The Hague 2025

Young Visions of Peace and Security

LIBE I

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs I

Europe’s largest ethnic minority: The Roma are the largest ethnic minority in Europe, and face discrimination and exclusion in educational and healthcare across Europe. As a champion of equality and human rights, how can the EU guarantee equal access to health care and education for this marginalised group?
Pol Sanmartí Vigo (ES)

Executive Summary

Despite being the largest1 minority group in Europe, the Roma people2 face discrimination and marginalisation. The Roma are a historically itinerant people who arrived in Europe centuries ago.3 There are currently between 10 and 12 million4 Roma in Europe, with about 6 million5 residing in the EU. Unfortunately, because of their disadvantaged status, individuals frequently have a low quality of life, with it being difficult or impossible to access public services such as education and health care. The fact that a sizable portion of Roma are stateless significantly degrades their standard of living. Roma are isolated from other EU citizens because of these difficulties, impeding social integration. Despite an increase in measures to promote Roma inclusion, more must be done to guarantee that Roma can lead safe, prosperous lives within European societies.

Table Of Contents
  1. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs I
  2. Fundamental Challenges
  3. Key Stakeholders
  4. Measures in place
  5. Local Impact
  6. Outlook

If you prefer to read or print this Topic Overview as a static PDF document, you can download it here.

LIBE IDownload

Introduction

The history of the Roma in Europe is lengthy and complex. Due to a lack of documentation and the fact that the Roma are not a homogenous group—different Roma groups reside throughout Europe—there are numerous unknowns regarding the specifics of their past.6 European Roma have a unique social heritage, despite variations in the peoples’ way of life, dialect, and religion.7 According to scientific studies, the Roma are originally from India8 and were typically nomadic people. However, European Roma have increasingly been living in permanent locations9, having become more sedentary10 during the past few decades. Recent studies have estimated that Roma have a significantly lower life expectancy than the general population, standing at 11.0 years less for women and 9.1 years less for men.11 Considering that 70% of Roma children leave school early despite policy efforts from the EU and Member States, in this Topic Overview, we will analyse how inequitable education levels perpetuate inequality.12 We will also look at barriers to accessing healthcare within the Roma community, including lack of data recollection and administrative recognition.13 Seeing this, how can we address these issues to help Roma integrate into the local, national and European communities?

Fundamental Challenges

Cultural discrimination

Discrimination is a major factor in Roma’s isolation and can deter or impede their successful integration into European nations.14 In most aspects of their lives15, Roma, Europe’s largest ethnic minority, encounter anti-Gypsyism.16 Examples include hate speech, harassment, and social exclusion. Numerous strongly ingrained preconceptions in some European societies, such as the idea that Roma are criminals, are one core cause of this discrimination and make Europeans fear them.17

Roma, on the other hand, are hesitant to alter their traditional customs and values.18 Some of these customs may clash with societal views on matters of education and life. For example, Roma traditionally prefers to teach through family activities, as opposed to state schooling, valuing learning through the inclusion of children into day-to-day activities inside and outside the household. Furthermore, some Roma decide to separate their communities because of disparities in their interpretation of morality19, and as a response to outside discrimination.20 A distinct code of practice, guided by several customs and ideals, strictly governs life in traditional Romani communities. As may be expected from an oral culture practised in socially and geographically isolated communities, these customs differ among Romani communities. 

Figure 2: Perception of Roma in European countries21

Structural discrimination: statelessness and living challenges

Beyond day-to-day cultural discrimination, Roma people face structural challenges in attaining access to public services and social facilities available to the rest of the population.

First of all, a large number of Roma children lack access to schooling. There is a notable gap in all education levels between Roma and non-Roma children.22 Compared to the EU average of 84% among the general public, just 27% of Roma aged 20 to 24 have completed upper secondary education. The lack of participation23 in school education among the Roma community or their discrimination, anti-gypsyism, and socio-economic exclusion from educational institutions by state authorities are two of the many factors contributing to this disparity.24 When Roma children attend school, they are sometimes segregated and given lower-quality education.25 Integration is hampered by illiteracy, between 20% and 25% of children, and lower educational attainment since Roma children can often be socially excluded from an early age.26 They therefore do not acquire the academic background or skills, nor the relationships needed to participate in the wider society that one is most often afforded through schooling.

