense anti-Romani sentiment in both Eastern Europe.

Systematic persecution of Roma took place in countries including Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine and Yugoslavia.

At present, anti-Romani sentiment is present in most, if not all, European societies and is extremely high in some countries. Ex. According to one recent survey, 79% of Czechs would not want Roma

The situation of the Roma in Central and Eastern Europe is one of the most challenging poverty issues to emerge during the transition from socialism, no single ethnic group has been so consistently excluded from the opportunities brought about by the transition than the Roma.

The treatment of Roma is today among the most pressing political, social and human rights issues facing EU.

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Would you like to briefly describe your background and your current position?

I was born in Skopje in 1947. I completed the theater play director course at the Theater, Film, Radio and Television Academy in Belgrade in 1970. I am currently working as a full-time professor of acting at the Dramatic Arts Faculty in Skopje. Since 1992 I have been the executive manager of the Foundation Open Society Institute Macedonia (FOSIM). I am proud of my contribution to the beginnings of the Pralipe theater. Specifically, I have selected Rahim Burhan’s first play (it was staged in Macedonian) for the Amateurish Dramatic Reviews, I held a small seminar in the Sutka warehouses and I suggested they stage the second play in the Roma language. As a professor, I am proud to have two talented Roma female students, Sanela (she has already graduated) and Emran (she is second year now).

What is your view on the current situation in the Republic of Macedonia regarding the state’s attitude toward and treatment (certainly following the numerous and lengthy reforms of the institutions and the state’s systematic changes) of the minorities and sensitive groups?

On the one hand, I feel somewhat pleased because Macedonia is ahead of all the surrounding countries in a number of things when it comes to the non-majority communities. On the other hand, I am dissatisfied because I thought and hoped that Macedonia would advance faster in a number of things, including the minorities and the vulnerable groups. It becomes clear straight away that, just like in many other states, the Roma are the most marginalized non-majority community in every aspect. There are numerous reasons for this, which the state and the politicians may use as an explanation, but not as an excuse.

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Lívia Járóka

What is your name and current position?

Lívia Járóka, Member of the European Parliament from Hungary.

What is your political belonging as a member of the European Parliament?

I am a member of FIDESZ (Hungarian Civic Union) and the Group of the European People’s Party and European Democrats and I serve on the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality as the deputy coordinator for European People’s Party and European Democrats group, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs and the Committee on Culture and Education .

Please describe your previous activities before becoming an MEP (short biography).

After getting MA in sociology from the Central European University Warsaw campus I made an MA in philosophy at Social Anthropology at University College London. Once, finishing my MA in philosophy I continued my studies at the same university, and started my doctorate study titled “The Politics of Ethnic Identity among Roma in Hungary”. I have been actively participated in Hungarian and international Roma civil rights movement for 10 years.

What is your opinion about the current Roma situation in Europe?

A huge number of Roma faces severe discrimination and exclusion in educational systems throughout Europe. The Roma also face important obstacles in obtaining employment. Often, this is related to their inability to receive an sufficient education, particularly as Europe becomes an increasingly knowledge-based economy.Iinefficient education, ghetto housing and chronic unemployment, are self-evidently interlinked, causing a vicious circles.

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