Migration of Roma from Slovakia in to the EU countries - Reasons and impulses

The article deals with a migration of Roma from Slovakia to EU countries du ring the period of 1998-1999. In connection with the research conducted in May - June 2000 author focuses upon reasons and impulses behind the Roma mi gration. The research has been conducted under auspices of the Internationa l Organization for Migration (IOM) Bratislava. Outputs of the research has been used by the IOM as one of knowledge basis for the arranging measures r eturn of those who have not been granted asylum in the EU. In the course of the research activities following activities has been analysed: IOM data o n asylum seekers, interviews with asylum seekers, interviews with Roma lead ers, public administration officials and local government representatives. Migration of Roma from Slovakia could be investigated and interpreted from different angles. Author interconnects migration primarily with socio-econo mic status of Roma in Slovakia. Author suggests locally based impulses for migration of Roma and stresses that only mass migration has been dominating during the field work. Author brings attention to the fact that mostly int egrated Roma, thus those who were not living in segregated settlements, hav e been migrating into the EU countries. The Roma path leading to emancipation and integration had significantly com plicate after 1989. Author suggests that this can be proved mostly by the r ate of unemployment of Roma since the beginning of 90's, increasing numbers of Roma segregated settlements and increasing numbers of Roma living in th ese segregated settlements. Author suggests in connection with these facts, that majority of Roma have lost social status previously achieved during t he pre-1989 era, moreover, those interviewed do not expect improvement of t his situation. Reasons behind the losing ground of Roma are fuelled also by distrust of Roma toward majority population and its institutions and conse quently by the perception of Roma to be discriminated against. Author assum es, that those who are perceived by the majority as a Roma, face structural discrimination. Another reason explaining dramatic falls down of Roma is a ntagonist patterns of behaviour of Roma that have been shaping up behaviour of those interviewed differently in the public and private spheres. One of the features of previously mentioned antagonism is the finding that Roma d o not prefer adaptation and developmental strategies of problem solving (e. g. requalifications, improvement of qualification, entrepreneurial activiti es, labour migration, etc.), but rather defensive strategy of a mass migrat ion. One of significant features of the mass migration from Slovakia has be en its local character, mass migration was typical only for Roma from certa in communities. In other communities Roma did prefer other defensive strate gies.