Statelessness among Roma presents another obstacle to integration.27 Roma statelessness can result from various factors such as forced relocation and inadequate documentation, and is often passed from one generation to the other.28 Additionally, anti-gypsyism sentiment present in public services might make navigating the administrative systems more difficult.29 Because it creates a lack of legal status and protection, statelessness negatively impacts people’s quality of life and makes integration more challenging. As a result, those who are stateless are unable to access basic rights like healthcare and education.30 There is a widespread under-use of health services by Roma due to a lack of general practitioners in Roma-populated areas and limited health coverage, with 74% of Roma people reporting no health insurance coverage in 2016.31 This therefore negatively impacts Roma people’s quality of life and makes integration more challenging. Last but not least, statelessness can cause people to feel excluded and alone, which can lead to mental health issues and limit their ability to contribute to society or benefit from it.32

Finding employment is also made difficult by discrimination, low levels of education, out-of-date work skills, and detachment from the labour market.33 As a result, it is difficult for Roma to support their family and obtain necessities like food, water, and shelter.34 The Roma population is particularly affected by these financial issues, with almost 80% of them living below the poverty line in their countries of residence within the EU, in 2016.35 These high poverty levels make social integration more difficult, leading to continued social exclusion and community isolation.36 Additionally, the lack of legal and administrative recognition37 of housing and settlements hampers Roma people’s access to social security services and healthcare.38

Lack of data and awareness

The lack of data regarding the Roma presents another difficulty for lawmakers and governments.39 The size of the Roma population in Europe, for example, remains imprecisely determined. The number of Roma in the EU is only estimated to be around 6 million.40 Furthermore, Roma-related concerns have not received enough attention in the past and suffer from a lack of systematic data collection from Member States. Many Europeans have limited knowledge of Roma culture and history and are ignorant of the challenges the communities face.41 Integration may suffer as a result of this ignorance since people may not understand how serious the issue is and may be less inclined to act or support policy actions towards promoting integration.

To learn more about the myths and stereotypes that reinforce these issues I recommend you to read the following article:

ARTICLE
European Network Against Racism & European Roma Information Office. Debunking Myths & Revealing Truths about the Roma.
Read the article

Key Stakeholders

The Directorate General on Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL)42 is a department of the European Commission that is responsible for, among others, employment and social inclusion within the EU. The Directorate General on Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC)43 is responsible for EU policy on education. DG EMPL and GD EAC can play an important role, through their supporting competence, in encouraging Member States to help Roma integrate by giving policy recommendations and defining strategic objectives.44

Member States have an essential role as they can create policies and implement measures that further integration, especially when it comes to health and education ministries in the case of Roma communities.45 Additionally, local governments, such as municipalities, can take specific measures to help Roma. On the other hand, Member States can counteract integration through policies or discriminatory discourse.

The Roma and Travellers Team of the Council of Europe promotes and protects the rights of Roma in the Member States of the Council of Europe.46 The team helps Member States to design and implement laws, policies and programmes that benefit Roma. The group is made up of Roma and non-Roma specialists appointed by permanent and non-permanent Member States.

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is a Roma-led public interest law organisation that advocates for Roma rights and fights anti-Romani racism and human rights violations.47 Its action focuses on strategic litigation, research and policy development, advocacy, and human rights education. 

The European Roma Grassroot Organisations Network (ERGO) connects various international and national organisations that combat anti-gypsyism and Roma poverty.48 In this way, they attempt to strengthen Roma’s participation in civil society through the promotion of active citizenship, shared responsibility, and empowerment of grassroots action and organisations.

Most importantly, European citizens lie at the centre of the issue. Through voting, EU citizens can hold politicians accountable for tackling the challenges of Roma integration. Additionally, as the perpetrators of anti-Romani sentiment, behavioural change is key for combatting social and structural exclusion, as well as contributing to grassroots efforts for Roma integration into local and national communities.

Figure 2: LIBE I Stakeholder Map Link

Measures in place

There has been a recent surge in initiatives to advance Roma rights. The 2011 EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS)49 serves as one illustration. The EU encourages national governments to use this framework to put policies in place that will promote Roma integration, with a particular emphasis on housing, work, education, and health care. Building on the achievements of the NRIS, the European Commission presented a ten-year strategy to promote Roma in the EU in 2020.50 To achieve its objectives, the Commission has established goals and proposals, including halving the experience of discrimination and eliminating the poverty gap between Roma and non-Roma. However, the 2021 Roma Survey by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) shows little improvement in education and healthcare, underlying the need for more effective policies.51

Furthermore, a lot of initiatives are in place to improve Roma’s quality of life. For example, the European Commission works to combat discrimination through its communication campaigns, which include teaching the public about the genocide known as the Romani Holocaust.52 To better understand and address Roma statelessness, the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC)53 launched the #RomaBelong initiative.54 Closing the educational gap between Roma and non-Roma is another goal of the Roma Education Fund (REF).55 They provide funding and scholarships to organisations that support Roma kids and education. Additionally, they offer various forms of assistance including internships and networking events. Last but not least, a program called Inclusive Schools: Making a Difference for Roma Children was established by the EU and the Council of Europe to promote inclusive and creative education.56

To better understand the details about EU action on Roma inclusion I recommend you to read the following article:

ARTICLE BY Lecerf, M. (2024) European Parliamentary Research Service.
Understanding EU action on Roma inclusion
Read the article

Local Impact

The following report, produced by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights within the Best Practices for Roma Integration Project (BPRI), is a compilation of good practices initiated by local governments, independent institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders with direct impact on the living conditions and integration of Roma. The report focuses on initiatives fighting against discrimination and projects to increase Roma participation in decision-making. 

