Looking to access paid articles across multiple policy topics Interested in policy insights for EU professional organisations EU commitments to combat poverty are not credible if we let our biggest ethnic minority continue to live in slums without sewerage Shannon Pfohman is Policy and Advocacy Director at Caritas Europa Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data EU Commissioner Dalli visited poverty-stricken marginalised communities highlighting the situation of local children About 1,700 Roma people live in the Habeš settlement in Sečovce Locals have access to two taps of drinkable water for the whole community rat infestation and terrible living conditions “European Union sources are not manifesting themselves into the everyday lives of Roma people There is nowhere near enough political will to challenge the living situation and change it for the better,” commented Pollák The children living in such conditions do not have a bright outlook for the future; hundreds of people don't have access to basic necessities "There are means to solve the situation of the Roma The question is why they aren't being used," Dalli said as quoted by Korzár She concluded that municipalities are negligent in using money from EU funds The situation of the children living in the settlement is especially alarming There is no equality if proper care and housing is lacking The overall situation of Roma communities was recently criticised by the European Parliament Committee, during the July visit of another settlement, in Petrovce nad Laborcom. The committee chairman described the situation as scandalous and said that locals are living in medieval conditions The cooperation of municipalities is crucial in this step said plenipotentiary Hero: “The change needs to spring from local levels.” Pollák complained that the municipal authorities do not cooperate enough Though the EU has been investing funds in bettering the lives of Roma people for 14 years municipalities are struggling to properly support the communities The MEP believes the municipalities would be better motivated to help their Roma communities if they were allowed to use EU funds without the need to contribute their own resources described living in the settlement as unsuitable There are two water taps and people have few options to wash themselves This worsens the chances of Roma people finding a job Water in the settlement is an issue because many of the houses and shacks are illegally built waste and garbage management are impossible Even though there is a school in the community not many children from the Roma community attend Commissioner Dalli also noted that Roma children are often expected to attend segregated schools which widens differences and diminishes the opportunities to live a normal life “Children need to practice what they’ve learnt during school at home – hygiene included If children do not have the opportunity to clean themselves it’s a never-ending cycle,” Secovce Mayor Frajkor said as quoted by Korzar Slovakia has been struggling with the school segregation of Roma children for a long time. During the August visit of the European Parliament Committee the chairman pointed out that Slovakia should take necessary measures to "address the root causes of the discrimination and segregation of Roma children in the education system" and make sure that Roma children enjoy equal opportunities to access quality education Citing the Slovakian Interior Ministry, TASR (the News Agency of the Slovak Republic) reported on May 31 that a court affirmed the decision of the migration authority according to which a man from Tajikistan previously deemed dangerous by the Slovak Security Council might be considered a threat to national security.  The Slovakian Interior Ministry reportedly underlined that the decision of the migration authority was assessed as correct and lawful it was Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok who reported about the man in late March turned down an appeal against the decision to cancel the provision of temporary asylum on the Slovak soil,” said the ministry Sutaj Estok reported after an emergency session of the Security Council that an individual deemed dangerous to national security made it to Slovakia in 2022  The man originating from Tajikistan reportedly has a permanent residence in Ukraine  He was held in the Secovce detainment center during the proceedings on his extradition the interior minister said on March 25 that that national of Tajikistan was member of the Islamic State (IS) terror organization and reported that he was denied asylum.   Sutaj Estok reportedly stated that the Slovakian authorities had received information about that citizen of Tajikistan from the special services of two countries.   “Despite the fact that the police knew his identity and he was wanted by Interpol the suspect moved freely throughout Slovakia,“ said the Slovakian interior minister.  “He should have been arrested and sent back to Ukraine in 2022.”  How сan water conservation and profit go hand in hand in Tajikistan Border-related issues between Afghanistan and Tajikistan reportedly being handled based on international principles How do fines in Tajikistan relate to citizens' actual incomes and new partnerships: Innovation Forum held in Dushanbe A Startup from Tajikistan ranked in the Top three at the Central Asian Startup Cup Somon Air in partnership with Antares LLC (fly.tj) launches direct flights to Sharm El-Sheikh By president’s order Tajik war veterans will receive 50,000 somonis each on the occasion of Victory Day The parents of journalist Rukhshona Hakimova ask President to help secure their daughter's release Dushanbe and Tehran vow to boost economic cooperation Iranian official proposes to launch an air route connecting Dushanbe and Shiraz Slovak police have detained 29 Afghans and three Pakistani citizens in Bratislava who were heading on the highway to Austria on April 29 as they were heading towards the D1 highway there were 11 adults and 18 children and teens who ended up in the Police Restraint Department in Sečovce (in Košice Region and so they were taken to the detention camp in Medveďov (in Trnava Region All of them illegally crossed the Slovak border and as they have asked for asylum in Hungary they will be sent there based on the Dublin Convention police spokesman Martin Wäldl informed the Pravda daily The Dublin Convention stipulates that refugees shall stay in the country where they had asked for asylum.