Unjustified Restrictions of the Freedom of Movement: Roma on Macedonian Borders
Unjustified Restrictions of the Freedom of Movement: Roma on Macedonian Borders

Summary/Abstract: In 2009 North Macedonia gained visa-free travel within the EU. The re-established freedom of movement was seen as a successful example of the EU policy of conditionality. Visa liberalization immediately increased the number of asylum seekers in the EU member states. Being administratively overburdened, they influenced Western Balkan governments in taking action for reducing the number of false asylum seekers. The authorities responded by tightening border checks and preventing their marginalized citizens (mainly Roma) from crossing state borders. Even though those practices were highly criticized by human rights defenders, according to the various Roma NGOs and human rights advocates, restrictions for social and ethnic background are not rare. The paper analyzes the potential violability of human rights within the EU visa liberalization policy and policy of conditionality. It illustrates an example of a limitation of the freedom of movement, ethnic profiling, and clear discrimination towards Roma through the case study of the violation of the constitutionally granted rights to leave the country.

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