Segregated, isolated, forgotten: The human toll of discriminatory EU projects

An analysis of 63 projects across six EU member states found that over one billion euros of the budget were allocated to discriminatory projects.

According to EU News, the report highlighted initiatives such as segregated housing for Roma communities, boarding institutions for children with disabilities, and detention centers for asylum seekers, noting that a substantial portion of the EU budget has been used for projects that violate the rights of marginalized communities.

One of the report’s authors stated that the total budget spent on such projects exceeds one billion euros, adding: “It appears that a low understanding of fundamental rights has become evident across this bloc.”

Although the report focused on six countries, its authors and contributors suggest that similar projects are likely widespread throughout the European Union.

An expert described the issue as “the tip of the iceberg” and “unacceptable,” stating: “Funds provided by European citizens have been used to exacerbate discrimination and segregation of communities that are already among the most marginalized in this bloc.”

As an example, the expert pointed to an institution for children with disabilities in Romania that received 2.5 million euros in funding, saying: “This is deeply concerning; it is the right of all children, disabled or not, to grow up with their families.”

Other notable examples in the report include the construction of social housing for Roma in Romania on the outskirts of a city. The report noted that these homes, built from shipping containers, lack basic thermal or acoustic insulation and hygiene standards and are far from public services.

Several asylum seeker reception centers across Greece have also been criticized for their remote locations and inadequate living conditions.

The report’s authors cited several reasons for how millions of euros were allocated to projects deemed discriminatory.

Andor Urmos from Bridge EU, an organization that collaborated with various civil society groups across Europe to produce the report, said: “One reason appears to be a specific understanding of fundamental rights in some governments and sectors of the EU.”

He added: “This is something we must address in the future; having a shared perspective and understanding that building a separate school for Roma children is a violation of fundamental rights, just as constructing a residential institution for people with disabilities or detaining people in reception centers, as seen in Greece, is a violation of fundamental rights.”

These findings align with a series of recent reports. This week, the Council of Europe stated that school segregation has led to lower-quality education for Roma children.

The Council of Europe noted that the high concentration of Roma children in certain schools, results from residential segregation but is also due to the continued practice of school authorities educating Roma children in separate classes or buildings.

Last year, an EU agency found that the number of people with disabilities living in segregated and sometimes harmful environments has increased in many EU member states, while civil society organizations have repeatedly accused EU-funded refugee centers of violating people’s rights.