Overview

Roma and Travellers

Roma family source: © European Communities

Some 10-12 million Roma and Travellers are currently living in the European Union.
Almost all of the Roma and Travellers living in the European Union are EU citizens and have the same rights as any other EU citizen.

The Roma make up the largest ethnic minority in the EU. Minorities have a specific mention in the Treaty of Lisbon and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Most recent FRA publications

Cover of the infosheet Addressing the Roma issue in the European Union (Background note)

Addressing the Roma issue in the European Union
Background Note (2010)
Languages: EN - FR

Evidence has shown that they are more likely to face discrimination and social exclusion than majority populations.

Some of the key findings of the Fundamental Rights Agency's research on the situation of Roma and Travellers in the EU are listed below:

  • Discrimination in everyday life– every second Roma respondent to the Fundamental Rights Agency’s EU-MIDIS survey said they had been discriminated against at least once in the 12 months before the survey. Roma face the highest levels of discrimination in access to housing, education, employment, and healthcare.
  • Victims of crimeover one third (32%) of all Roma EU-MIDIS respondents said that they had been a victim of crime during the 12 months before the survey.
  • Poor housing conditions - many Roma and Travellers in the EU have to live in informal settlements without an adequate supply of water, electricity or gas, or decent transport connections.
  • Education and employment opportunities - the Roma and Travellers living in these informal settlements have poor access to public services, such as schools. This has a knock on effect on their level of education and, ultimately, their chances in the labour market.
  • Moving to another EU Member State – many Roma who exercise their right to freedom of movement within the EU encounter problems of registering their residence in their destination Member State. As a result, they face difficulties in accessing national health systems, public housing and labour market integration measures in their new place of residence.

According to a 2007 Eurobarometer survey, 77% of European Union citizens believe that being a Roma tends to be a disadvantage in their country.

Cover of the Roma factsheet

The Fundamental Rights Position of Roma and Travellers in the EU
Factsheet (2010)
Languages: EN-BG-CS-DE-ES-FI- FR-HU-IT-RO-SK
Cover of the Data in Focus publicationEU-MIDIS Data in Focus Report 1: The Roma (2009)
Languages: EN-BG-CS-DE-EL-ES-FR-HU-PL-RO-SK
Cover of the FRA report The situation of Roma EU citizens moving to and settling in other EU Member States
Comparative report (2009)
Languages: EN-BG-DE-ES-FR-IT-RO-FI
Roma children source: © European Communities

The Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) works with Roma and Travellers communities, empowering them to contribute to improving the situation of Roma and Travellers in the EU in a sustainable way. The FRA also works with local authorities, who are well placed to see that the rights of the Roma and Travellers are protected in practice.

The FRA cooperates with European institutions, the Council of Europe and other international organisations to ensure that the work done by the FRA and other institutions is complementary.

Cover of the FRA report Housing conditions of Roma and Travellers in the EU
Comparative report (2009)
Languages: EN-BG-CS-DE-ES-FR-HU-RO-SK

Browse below more information published on this website on Roma and Travellers

External links

Cover of the Incident report on violent attacks agaisnt Roma in Italy

Violent attacks against Roma in the Ponticelli district of Naples, Italy
Incident report (2008)
Languages: EN-DE-FR-IT-RO

News

FRA Director discusses Roma rights at international panel debate with Nobel laureate(11 November 2011)

On 10 November, FRA Director Morten Kjaerum, gave a speech at the Europe 2011 debate in Berlin. During the debate, ‘What Do You Mean by Gypsy? - How Europe is Treating its Largest Minority', Mr Kjaerum talked about the human rights situation of Sinti and Roma in Europe, as drawn from the data and evidence collected by the FRA.

The FRA addressed major Roma mayoral summit(23 September 2011)

On 22 September over 300 participants from 34 countries gathered in Strasbourg to set up a coalition of cities and regions that aims to improve the situation of Europe's 10-12 million Roma and Travellers.

EUobserver interview with FRA Director Morten Kjaerum

EUobserver interview with FRA Director Morten Kjaerum(16 June 2011)

Morten Kjaerum talks about fundamental rights: challenges and achievements in 2010.

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights statement on the occasion of the International Roma Day 2010 (07 April 2010)

 

Roma reported the highest overall levels of discrimination across all areas surveyed in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights' EU-MIDIS survey. To improve the situation, Roma and Traveller communities must be involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of strategies targeting them, stresses the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights in a statement on the occasion of the International Roma Day on April 8.

