Bulgaria: An organization named Euroroma (Evroroma); mandate; date of establishment; membership; existence of a Dobrich chapter; current status; funding sources; treatment by state authorities
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 28 March 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR41141.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bulgaria: An organization named Euroroma (Evroroma); mandate; date of establishment; membership; existence of a Dobrich chapter; current status; funding sources; treatment by state authorities, 28 March 2003, BGR41141.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d5f2a.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) report of Euroroma's (Evroroma, Ewroroma, Euro-Roma) formation indicated that it was a national association uniting more than 20 Romani organizations in Bulgaria (14 Dec. 1998). Called "an important Romani organization" by the European Roma Rights Center (ERRC 2001), the expressed goal of the organization was to "mediate between the Romani community and the government to find solutions to [the] Roma's social and economic problems" (RFE/RL 14 Dec. 1998). Please consult BGR38936.E of 8 May 2002 for information describing Euroroma's political relationships and the party's treatment by state authorities from 1998 to 2002.
The Research Directorate also found a listing for a group called Evroroma in the Bulgarian Resource Center Foundation's NGO Catalogue (RCF n.d.). The group registered on 22 March 2000 as a regional NGO based in Simitli, Blagoevgrad region, in southeast Bulgaria, chaired by Valentin Borisov Ivanov and run by seven volunteers (ibid.). It was funded by grants from European donors and mandated to integrate the Roma into civil society by focusing on youth and the middle-aged (ibid.).
Attempts to contact this organization with the information provided by the RCF database were unsuccessful. Recent information concerning the Simitli-based Evroroma organization or the Euroroma political union was not found among the sources consulted. The Research Directorate did not find any mention of the Evroroma NGO in the Dobrich region in northwest Bulgaria.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC). 2001. Roma Rights. No. 4. Andrei Iliev. "Participation of Bulgarian Roma in the 2001 General Elections and Prospects for Political Representation." Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 14 December 1998. Newsline. "Bulgarian Roma Set Up National Organization." Resource Center Foundation (RCF) [Sofia]. "Regional Organization Evroroma'." (Catalogue of Non-Governmental Organizations) Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
NEXIS
Political Parties of Eastern Europe
Political Parties of the World
Internet sites, including:
Bulgaria Online
Bulgarian Helsinki
European Forum,
European Roma Rights Centre
Greek Helsinki
Hellenic Resources Network
Journal of Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe
Movement of Rights and Freedoms
Municipality of Dobrich
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
Roma Schools in Bulgaria
World News Connection
Worldwide Listing of Cities
