The European Commission's review, published Nov. 3, found gains in paid work, early education and housing under national Roma strategic frameworks, but said persistent poverty and school segregation point to uneven progress.
The report examined implementation from June 1, 2023, through March 31, 2025. It draws on reports from EU member states and civil society, as well as evidence from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and other sources. The review sits within the EU Roma Strategic Framework for 2020–2030, which sets goals for equality, inclusion and participation.
FRA's 2024 survey found that 54% of Roma and Travellers ages 20–64 in the 10 EU member states surveyed had paid work. FRA's EU-total figure for 2016 was 43%. Early-childhood education participation rose to 53% from 42%. Housing deprivation declined to 47% from 61%, while severe material deprivation fell to 37% from 62%.
The survey also found that 31% of respondents experienced discrimination linked to their Roma or Traveller background in core areas of life during the 12 months before the survey. Among Roma and Traveller children under 18, 77% lived in households classified as at risk of poverty. Of Roma and Traveller children ages 6–15 who were in education, 46% studied in schools where most or all other pupils were Roma or Travellers. Among those ages 20–24, 32% had completed at least upper-secondary education.
The survey covered Roma and Travellers in 10 EU member states and three accession countries. Comparisons generally use 2016 as a baseline, with 2019 used for France and Ireland.
The Commission called for stronger institutional capacity, coordination and monitoring of national frameworks. It said about €1.8 billion in European Social Fund Plus funding is available for targeted interventions for marginalized communities, including Roma, in 15 member states over 2021–2027. The Commission's next implementation report is expected in 2028.
