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EU statement on the adoption of the Council of Europe Strategy for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2026–2030)

21.01.2026 Press and information team of the Delegation to the COUNCIL OF EUROPE in Strasbourg
CM room
© European Union, 2025

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

  1. The adoption of the Council of Europe Strategy for Roma and Traveller Inclusion for 2026–2030 marks an important milestone in our shared commitment to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Protecting and promoting the enjoyment of human rights of the estimated 10-12 million Roma and Travellers in the Council of Europe Member States, of which an estimated 6 million are present within the borders of EU Member States, remains a pressing human rights issue on our continent. Europe’s largest minority continues to face multiple barriers to education, health, employment, housing and political participation due to systemic discrimination and antigypsyism. 

  2. The EU and its Member States welcome the Strategy’s comprehensive approach and its alignment with our own Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation 2020–2030.

  3. We must deal with the structural and institutional obstacles to the enjoyment of human rights by persons belonging to the Roma and Traveller communities. Various Council of Europe bodies and entities can contribute meaningfully and complement each other to this end: the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress for Local and Regional Authorities, the Council of Europe Development Bank and, most especially, various Council of Europe monitoring mechanisms. Implementation of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights is essential. Furthermore, we commend the Commissioner for Human Rights for prioritizing work on the human rights of Roma and Travellers.

  4. We particularly commend the Strategy’s strong focus on gender equality. Roma women and girls are key agents of change and must be empowered to participate fully in public and political life. Their voices and leadership are indispensable for achieving sustainable progress. We commit ourselves to implementing Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)1 of the Committee of Ministers on equality of Roma and Traveller women and girls from April 2024.

  5. Civil society plays a crucial role in advancing Roma rights and inclusion. We welcome the Strategy’s emphasis on strengthening Roma and Traveller organisations and promoting participatory governance. Youth empowerment programmes are vital for fostering democratic engagement and ensuring that Roma voices are heard at all levels of decision-making. 

  6. The successful implementation of the Strategy also implies taking into account communities who are in a particularly vulnerable position, like Roma living in Ukraine and those displaced due to the on-going Russian war of aggression.

  7. While governments bear the main responsibility, it is vital to secure adequate resources and strengthen cooperation with local and regional authorities as well as civil society, ensuring that the Strategy translates into tangible improvements in the daily lives of Roma and Traveller communities.

The following countries aligned with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.