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Committee for European Romani Politics publishes Brussels Declaration

22 November 2017
2 minute read

The Committee for European Romani Politics (CERP) has declared its intention to establish a European political party for the Romani nation. The plan was stated in their Brussels Declaration on Monday, 20 November.

“The party should be created within the next half year in Brussels. We are planning to collaborate with other international organizations who share our vision. Our main aim is to defend the interests of Romani people on the political scene,” founding member Michael Daduc told news server Romea.cz, which is publishing the CERP’s Brussels Declaration here in full:

COMMITTEE FOR EUROPEAN ROMANI POLITICS, BRUSSELS DECLARATION, 17 November, 2017, Brussels, Belgium

We, the founding members of the Committee for European Romani Politics, declare on this date our common will to establish [a] European political party of the Romani nation. After 1 000 years of Romani history in Europe, we declare Roma to be truly Europeans.

The Romani nation is [a] European nation with its own flag, anthem, language and culture. The Romani nation is [a] stateless but peaceful and inclusive nation that has never waged war on other peoples and nations.

The Roma have survived five centuries of slavery in Wallachia and Moldova, and two European genocides – the “Gypsy Hunts” in the 18th century and the Holocaust in the 20th century. The Romani nation has never been truly compensated by the European governments for the crimes committed against its members.

The Roma face increasing anti-Gypsyism in Europe today and the Romani contribution to Europe’s cultural and economic progress is still not recognized. Romani values are European values.

Romani freedom of movement is a value of the European Union. Our power is based on the identity of our people.

Our political interests shall be represented at all levels of decision-making in Europe. European Romani Politics shall be founded on the following principles:

1. The Romani nation shall freely determine its own political status in Europe and freely pursue its economic, social and cultural development.

2. The Romani nation shall enhance its political culture and build its own political elite in Europe.

3. The redistribution of resources at European, national and local level is necessary to ensure economic progress of Roma.

4. The preservation and development of the Romani language and culture shall be ensured as [a] unique European heritage.

5. The demographic growth of Roma in Europe shall be [a] response to the demographic crisis in Europe.

The Committee shall take further actions for [the] implementation of European Romani Politics.

Signatures,

Emiliya Dancheva – Romani woman, activist and journalist

Michael Daduc – Roma Nation Movement founder and Representative of [the] Indian Diaspora

Milenko Milenkov – Chair of the National Network of Roma Labor Mediators of Bulgaria and chair of [the] ‘Mladenovo’ Foundation

Orhan Tahir – Romani lawyer and political scientist

*The Declaration shall be opened for signatures by all Roma who share the principles of Romani politics and wish to contribute [toward] their realization.

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