Swedish Authorities Set to Expel Kosovo Romani Family to Serbia and Montenegro

23 February 2005

On February 22, 2005, the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) sent a letter to Ms Barbro Holmberg, Sweden's Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, expressing concern about the imminent expulsion of a Kosovo Romani family whose application for asylum has been rejected to Serbia and Montenegro. In its letter, the ERRC recalled statements by the UNHCR, warning against the application of internal flight for minorities, including Roma, from Kosovo to other parts of Serbian and Montenegro, as well as relevant international law provisions. The ERRC urged the Swedish government to end all action threatening the expulsion of the Limoni family and other Roma and/or other persons regarded as "Gypsies" to Kosovo or other parts of Serbia and Montenegro and to provide the persons at issue with a durable legal status. The full text of the ERRC's letter: