Ahead of International Roma Day on 8 April, Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib, and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos issued the following statement:
On International Roma Day, we draw attention to the Roma peoples 700-year presence and contributions to Europe, which are integral to Europes diverse heritage.
With an estimated total population of 10 to 12 million, of which 6 million are EU citizens, Roma Day is an opportunity to honor the diversity, culture, art, language, and contributions of the Roma community to European history and society.
While respect for fundamental rights and equal treatment are cornerstones of our Union, Roma people still do not fully benefit from these rights today. Roma citizens often face widespread antigypsyism and marginalization and often lack access to essential resources such as clean water and sufficient nutrition. Moreover, persistent disparities in access to key services - spanning quality education, employment, housing, and healthcare - go against our principles of democracy and equality.
We must continue to address these issues. With the EU Roma Strategic Framework 2030, we have established a comprehensive agenda for the EU and Member States, including specific goals, such as halving the poverty gap between Roma and non-Roma, reducing housing deprivation by at least one-third, or tackling educational segregation for Roma children. This broad commitment transcends EU borders. In a concerted approach, the Western Balkans and Turkey have also adopted these objectives and embedded them in their respective National Strategies to align with the EU framework.
This mission will only be fully successful if we unite in our efforts. We therefore urge Member States and our enlargement partners to step up the implementation of their National Roma Strategic Frameworks. A decisive stance is imperative to combat antigypsyism and social exclusion and enhance Roma representation and participation in public life. National authorities must ensure that inclusive and tailored support is available to Roma communities.
By intensifying efforts to address the challenges faced by Roma and making tangible progress, we can build a fair and equal Europe that benefits all its citizens. Roma communities deserve to be treated equally and to enjoy their full rights as Europeans.
Background
The Roma are Europes largest minority community, with 6 million Roma living in the EU and 4 million in the enlargement region (Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia). The World Romani Union and the Council of Europe estimate that there are around 400,000 Roma living in Ukraine.
The First World Romani Congress, organized on 8 April 1971, laid the foundation for a process of collective affirmation of the Roma community. Under common ethnic identity markers and aspirations, such as history, culture, and language, it established 8 April as International Roma Day.
The Roma people have long faced inequalities, social exclusion, discrimination, and marginalization. 80% of Roma are at risk of poverty, compared to the overall average risk level of 17% in the EU.
The European Commission has long stressed the need for action, and called on Member States in 2011 to adopt national strategies for Roma integration. In 2020, the European Commission adopted a renewed EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation 2020-2030 as a direct contribution to the implementation of the EU Action Plan against racism 2020-2025, and part of President von der Leyens commitment to a Union of Equality. The Commission reports bi-annually on the implementation of these strategies.
Although the situation of Roma has improved, both in the EU and in the enlargement region, Europe still has a long way to go to achieve real equality for Roma. The European Cohesion Policy Funds 2021-2027, in particular the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) foresee various instruments that Member States can use to address this key challenge in their countries. The Instrument for Pre-accession (IPA) and the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) also finance Roma inclusion projects in the enlargement region.
Through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, the European Commission funds various actions supporting the Roma community. These include funding for projects combating antigypsyism, Holocaust remembrance including Roma victims, or partnerships with Roma civil society organizations among other key initiatives.
Other initiatives from EU Member States include the ROMACT project, aimed at fostering the inclusion of Roma communities, the EQUIROM project to combat antigypsyism and discrimination and promote equality for Roma people, or the RomaMemory project to preserve the history of the Roma Holocaust and enhance educational efforts and awareness-raising.
The European Commission supports ongoing efforts by enlargement countries through the Roma integration phase III project. The project aims to help the governments in the Western Balkans and Turkey in the implementation of their National Strategies to better align with the EU 2020-2030 Roma Framework and progress on fulfilment of Roma inclusion commitments taken under the negotiations.
The European Commission has contributed to the Roma Week organized by ERGO Network and hosted by European Parliament for eight consecutive years. This year the event will take place between 7-10 April.
For more information
EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation
Council Recommendation of 12 March 2021 on Roma equality, inclusion and participation
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights report: Roma in 10 European Countries - Main results