If you want to know the details on the success of these projects, in preparation for discussions on how to best promote Roma integration locally, I recommend you to read the following article:

ARTICLE BY Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (2013)
Best Practices for Roma Integration: Regional Report on Anti-discrimination and Participation of Roma in Local Decision-Making
Read the article

Outlook

In addition to providing substantial financial savings and economic advantages, preventing expensive non-communicable and communicable diseases among the Roma population will support the long-term viability of the country’s social welfare and healthcare systems. The economy receives an average return of €14 for every euro invested in public health.57 The GDP can increase by up to 4% for every extra year of life expectancy.58 It is crucial to understand that no single nation can address the problems of Roma exclusion on its own, especially in light of the cross-border aspects of Roma inclusion. To address all cross-sectoral factors and determinants of good health and guarantee access to the advantages of early and continued access to education, only a concerted effort at the EU level that extends to the local level can provide noticeable results.

To connect with communities and increase the legitimacy of local-level inclusion initiatives, local authorities should find and enlist “key promoters”.59 Local authorities must provide a platform for all voices to be heard, with a special emphasis on empowering Roma women and youth. Member States and local governments should make sure that community-level integration initiatives and programs have long enough durations to support participant training and capacity building, monitoring, evaluation, and participation processes.

Europe has been tackling the complicated problem of Roma integration for many years. Roma face numerous challenges to integration, including history and present often twinged with violence and discrimination directed towards them and substandard living conditions. This delicate subject was frequently overlooked in the past. Nonetheless, more people are becoming aware of this issue and supporting Roma’s rights. However, there are still many unresolved issues with Roma integration. It’s important to keep in mind that the majority of the fundamental problems with this subject will require sustained attention and answers. However, it is crucial to address this issue and consider solutions to soon improve Roma’s quality of life.

