Under the patronage of Helge Lindh, Member of the German Bundestag, the International Cultural and Sports Association of Roma, Carmen e.V., hosted a Parliamentary Breakfast at the Bundestag on January 19, 2026.
Participants included Filiz Polat, Member of Parliament, and Stefan Seidler, representing the South Schleswig minority. Michael Brand, Parliamentary State Secretary and Federal Commissioner for Combating Anti-Gypsyism, along with other Members of Parliament, were represented by staff from their respective offices. Additional attendees included representatives of the Reporting and Information Center on Antigypsyism, the Minority Secretariat, the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN), and the International Roma Union (IRU).
On the occasion of the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of National Socialism on January 27, 2026, Carmen e.V. emphasized that Roma who have migrated and are currently migrating from Southern and Eastern Europe are descendants of victims of the Nazi regime. The organization called for equal political and practical recognition for these individuals, comparable to that rightfully afforded to other victim groups.
In light of ongoing discussions surrounding the migration of Roma, particularly from Bulgaria and Romania, Carmen e.V. clarified the central motivation behind this movement: the fundamental desire to secure one’s livelihood, primarily through work of any kind.
“This determination deserves political recognition and a clear counter-narrative to the assumption of mass migration into our social welfare systems,” representatives of Carmen e.V. stated. They stressed the need for a welcoming culture, targeted integration measures, and the unconditional protection of human dignity and all fundamental rights. Furthermore, policymakers should recognize the opportunities that migration of young, often larger families presents for Germany’s aging society.
Zoran Dimov, President of the International Roma Union, also advocated for ensuring access to dignified employment for Roma across Europe, rather than focusing primarily on the expansion of social assistance programs.