“There are so many horrendously unacceptable things going on in the world today, but there is one going on unnecessarily and under our noses in or own backyard. The last bastion of culturally acceptable racism is against the Roma/Gypsy/Travellers (RGT). I hope you will agree that we need to challenge this and will join with me in exposing prejudices and myths and promoting positive aspects of RGT culture.” Quote from Ruth Barnett

To be totally honest from the start, I never really paid attention to the plight of a group of people, labelled as thieves and villains, dirty and poor, to be avoided at any cost. I could not believe that a group of people who lived within the EU could still face the type of negative stereotyping that should have be abolished years ago.

European history has been marred with devastating events in which people from one group have tried to exterminate another more vulnerable group. The European Union was meant to bring countries together for socially, economic and political freedom, so why does this acceptable form of racism still exist?

I was walking through the Madrid underground in the morning with people in a rush to go to work. People were just like Londoners, not really paying attention to who may be around them and ensuring that the whole crowd moves in unison with each other. I glanced to my right and almost jumped with fear. A woman was standing with her hands out, staring with one eye. Where her other eye should have been was stitched up skin.

Being totally unprepared for that image on route to the airport, I was staring in amazement that everybody else was just walking past, paying no attention. My friend told me not too worry, they take out their eyes so that they can earn more money.

I couldn’t believe what I had just heard but then again, I had never had to live with what some people call, the Roma issue.

Back in London, I was still troubled by the remarks of my friend so started reading into the issue. Luckily for me an event was taking place that was bringing together key EU officials and other concerned people on the matter to discuss a way forward.

The conference challenged the attendees to take a different look, as Roma are ordinary people just like you and me. There should be a respect for heritage rather than only sharing one’s own way of life. Society should create successful people to inspire others in their communities. Lastly the social and economic state should work to advantage those who are marginalised regardless of ethnic background.

The speakers included Zoltan Balog, Minister of State for Social Inclusion, Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director for Equality at the European Commission and some academics from University College London.

Hungary is the battle ground, where far-right parties are capitalising and exploiting crimes committed by Roma people. Hungary has had the most forward thinking strategies in terms of integrating Roma but at the same time, have the most racist consequences with people rejecting integration policies

The Movement for a Better Hungary have been winning more and more support for its policies. The shift in public perception has swung to the populist movements that actually speak for those concerned with jobs, security and future prosperity.

People are not getting jobs and schools are failing the children. Hungarian society is fragmented in two with no meaningful interactions between people. The rise of teenage motherhood is creating a growing number of children being born with no prospects what-so-ever. The temperature is rising.

I should add that it is not just Hungary that is dealing with these issues; it seems that across Europe, Roma are seen as an undesirable stain. The sad thing is that the European policy makers seem to be moving rather slow on the matter. France expelled Roma from its country with no repercussions.

It came as a pleasant surprise to learn that on the 19^th of May, Mr Balog announced a framework to integrate Roma into nations around Europe. Let’s hope these words have some meaning. The committee will report annually to generate debate at the highest level, almost creating peer pressure for states to take more actions and challenge current stagnate attitudes.

One problem is that most European integration and decisions being made in Brussels having a real impact on people’s lives. People feel powerless and unrepresented by the cultural, social and economic differences across Europe. There is a shift in public perception of the open city policies that used to exist in places like London. The lack of accountability and the lack of political imagination to resolve this issue are frightening.

Globalisation should be dealt with in both positive and negative ways. We can’t ignore the fact that national belonging brings a strong sense of pride for many people. However we can still argue for transnationality, social solidarity and the importance of pluralism. Or to put it simply learn to appreciate the beauty in others.

We can rebuild the old social orders which gave meaning to people’s lives by facing this very serious social challenge. Let’s end discrimination and allow people to enjoy the same rights as other Europeans.