Greece

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2024, 18 September
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Facts

General information
The Roma population in Greece is diverse, encompassing domestic nomadic Roma and long-established settled Roma communities facing poverty and exclusion. Additionally, there are recent Roma migrants, including from the EU and non-EU member States. Some Roma are integrated or assimilated into the broader society. Moreover, there are Muslim Roma living in Thrace who benefit from specific minority protections established under the Lausanne Treaty between Greece and Turkey.
The Roma in Greece are diverse, with various distinct Roma groups, including the Arlia Roma, Horahane Roma, Fitsiria and Chalkidei.
Many Roma live in isolation from the rest of the Greek population. There are a few areas where Roma are more successfully mixed with the local population, such as in the Aya Varvara, Aigaleo and Ilion districts of Attica, Agios Athanasios and other areas in the city of Serres in Central Macedonia.1
The Registration of Settlements and Roma Population at the National Level 2022 report by the General Secretariat of Social Solidarity and Fight Against Poverty (the National Roma Contact Point) mentions that approximately 117,495 Roma resided in Greece in 2022, accounting for approximately 1.13% of the total population. The Roma population groups reside in various environments, ranging from segregated settlements, characterised by severe deprivation, to mixed neighbourhoods predominantly inhabited by Roma.
The living conditions of Roma vary and can be categorised into the following three types of settlements:

  • Type I: self-made huts or shacks lacking basic infrastructure facilities, including running water, electricity, sewage system, as well as access to waste disposal and public transport services. Usually, these settlements are placed in isolated and/or environmentally hazardous areas, such as next to industrial toxic waste sites or waste dumps.
  • Type II: mixed housing (shacks and prefabricated houses) with partial basic infrastructure facilities, including running water, electricity, and a sewage system, which are often used on a permanent basis, usually in the vicinity of regular settlements.
  • Type III: often impoverished urban neighbourhoods with houses, apartments, and prefabricated houses.

The 2021 National Roma Registration reveals key infrastructure statistics for Greek Roma settlements. Of the 266 recorded settlements, 83% have drinking water access, 71% have water supply networks, 66% have electricity, 48% have a sewerage system, 55% have asphalted transport networks, and 84% have waste bins. Public transport serves 56% of settlements

The Municipalities, under the ambit of the Code of Municipalities, are responsible for implementing Roma social inclusion policies.

In 2022, the General Secretariat of Social Solidarity and Fight Against Poverty (NRCP) adopted the National Strategy and Action Plan of Social Inclusion of Roma 2021-2030. Subsequently, the NRCP tasked the municipalities with developing the Local Action Plans for Inclusion, Equality and Participation.
 

Municipalities

Ongoing

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