The Marginalization of Roma Refugees From Ukraine: Experiences from Hungary and Poland
Summary
While the EU has been praised for its unprecedented solidarity and rapid support for Ukrainian refugees through its Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), over the last two years there has been growing evidence of patterns of exclusion for marginalized groups, like the Roma, among them. The experience of Roma refugees in Hungary and Poland shows the intersection of racialized exclusion, systemic neglect, and significant gaps in policy responses. The responses of both governments perpetuate cycles of exclusion, as neither has developed long-term strategies to address the systemic barriers faced by Roma refugees.
The arrival of Roma refugees in Hungary and Poland has been marked by racial profiling and immediate barriers to critical services, such as housing, employment, education, and welfare. Many have faced complications in accessing their temporary protection status, and many from Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region also hold Hungarian citizenship, excluding them from temporary protection measures. In theory, dual citizens are taken care of by the Hungarian state, but they have often faced further complications in accessing benefits. Housing options for Roma are mainly limited to segregated shelters, often overcrowded and unsuitable for long-term living. Housing policies in Hungary and Poland are insufficient, and recent restrictions introduced primarily exclude Roma refugees. They rarely access private housing due to financial instability and pervasive discrimination. They are also forced to accept exploitative, informal work, which entrenches their economic precarity. These systemic failures extend to children, who face varying practices in both countries as well as often significant neglect in their special educational needs and experience with educational segregation. Welfare systems largely supposed to be universal fail to address the unique disadvantages of Roma refugees, leaving their basic needs unmet and their vulnerabilities amplified.
Civil society organizations and Roma activists have played a critical role in addressing the immediate needs of Roma refugees—providing legal aid, temporary housing, and support in everyday life. However, these efforts are constrained by limited funding, insufficient institutional backing, and the absence of systemic state-led initiatives. Support from international organizations such as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF has provided relief, but meaningful, long-term strategies for Roma inclusion are still lacking.
The marginalization of Roma refugees from Ukraine reflects broader trends in racialized governance across Europe, where selective inclusion reinforces structural inequalities. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive reforms to the TPD to include marginalized groups with complicated legal status, alongside equity-focused national and international policies that acknowledge and address the specific vulnerabilities of Roma refugees. Reforms should encompass culturally appropriate services, stronger anti-discrimination laws, and collaboration with Roma organizations to ensure sustainable solutions. Transitioning from short-term humanitarian aid to long-term integration and social inclusion strategies is essential for dismantling systemic barriers to the inclusion of Roma refugees.
The plight of Roma refugees from Ukraine exposes fundamental flaws in European refugee policy frameworks. To ensure dignity, equity, and protection for all displaced populations, policies must move beyond superficial solidarity and address the deep-rooted inequalities that leave marginalized groups behind.
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Lilla Eredics is a GMF ReThink.CEE Fellow. This paper is published under the ReThink.CEE Fellowship.