Roma who turn to prostitution, theft or badly-paid labour often do so because of financial pressure. Back home, someone is waiting for money: the 'king' who brought them to western Europe.
Annika Joeres, David Schraven and Stanimir Vaglenov investigated Roma migration into Western Europe. They approached the issue from three perspectives: their three countries of residence, i.e. France, Germany and Bulgaria respectively.
The investigation focused on the profiteers of the transportation, the housing and the employment of Roma in Western Europe. Vaglenov looked at the traders who bring Roma over the frontier and on their living conditions in Eastern Europe, while Schraven sought out details on landlords, employers and traders who work with Roma in Germany. Joerens investigated Roma trading routes into France and their exploitation in factories, tourist restaurants and hotels.
Photographs by Annika Joeres and Boryana Katsarova/cosmos/Agentur Focus.
