What to do about the foreign Roma?
Legal camps, travel tickets, bans on begging are among proposed solutions to the problems posed by the influx of Roma beggars from new European Union countries Romania and Bulgaria.
Helsingin Sanomat has compiled a list of solutions that have been put forward, as well as arguments for and against them.
1. Do nothing
Pro:
Roma from Romania and Bulgaria are here as tourists, who are responsible for providing for themselves. All EU citizens need to be treated equally.
The problems are not exclusively those of Helsinki. Solutions need to be sought on the national and EU level.
Con:
The Roma are among the most oppressed minorities in Europe. They are driven here by poverty. Finland also needs to make sure that everyone is guaranteed health care and shelter, for instance. Finland cannot afford to be indifferent, because this is a cold place in the winter.
2. Set up legal camps
Pro:
It would be easy to provide basic amenities for the camps, such as clean running water, bath and toilet facilities, electricity, and common rooms.
The camping areas would not be for certain groups alone. They would benefit other people in need of help.
Con:
The danger is the formation of ghettoes which could further isolate the Roma from the rest of society.
The camps would also attract more immigrants. The climate is not suitable for year-round camping.
3. Send the Roma back to their home countries
Pro:
The EU countries need to care for their citizens themselves. Helsinki defended the decision to pay for the travel of the Roma back home as a human rights question: it is too cold here.
Con:
Mass expulsions are banned under European human rights rules. They are also in violation of the EU right to free movement, as well as a number of other rights.
The plight of the Roma will be made worse if they are sent back to poor and primitive conditions.
People living in poor conditions easily resort to emigration again.
4. Ban begging
Pro:
If begging were not allowed here, beggars would not come to Finland. Asking for money while kneeling on the ground violates human dignity.
Con:
A ban on begging would criminalise poverty. Everyone needs to have the right to make a living.
The ban would hide the actual problem, which is the social and economic plight of the Roma. The beggars are not an actual cause of disturbances in Finland.
More on this subject:
 Roma in Kalasatama expected to reside with other homeless
Helsingin Sanomat
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