Roma Week 2025

As the EU enters a period of renewed political leadership with no current MEPs of Romani origin, Roma Week 2025 seeks to strengthen Roma inclusion and leadership within the European Union’s political framework and to address the unique challenges facing Roma, Sinti, and Traveller communities in a changing Europe.

Roma Week is a yearly event organised in Brussels by civil society organisations, European institutions, and other international and intergovernmental organisations in the context of Roma International Day. It serves as a platform to consolidate and amplify the voices of Roma communities, ensuring that their perspectives are integral to discussions on equality, human rights, and social justice across Europe.

With the new leadership of the European Commission and Parliament, Roma Week aims to navigate political transitions, ensuring that Roma, Sinti, and Travellers are not overlooked in policy agendas. By gathering EU officials, MEPs, and advocates, the event will strategize on maintaining visibility and cross-party support for Roma inclusion in an era marked by shifting priorities and the rise of far-right influences.

The event promotes the recognition of antigypsyism as a core human rights issue within the EU and advocates for policies that directly address structural discrimination. This focus includes exploring how policy frameworks, monitoring, and accountability can be enhanced to safeguard Roma rights.

Recognizing the diversity within Roma communities, Roma Week promotes intersectional approaches to address the compounded discrimination faced by Roma women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and youth. By integrating gender, age, and social identity into discussions, the event seeks to create a more inclusive and holistic approach to Roma advocacy and social justice.

Agenda of the Roma Week 2025

Monday, 7 April

17:00 – 19:00  Official High-Level Opening of EU Roma Week (on invitation only)
Venue:  European Parliament
Co-hosted by: MEP Krzysztof Smiszek

Tuesday, 8 April

Romani language interpretation is provided for the entire day

09:30 – 11:30 High-level event on Roma history and culture in school curricula
Organised by the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) and ERGO Network
Focus: high-level event with national ministries of interior and education and culture, together with the Council of Europe, European Commission and the academic community, to discuss lessons learned and promising practices in including Roma history and culture in school curricula.
Host: Nicolae Ștefănuță, Vice-President, European Parliament
Venue: European Parliament, Building Paul-Henri SPAAK, Room 4B1

11:00 – 13:30    Lunch break

13:30 – 15:30 Roma Civil Monitoring: Roma Equality & EU Funds: Shaping the Next Multi-Annual Framework
Organised by Roma Civil Monitoring and European Commission DG Justice and Consumers
Focus: Experience from the current programming period and discussion on how the next Multiannual Financial Framework starting in 2028 can effectively advance Roma equality and inclusion.
Host: Marco Traquinio, Member of the European Parliament, Italy – The S&D Group
Venue: European Parliament, Treves 1 Building, Room 9V40

16:00-17:00 Zooming in on the Situation of Roma in Ukraine. Reconstruction and Roma’s Role in the Process
Organised by ERGO Network, The Helsinki Deaconess Foundation, International Charitable Organisation Roma Women Fund “Chirikli”
Venue: European Parliament, Treves 1 Building, Room 9V40
Host: Marco Tarquinio, Member of the European Parliament, Italy – The S&D Group

19:00 Official Roma Week Dinner at Kamilou restaurant
Organised by the European Commission and ERGO Network
Venue: Kamilou Restaurant, Rue Joseph II 36, 1000 Brussels
Focus: Networking event celebrating Roma culture, achievements, and contributions to EU societies

Wednesday, 9 April

08:00– 9:30 Roma Youth Voices Breakfast: Building Inclusive Europe through digitalization with Roma Youth (closed event)

Organised by ternYpe International Roma Youth Network & MEP Hristo Petrov, Renew Europe
Focus: This breakfast event aims to bridge perspectives between Roma youth and members of the European Parliament, fostering dialogue on critical issues related to Roma inclusion. It will address the specific needs of Roma youth and broader initiatives impacting them within mainstream inclusion efforts. This gathering provides a platform for young Roma voices to contribute to shaping policies and strategies for a more inclusive Europe.

10:30 – 12:30 Roma Youth and Digitalisation
Organised by ternYpe International Roma Youth Network & ERGO Network
Focus: The session will focus on the critical importance of digital inclusion for Roma communities. We will discuss the barriers hindering access to technology and the digital skills gap and explore innovative solutions to empower young Roma individuals and communities. This includes also exchanging good practices for promoting digital inclusion.
Host: Hristo Petrov, Member of the European Parliament, Bulgaria – The Renew Group
Venue: European Parliament, Building Spinelli Room SE1

Lunch break

13:30 – 15:30 Transitional Justice
Organised by ERGO Network, European Roma Rights Centre, Antigypsyism Reporting and Information Center MIA
Focus: Exploring transitional justice as a pathway to acknowledge and address historical injustices faced by Roma communities, with perspectives on the Jekhipen Project.
Venue: Renaissance Brussels Hotel, Rue du Parnasse 19, 1050 Ixelles

16:00 – 17:30 Film screening and panel discussion “THAT BOY: a conversation about hate and healing”
Organised by Fundacja Jaw Dikh, Poland (ERGO Network member), London Metropolitan University and ERGO Network.
Focus: This event examines anti-Roma violence and far-right radicalisation through the stories of two Polish migrants in the UK: Toby, a Roma asylum seeker, and Mirek, a former neo-Nazi turned activist. The film sparks dialogue on hate, reconciliation, and restorative justice. A panel of Roma scholars, activists, and extremism experts will discuss antigypsyism, the legacy of far-right violence, and contemporary challenges amid rising extremism and migration-driven diversity.
Venue: Renaissance Brussels Hotel, Rue du Parnasse 19, 1050 Ixelles

Thursday, 10 April

09:00 – 11:00 Intersectional Discrimination and Racism Against Racialised Minorities in Europe
Organised by ERGO Network
Host: MEP Evin Incir, S&D, Sweden
Focus: Addressing work and community challenges for Roma and other racialized minorities, with a focus on intersectional discrimination and barriers to inclusion, infringements, statelessness, police violence, segregation (infringements), access to justice, and basic services.
Venue: European Parliament, Building Spinelli Room 3H1

11:00 – 13:00 Roma Women’s Leadership & the Fight Against Multiple and Intersectional Discrimination
Organised by ERGO Network
Focus: The event will highlight the impact of multiple and intersectional discrimination on Roma women and explore strategies to strengthen their representation in decision-making spaces.
Venue: European Parliament, Building Paul-Henri SPAAK, Room PHS 1C51

Lunch break

16:30 – 20:30 DG ENEST: Inclusive Education Award
Organised by: Roma Active Albania
Focus: Highlighting initiatives from the Western Balkans and Turkey for inclusive education practices and recognizing achievements in promoting educational access for Roma students.ans and Turkey for inclusive education practices and recognizing achievements in promoting educational access for Roma students.
Venue: Concert Noble, Rue d’Arlon, 1000 Brussels

Attendees and speakers:

Policymakers and officials from European and national levels

Researchers, historians, and experts in different areas of life

Civil Society

Roma youth