| Jan 1991 |
As many as 8,000 Romanian Gypsies enter Greece and move into Greece's traditional Gypsy camps. |
| Dec 1994 |
A sociological study funded by the European Union finds that Greeks are racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic. The study finds that 55% of Greeks express antipathy toward Gypsies and 64% say they would never marry a Gypsy. Also, even if the living conditions of Gypsies improved, 48% of Greeks think that the Gypsies would "still be dirty." Another study finds that 63% of Greek schoolchildren are hostile to the idea of having Gypsies in their classes. |
| Jul 12, 1996 |
The Greek government unveiled a $12 million program to improve the lot of the gypsies, by opening five medical treatment shelters for nomadic gypsies and allowing gypsy children access to school report books which would allow them to follow up on their studies from one school to the next. (Agence France Presse 7/12/96) |
| Jan 23, 1998 |
The Greek government abolished article 19 of the nationality code, which had contained a provision to take away the Greek citizenship of those who were not ethnic Greeks. (Agence France Presse 1/23/98) |
| May 12, 1998 |
Dimitrina Petrova, director of the European Centre for Romany Rights, told a newspaper at the end of a 10-day mission to Greece that the gypsies "are not treated and do not live like humans, they exist outside society, their situation is totally unacceptable." She noted that 80 percent of Greek gypsies were illiterate according to local NGOs, which was at the root of many of their problems, and that incidents of police brutality against gypsies "seemed routine" and were never taken up by authorities, who often refused to register the gypsies, depriving them of their civic rights. (Agence France Presse 5/12/98) |
| Jun 26, 1998 |
Amnesty International has complained to the Greek government after uncovering evidence that police assaulted two young gypsies with iron bars and machine guns in May. (Agence France Presse 6/26/98) |
| Feb 2 - 2, 2004 |
Outside of Athens 200 ethnic Greeks invaded a Roma settlement using axes and knives, setting fire to three huts and smashing several cars. The Roma residents defended themselves, drawing their shotguns. Riot police detained around 40 people. Greeks reportedly stormed the settlement to avenge alleged attacks on three of their number by gypsies (Agence France Presse – English, 2.2.04, “Mass brawl between ethnic Greeks and gypsies in Athens suburb”) |
| Jun 1 - Aug 31, 2004 |
There were many forced evictions of Roma in and around Athens before the 2004 Summer Olympics. (Minority Rights Group International. 2005. “Roma Poverty and the Roma National Strategies: The Cases of Albania, Greece and Serbia.” http://www.minorityrights.org/admin/download/pdf/RomaMacro2005.pdf. Accessed 7.18.07 ) |
| 2005 |
There are two Roma men who are members of the Interministerial Committee (Minority Rights Group International. 2005. “Roma Poverty and the Roma National Strategies: The Cases of Albania, Greece and Serbia.” http://www.minorityrights.org/admin/download/pdf/RomaMacro2005.pdf. Accessed 7.18.07 ) |
| Mar 11, 2005 |
Protesters at a Rina settlement near Athens smashed public buses during riots after a court cleared a policeman who had been accused of fatally shooting a Gypsy man in 2001. There were no reports of arrests and no injuries. (Irish Independent. 3/12/05. “News in Brief”) |
| Jun 1 - Jul 31, 2005 |
In June 2005 at least 31 families in Patras faced eviction. In July 2005, 70 families in Athens faced eviction. (Minority Rights Group International. 2005. “Roma Poverty and the Roma National Strategies: The Cases of Albania, Greece and Serbia.” http://www.minorityrights.org/admin/download/pdf/RomaMacro2005.pdf. Accessed 7.18.07 ) |
| Jan 25, 2006 |
Authorities in Greece distributed food and blankets to 250 Gypsy and homeless families living in huts to the west of the capital (Agence France Presse – English. 1/25/06. “Arctic front maintains deadly grip on Europe”) |
| Jul 2006 |
In July, a Patras municipal crew had demolished the homes of 10 Greek and Albanian gypsy families in a settlement near the city while their owners were away for seasonal work, according to the Greek section of the Helsinki Monitor. (Agence France Presse – English. 8/10/06. “Greek govt guarantees Roma housing loans ahead of polls”) |
