"[Roma] are the largest minority on the continent and their situation is deplorable in terms of lack of respect for their human dignity, human well-being, being targeted for hate, exclusion, and shoved to the edges of our societies," European Council commissioner for human rights Michael O’Flaherty told EUobserver in an interview.
I mean they also refuse to let their children go to school, because they very much don’t want them to be part of society at large. They’re scared their children will get jobs and stop being part of their community. They’re very much “us vs them”. Those who aren’t into that “us vs them” mentality, make an effort to get out and, depending on country, have a pretty good shot at becoming not criminals.
Edit: My edit to grandparent comment goes further into depth than this comment does. Yes, obviously the poverty cycle and discrimination is the original cause and still an ongoing issue. But after all these centuries, many don’t WANT to be part of society at large. Which is why simply a lack of discrimination isn’t enough. To integrate them, actual social programs are needed.