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EIGHT central European states and a slew of international institutions launched a “Decade of Roma Inclusion” this week. That may give them just enough time to make a start on the problem, at least. Europe's 7m-9m Roma (gypsies) are its biggest and poorest ethnic minority. Their social and economic indicators veer from the bad to the catastrophic, especially along the European Union's eastern borders. Roma unemployment in Slovakia hit 87.5% in 2003. Poverty rates everywhere are horrifically high (see map).

The organisations supporting the decade, which include George Soros's Open Society Institute, the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme, will help governments to carry out ten-year plans focusing on education, employment, health and housing. Some new money will also be available. In December a donors' conference pledged $42m for a Roma Education Fund. But the main aim is to get governments to give more help to Roma from existing budgets, and to make better use of the funds already available from international institutions. The EU points out that its regional fund—which disbursed €26 billion ($29 billion) in 2003—is meant not only for roads and bridges, but also for human development. Roma projects could well qualify.

Central European governments have often dealt brusquely with Roma problems in the years since communism collapsed. Times were hard for everybody, most governments felt; the Roma were not exactly popular with voters; and displaying big social problems might even set back their hopes of EU entry. But with membership mostly achieved or assured, and incomes rising, they now have less excuse for looking the other way.

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