footnotes

  1.  European Parliament. (2020). Roma: what discrimination do they face and what does EU do? European Parliament. Link ↩︎
  2.  ERGO Network. (2021). THE SITUATION OF ROMA IN EUROPE: Snapshots of Education, Training and Lifelong Learning. ERGO Network. Link ↩︎
  3.  Project Education of Roma Children in Europe. Factsheet on Roma History: General Introduction. Council of Europe. Link ↩︎
  4.  Amnesty International. (2015). The Roma in Europe: 11 things you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask. Amnesty International. Link  ↩︎
  5.  Project Education of Roma Children in Europe. Factsheet on Roma History: General Introduction. Council of Europe. Link ↩︎
  6.  Marsh, A. (2013, June 5). Gypsies, Roma, Travellers: An Animated History. Open Society Foundations. Link ↩︎
  7.  Mendizabal, I. et al. (2012). Reconstructing the Population History of European Romani from Genome-wide Data. Link ↩︎
  8.  Project Education of Roma Children in Europe. Factsheet on Roma History: General Introduction. Council of Europe. Link ↩︎
  9.  European Network Against Racism & European Roma Information Office. Debunking Myths & Revealing Truths about the Roma. Link ↩︎
  10.  Marushiakova, E. & Popov, V. Development of Romani culture. Council of Europe. Link ↩︎
  11.  European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2023). ROMA IN 10 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES – MAIN RESULTS. Publications Office of the European Union. Link ↩︎
  12.  European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2023). ROMA IN 10 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES – MAIN RESULTS. Publications Office of the European Union. Link ↩︎
  13.  European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2023). ROMA IN 10 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES – MAIN RESULTS. Publications Office of the European Union. Link ↩︎
  14.  European Network Against Racism. Antigypsyism. European Network Against Racism. Link ↩︎
  15.  Civil Rights Defenders. (2017). THE WALL OF ANTI-GYPSYISM: ROMA IN THE WESTERN BALKANS. Link ↩︎
  16.  Council of Europe. Antigypsyism / Discrimination – Roma and Travellers. Link ↩︎
  17.  European Network Against Racism & European Roma Information Office. Debunking Myths & Revealing Truths about the Roma. Link ↩︎
  18.  Matras, Y. Romani Culture: An Introduction. Council of Europe. Link ↩︎
  19.  Matras, Y. Romani Culture: An Introduction. Council of Europe. Link ↩︎
  20.  Ciaian, P., & Kancs, D. (2018). Marginalisation of Roma: Root Causes and Possible Policy Actions. European Review. Link ↩︎
  21.  Wike, R. et al. (2019). European Public Opinion Three Decades After the Fall of Communism: Minority groups. Pew Research Center. Link ↩︎
  22.  European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2023). ROMA IN 10 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES – MAIN RESULTS. Publications Office of the European Union. Link ↩︎
  23.  European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2023). ROMA IN 10 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES – MAIN RESULTS. Publications Office of the European Union. Link ↩︎
  24.  European School Education Platform. (2023). Addressing school segregation: promoting inclusion of Roma communities. European Commission. Link ↩︎
  25.  Matache, M., & Barbu, S. (2016). The history of school desegregation for Roma. RomArchive. Link ↩︎
  26.  Selander, M., & Walter, E. (2020). Lack of Educational Opportunities for the Roma People in Eastern Europe. Ballard Brief. Link ↩︎
  27.  European Network on Statelessness. Statelessness in Europe: Stateless minorities. European Network on Statelessness. Link ↩︎
  28.  UNHCR Teaching About Refugees. (2020). Causes of statelessness. Link ↩︎
  29.  EU High Level Group on combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance. (2018). ANTIGYPSYISM: INCREASING ITS RECOGNITION TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS ITS MANIFESTATIONS. Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers. Link ↩︎
  30.  UNHCR. (2024). About statelessness. UNHCR. Link ↩︎
  31.  EU High Level Group on combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance. (2018). ANTIGYPSYISM: INCREASING ITS RECOGNITION TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS ITS MANIFESTATIONS. Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers. Link ↩︎
  32.  Stateless Journeys. (2023). Europe’s duty to protect stateless refugees. European Network on Statelessness. Link ↩︎
  33.  Hyde, A. (2006). Systemic Exclusion of Roma from Employment. European Roma Rights Centre. Link ↩︎
  34.  DW News. (2021, March 6). Roma in Serbia struggle in squalid living conditions. DW News. Link ↩︎
  35.  European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2018). Second European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey. Publications Office of the European Union. Link ↩︎
  36.  BBC Children In Need. “I Can’t Afford It” – How Poverty Can Lead to Exclusion and Isolation. Link ↩︎
  37.  Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. (2013). Best Practices for Roma Integration. OSCE. Link ↩︎
  38.  Amnesty International. (2016). Roma on the margins: Housing rights denied. Amnesty International. Link ↩︎
  39.  Lecerf, M. (2024). Understanding EU action on Roma inclusion. European Parliamentary Research Service. Link ↩︎
  40.  Amnesty International. (2015). The Roma in Europe: 11 things you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask. Amnesty International. Link  ↩︎
  41.  Council of Europe. The Roma – Europe’s forgotten people. Council of Europe. Link ↩︎
  42.  Directorate-General EMPL. (2023). Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. European Commission. Link ↩︎
  43.  Directorate-General EAC. (2023). Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. European Commission. Link ↩︎
  44.  European Citizens’ Initiative. FAQ EU competences and Commission powers. European Union. Link ↩︎
  45.  European Commission. (2023). Roma equality, inclusion, and participation by EU country. Link ↩︎
  46.  Roma and Travellers Team of the Council of Europe. (2020). About us – Roma and Travellers. Link ↩︎
  47.  European Roma Rights Centre. Who we are. Link ↩︎
  48.  European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network. (2024). Who we are. Link ↩︎
  49.  European Commision. An EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 (Communication). COM (2011) 173 final. Link ↩︎
  50.  European Commission. (2020). Commission launches new 10-year plan to support Roma in the EU. Link ↩︎
  51.  European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2023). ROMA IN 10 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES – MAIN RESULTS. Publications Office of the European Union. Link ↩︎
  52.  European Commission. (2023). Communication activities to fight discrimination against Roma. Link ↩︎
  53.  European Commission. (2023). Communication activities to fight discrimination against Roma. Link ↩︎
  54.  European Roma Rights Centre. (2017). Roma Belong – Discrimination, Statelessness and Marginalisation of Roma in the Western Balkans and Ukraine. Link ↩︎
  55.  Roma Education Fund. About the Roma Education Fund. Link ↩︎
  56.  Council of Europe & European Union. (2024). Inschool Project – Inclusive schools Making a difference for Roma children. Link ↩︎
  57.  European Public Health Alliance. (2018). Post-2020 EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies. Link ↩︎
  58.  European Public Health Alliance. (2018). Post-2020 EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies. Link ↩︎
  59.  European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights,. (2018). Working with Roma: Participation and empowerment of local communities. Publications Office of the European Union. Link ↩︎