The S&D Group in the European Parliament strongly condemns the recent spate of violence against Roma in Bulgaria. This comes after tensions between communities in the village of Garmen and in Sofia-Orlandovci escalated into mass protests against the Roma population. The Group criticised the Bulgarian government's decision to demolish 'illegal' Roma homes without providing any alternative housing and urged the government to take all action necessary to prevent racially motivated attacks and to ensure the safety of the Roma population.

Sorarya Post, S&D Roma Spokesperson said:

"The forced evictions and anti-Roma attacks of the last few months in Bulgaria are indicative of a wider anti-Gypsyism across Europe. We must do more to protect the Roma population and challenge the underlying prejudices that exist in our society. Given the nature of the recent violence against Roma in Bulgaria it is imperative that these attacks be recognised and prosecuted as what they are: hate crimes."

"We must also put pressure on the Bulgarian authorities to do more to protect the Roma population. They must immediately take action to prevent attacks, stop demolishing Roma homes and provide housing for those that have already been evicted. In this regard, we welcome the decision of the European Court on Human Rights, which last Friday asked the Bulgarian government to take urgent interim measures to “stop the demolitions, until alternative housing is secured for the vulnerable claimants.”

"Finally, more must be done to fight anti-Gypsyism across Europe. This underlying prejudice is not only the cause of the current crisis but also at the root of the larger social exclusion of the Roma population. It is a disgrace that in 21st Century many Roma do not have access to basic utilities in their homes and that only 29% of Roma children graduate from secondary school. The continued depravation and exclusion of Roma across Europe makes a mockery of our claims of moral and humanitarian leadership in the world."