(AGENPARL) – Mon 07 April 2025 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG026(2025)
Council of Europe Congress Rapporteur: “We must overcome discrimination against Roma and Travellers to achieve their full inclusion”
“With around 6 million people, Roma and Travellers are Europe’s largest, youngest and fastest-growing minority. They come from diverse backgrounds, are multilingual, and resilient. Yet, they continue to be subject to systematic and structural discrimination. Currently, more than 50% of Roma youth are not in education, employment, or training, remain “locked-out” of equal opportunities and  have their economic potential limited. As a result, across Europe, 80% of Roma remain at risk of poverty.
“As we celebrate International Roma Day, we need to remember that local and regional authorities play a vital role in ensuring full socio-economic inclusion of Roma and Travellers and addressing the adversities that they face.
“Political participation, public health, employment, housing, and education are all within the remit of local and regional government. More can and should be done here to ensure inclusion and opportunity. Today, we must reaffirm our commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of the Roma and Travellers community.”
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Communication Unit
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Tunç Soyer (Türkiye, SOC/G/PD).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
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Council of Europe/Conseil de l’Europe, Avenue de l’Europe, Strasbourg, . 67000 France