Joint International Conference in Vienna on 09-10 November

FRA report launched on Roma migration and freedom of movement(09 November 2009)

9 November 2009, FRA releases a new report on "The situation of Roma EU citizens moving to and settling in other EU Member States". This report provides evidence that Roma are strongly discriminated against and experience social exclusion when exercising their EU citizens' right of freedom of movement. The FRA report highlights shortcomings but also points out good practices across the EU. It gives concrete recommendations on how the situation could be improved.
The Agency will present its Report and some positive initiatives at a Joint International Conference of the FRA, Council of Europe and the OSCE on Roma migration and freedom of movement, which takes place in Vienna on 09-10 November.

Events

Improving access to housing for Roma: good local practices, funding and legislation (2-4.02.2011)

Date: 02 - 04 February 2011
Location: Prague

Organised under the Czech Presidency of the Decade of Roma Inclusion in co-operation with FRA, this conference aims to present local and international contexts of improvement of Roma access to housing and to identify key measures which should be taken by the Decade countries’ governments in this area.

The conference is attended by a variety of participants, including political representatives (of the executive bodies from the Decade countries), representatives from the European Commission, international practitioners, NGOs, representatives of the bank sector and national and local level policy makers. Thus, it is a good opportunity for facilitating exchange of good practice and creating the possibility for new cooperation between different stakeholders in the context of the EU Roma Inclusion process.

Download the conference programme.

Read more about FRA’s work on Roma and Travellers.

Watch videos about conference sessions and workgroups on Romea.cz website.

Downloads

Speeches:

Presentations:

Conference report

Audience listening to speakers at the conferenceSpeakers at the conference

Publications
Cover of the facthseet on Roma and Travellers

The Fundamental Rights Position of Roma and Travellers in the European Union (factsheet)

31/08/2010

This factsheet presents in a nutshell some of the key findings of the Fundamental Rights Agency's research on the situation of Roma and Travellers in the EU.

The situation of Roma EU citizens moving to and settling in other EU Member States

The situation of Roma EU citizens moving to and settling in other EU Member States

09/11/2009

EU citizens have the right to move and live anywhere in the European Union, provided that they meet certain conditions. This is an important right to achieve European integration and is included in the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article 45). However, FRA research shows that many Roma EU citizens settling in another Member State in search of better conditions continue to experience racism, discrimination and exclusion.
The new report released by the Agency highlights the case of the Roma and their particular challenges in exercising these rights. Based on the evidence of its report, the FRA advises the EU and its Member States to adopt targeted policies promoting social cohesion to ensure that all citizens can exercise their right to freedom of movement effectively.

Copyright: Ostalinda Maya on behalf of the European Roma Rights Centre

Housing conditions of Roma and Travellers in the European Union - Comparative report

20/10/2009

The FRA report "Housing conditions of Roma and Travellers in the European Union" gives evidence that Roma and Travellers are strongly disadvantaged in private and social housing throughout the European Union. This includes discrimination in access to housing, poor housing conditions, segregation, and forced evictions. The report highlights shortcomings and good practices across the EU. The FRA is of the opinion that Member States should pay higher attention to the issue of residential segregation and poor housing conditions. Member States and local authorities should implement existing anti-discrimination legislation and policies for Roma inclusion, and intensify their efforts to better inform the Roma of their rights, and involve them in the planning and implementation of housing policies.

Cover of the EU-MIDIS Data in Focus Report 1: The Roma

EU-MIDIS Data in Focus Report 1: The Roma

22/04/2009

This report is the first EU-MIDIS ‘Data in Focus' report examining discrimination and victimisation experienced by the Roma. Of all the groups surveyed by the FRA, the Roma emerged as the group most vulnerable to discrimination and crime. The FRA has therefore analysed their situation in a ‘data in focus' report, the first in a series of reports on minority groups and issues covered by the survey.

Cover of the report on Incident report on violent attacks against Roma in Italy

Incident report on violent attacks against Roma in Italy

05/08/2008

This report provides information on the impact of the recent events in the Ponticelli district of Naples on Roma, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in May-June 2008. The report brings together the basic facts on these violent attacks as well as background information regarding the situation of Roma in Italy. It also describes efforts to address the situation by the Italian Authorities and the International Community, in particular the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and Civil society organisations.

Available languages: English, French, German, Italian and Romanian (PDF format).

Roma and Travellers in Public Education

Roma and Travellers in Public Education

01/05/2006
The report provides an overview on the situation of Roma and Travellers in education across the EU.
 Romani Women and Access to Public Health Care

Breaking the Barriers - Romani Women and Access to Public Health Care

01/01/2003
This Report is the central part of a project which the Agency jointly conducted with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Council of Europe's Migration and Roma/Gypsy Division.