Issues in the European Deliberative Democracy within the Context of Cross-Border Migration: How the

Cross-border migration is presently profoundly discussed subject in Europe. In times of growing immigration and asylum caused by political conflicts and financial impoverishment in regions outside the European Community, the topic of free movement of people between the member states becomes even more essential. In this sense, the search of consensus between the supranational agencies and universal solution towards particular human and labour migration cases across the European Union (EU) appears to be highly important.

In this article, the deliberative democracy is represented as one of the most beneficial mechanisms which have the potential to improve the institutional partnership and dialogue with the public sphere as regards the issue of begging Roma minorities which exists in Europe. The text will put an ascent on these ethnic groups` activities since the subject of begging remains unsolved despite the numerous attempts of the member states to find common solution towards the subject. Moreover, the case of Sweden and the country`s experience with the growing amount of Roma beggars will provide relevant information concerning the level of gravity related to cross-border movement practices of EU citizens due to financial and living issues.

Introduction

The deliberation is a process which emphasizes the need for social dialogue and exchange of information in order to achieve collective good. It is commonly involved in politics and institutional decision-making procedures with the aim to assure better awareness towards the importance of all the shared standpoints. The notion is also associated with mutual democratic solutions which have been made as a result of public debates and among free and equal people.

Similarly to other welfare mechanisms like the Participatory communication for social change, the deliberative democracy has been part of numerous contemporary worldwide processes (Figueroa et al. 2002; Hillgren et al. 2011). Despite this, the deliberative democratic mechanism is presently periled by various global, political and economic issues including state impoverishment, growing labour migration and ethnic hostility (Castells 2010; Eriksen 2005).

Herein, I discuss the possibilities and limits of international deliberation concerning cross-border migration. As far as I have researched the present tendencies in global dynamics I have discovered that the construction of public opinion and its implementation into the welfare affairs is of a great importance towards the formation of proper democratic policies. In this sense, I believe that Dryzek`s model of democratization beyond the nation-state level, also defined as transnational discursive democracy, is essential for contemporary dialogue with real potential for participation into the European political procedures.

Moreover, in this article I analyse the potential of deliberative democracy in relation to the begging of Roma minorities in the EU. The international dimension is provided by the EU, wherein the deliberative democratic perspective is demonstrated by the Community`s legislation on prevention and combating trafficking for forced criminal activities and forced begging (Directive 2011/36/EU). Sweden is provided as an example of a state with growing problematic experience regarding Romanian Roma beggars and sizable misfortune towards the country`s deliberative democratic dialogue with Romania towards the issue. The main objective of the text is to enhance the participation of both European civil society and supranational institutions related to cross-border migration policies as well as to strengthen the cooperation between various stakeholders in the field. Through this paper I share my personal civil position or namely that the begging of Roma minorities across EU is a criminal act and form of labour exploitation which requires strict legal and penal measures for prevention and combating. In parallel, I argue for protection and integration of all Roma citizens who demand for acceptance and inclusion in different European member states.

EU and the Deliberative Democratic Mechanism

Closely to other major transnational organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the EU utilizes the deliberative democratic mechanism as contributive and objective tool in order to create institutional decisions and initiatives based on public common statements and demands. Still, the emergence of present democratic deficit in the EU which has been caused by financial crises, external conflicts and other global socio-economic obstacles makes me think that there is a need of diverse academic and public forums which can provide clear idea as regards the current European institutional stance.

According to John Dryzek (2006), the post 9/11 world and the following political objectives have leaded to the expansion of new possibilities for social deliberation. In contrast to other academics who examine the contemporary politics as part of the world hegemony (Gramsci 1971) and governmentality (Foucault 1991a), Dryzek concentrates on the process of development different models of social interactions and establishment of transnational public networks as strategy for increasing the citizens` presence in the international system. The British theoretician claims that the involvement of multiple communication technics such as mini-public conferences, assemblies, forums and civil platforms into the discursive dimension of the contemporary politics will bring more suitable correspondence towards the modern transnational requirements. In the particular case of the EU, Dryzek suggests that a solution of the current democratic deficit can be found in the establishment of informal sources for social impact over the political and welfare systems such as debates and direct dialogue with institutional and governmental representatives.

