A new study explodes the myth of the nomadic tendencies of Roma people, finding that Roma are no more or less likely to emigrate than anyone else in Romania. Published yesterday (April 22 ), the study, 'Roma in Romania – from scapegoat to engine for growth', found that at least one member of 19 percent of households had moved abroad, both for Roma families and everyone else.

“We see the same percentage of 19 percent of Roma and non-Roma households that include people who have moved to another country,” reads the report. The percentage of households that include people who have moved temporarily to another locality in Romania is actually lower among the Roma community – some 5 percent among Roma households as opposed to 7.7 percent in the general population.

The main destination of both Roma and non-Roma is Italy, followed by Spain for general population and France for Roma. The Roma however cite poverty as reason for migration more often than non-Roma- 40 percent versus 12 percent.

The study was published yesterday (April 22 ) with European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor and the Minister of Labour, Family and Social Protection for the Elderly Mariana Câmpeanu attending the launch event.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: sxc.hu)