Deliberation between the EU Member States on Cross-Border Migration

Presently, the immigration and asylum activities cause real confrontation among the EU member states. Despite the fact that the above mentioned practices are initiated by similar financial and political difficulties (Huysmans 2006), my opinion is that the Community will not be able to find proper solution to the challenges related to immigrants and refugees until the subjects of begging and labour exploitation under the context of cross-border migration remains uncertain. First of all, this reflection is motivated by the generally fragmented character of the EU policy towards the migration field. For instance, the cross - border or intern migration in Europe falls under the scope of each member state`s sovereignty, e.g. social and labour agencies, legal and penal national structures. Identically, each member state in the Community has its independent position towards the case on immigration and asylum policies and their implementation on national level.

Second, the on-going intensive conflicts in the Middle East region and the growing success of the far-right and nationalist parties in Europe made the deliberation process on cross-border migration even more problematic. The following social and financial pressure on the EU institutions created an extra obstacle towards the ability of many countries to lead effective dialogue on the proportional movement of EU citizens and exchange of trade, intellectual and capital benefits.

Begging in Europe

Begging represents a serious obstacle for the overall improvement of the cross-border migration policies in the EU. Despite the entry into force of the Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council which gives a clear definition and provides measures for prevention and combating trafficking for forced criminal activities and forced begging, there is still a huge deficiency of data and awareness regarding this category of human and labour exploitation.

According to the Anti-Slavery organization research, the beggars can be subjected as victims of numerous types of abuse including combinations of labour and criminal exploitations. Although the forced begging is legally stated as form of human trafficking, the Anti-Slavery analysis has confirmed that most victims of this criminal act are not identified and even prosecuted regardless of the European international official penalty measures.

Moreover, the exclusion and discrimination of the Roma communities across Europe have made this ethnicity one of the most vulnerably exploited groups by traffickers. Roma minorities in countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia suffer of limited education and high levels of poverty, unemployment and restricted access to public services, e.g. schools, health and social services. These significant factors and lack of state care and protection inevitably lead to growing cases of street crime and begging.

The Roma Beggars in Sweden

As citizens of the EU, the Roma people are allowed to travel freely without the need of a visa or a work permit across Europe. In Sweden, many Roma representatives mostly from Romanian origin are currently staying in the state as beggars. This allows them to earn between 100 and 200 kronor (up to 25 dollars) per day. In result, only for 2014 the Roma beggars have overflowed the major cities of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö and have disturbed the local citizens.

Romania has been already criticized by the institutions for not being enough efficient of helping the Roma citizens and letting them to leave in poverty. Both EU and the Swedish government have stated that the Romanian government should concentrate on improving living standards in Romania, so that fewer people will be begging outside the country. Although there has been willingness for negotiations between Sweden and Romania, i.e. the Swedish Minister for Children and the Elderly and Gender Equality, Åsa Regnér, has met the last year with Romania's Ambassador to Sweden, Raduta Matache, the situation with the Roma beggars remains unsolved. As consequence, the negative sentiments in the Nordic state towards the Romanian beggars highly increased and the present socio-democratic Swedish government search for local measures for prevention the increase of Roma beggars in the state.

How the begging of Roma minorities in the European Union should be prevented?

Since the very beginning of my independent research in relation to globalization and worldwide political dynamics, I have discovered that the European citizens had passed through several transition periods of great evolutional prosperity (Digital revolution and expansion of Information and communications technologies) and drastic cultural pitfalls (emergence of far-right extremism, terrorism and xenophobia).

Despite its mainly economic character, the EU is an international organization which is responsible for all the people who are living under its territory. In this sense, the deliberative democracy in Europe should be realized through the establishment of institutional matter which corresponds to the social demands. Impoverishment of many states such as Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and now even Greece in the EU zone has initiated serious increase of unemployment. Simultaneously, the misfortune of Muslims, Jews and Roma minorities in these countries also has grown, i.e. the rose of ethnic hostility and unpunished criminality has transformed the labour and human exploitation into a common practice and part of the daily routine.

In this sense, I argue for prohibition of the begging under the definition stated in the Directive 2011/36/EU as a short term strategy which can ease the condition in states with growing amount of beggars like Sweden. As European citizen, my expectations to the supranational institutions are orientated towards the improvement of the deliberative mechanism and formation of universal cross-border policy towards the free movement of people. Moreover, like Dryzek, I support the idea that the development of models for social interaction and establishment of public networks will facilitate the process of integration of all the Roma people who seek for protection and integration in different EU member states.

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