1. ROMA INTEGRATION STAKEHOLDERS
Intersectoral cooperation for Roma integration
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2. Roma Involvement
Roma empowerment comes through the active participation of the Roma themselves. Roma civil society has the key role of reflecting Roma concerns directly, and disseminating information from European and national authorities to those at a local level.

3. EU countries and EU institutions
EU countries are committed to ensuring that the Roma have the same access to fundamental rights as any other EU citizen. The role of the EU institutions is to provide a European structure (the EU framework, the European Semester) to support the work of the EU countries.
EU Framework
In 2011 the European Commission adopted an EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies focusing on four key areas: education, employment, healthcare and housing.
The Framework invited all Member States to present the European Commission with their strategy for Roma inclusion or for specific policy measures for the Roma within their wider social inclusion policies. The main responsibility as well as the competences to improve the situation of all marginalised people, including the Roma, rest with the Member States. National contact points have been set up in each country for Roma integration strategies.
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) supports the monitoring of the EU Framework, for example through the "Local engagement for Roma inclusion (LERI)" project.
The European Semester
The European Semester provides a framework for the coordination of economic policies across the European Union. It allows EU countries to discuss their economic and budget plans and monitor progress at specific times throughout the year.

4. Civil society
To be effective, Roma integration measures require the involvement of civil society in their design, implementation and evaluation, both at national and local levels.

5. Regional and local levels
Regional and local authorities ensure on-the-ground implementation of national Roma integration strategies. The EU supports many projects stimulating exchanges between regional and local authorities, including the Eurocities Task Force;  the MATRIX project; and the Roma-net project. The European Commission also follows work done by the Council of Europe (including the Alliance of Cities on Roma inclusion) and co-finances the ROMACT project and the ROMED programme.
EUROCITIES is the network of major European cities. Its members are the elected local and municipal governments of major European cities. They influence and work with the EU institutions to respond to common issues that affect the day-to-day lives of Europeans.
MATRIX - New Multi-Hazard and Multi-Risk Assessment Methods for Europe.
Roma-net project - helping to combat high levels of social exclusion and poverty among the EU’s Roma people by sharing best practices in an interregional network.
The European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion is an initiative from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
ROMACT programme aims to build the capacity of local authorities to develop and implement policies and public services that are inclusive of all, including Roma.
ROMED1 programme - initiative aiming to train mediators in delivering quality mediation between Roma communities and local authorities. Since the start of the programme, over 1300 mediators were trained in 22 countries.
ROMED2 programme - the second phase of ROMED zoomed in on local contexts and in particular on how mediation can stimulate the participation of Roma communities for a more inclusive and democratic governance of selected municipalities in 11 countries. The Programme started in 2013 and is ongoing.
The Local engagement for Roma inclusion (LERI) project from the FRA multi-annual Roma programme brings together local authorities and residents, in particular Roma, to investigate how they can best be involved in Roma integration actions. In 22 localities the engagement of local stakeholders, including Roma, is facilitated to enable Roma inclusion in joint efforts.

6. International organisations
International organisations like the Council of Europe, the United Nations (OHCHR, UNDP, UNICEF) and the World Bank do essential work, and the European Commission co-operates with them. The European Commission also draws on the research done during the Decade of Roma Inclusion.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) represents the world's commitment to universal ideals of human dignity.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities through the sustainable development of nations in more than 170 countries and territories. They help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress.
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) protects and defends the rights of every child.
The Decade of Roma Inclusion was an initiative of 12 European countries to improve the socio-economic status and social inclusion of the Romani minority across the region. The initiative was launched in 2005, with the Decade of Roma Inclusion running from 2005 to 2015, and was the first multinational project in Europe to actively enhance the lives of Roma.

7. Academia
Academics are key players too. The European Academic Network on Romani Studies teams up researchers with decision-makers, while also promoting and improving resources on Roma communities.
The aim of the European Academic Network on Romani Studies is to support efforts towards the social inclusion of Romani citizens in Europe. The project facilitates intercultural dialogue and raises the visibility of existing research outside the academic community in order to foster cooperation with policymakers and other stakeholders. By creating an interface between academic researchers and political decision makers, while promoting and improving the existing resources on the European Roma communities, the project shall ultimately allow for the implementation of better conceived policy initiatives based on reliable evidence.

8. Roma organisations working in the field of non-discrimination
European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC)
European Roma Information Office (ERIO)
European Roma Grassroots Organisation (ERGO)
European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF)
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is a Roma-led international public interest law organisation working to combat anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma through strategic litigation, research and policy development, advocacy and human rights education.
The European Roma Information Office (ERIO) is an international advocacy organisation that promotes political and public discussion on Roma issues by providing factual and in-depth information on a range of policy issues to European Union institutions, Roma civil organisations, governmental authorities and intergovernmental bodies.
EUROPEAN ROMA GRASSROOTS ORGANISATIONS NETWORK (ERGO) is a young and dynamic organisation established in 2008 by a small group of NGOs who shared the observation that everyday realities of Roma communities were hardly taken into account in policy development and implementation.
Founded on a shared philosophy of active citizenship, shared responsibility and grassroots empowerment, ERGO Network members aim to convince policy makers that positive change for Roma is possible when antigypsyism is recognized and tackled as root cause of the inequality they face and when the preconditions are in place for Roma to take part in civic life as equal stakeholders.
European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF) receives assistance in terms of financial and human resources, and has a privileged access to the various bodies and organs of the Council of Europe which deal with matters concerning Roma and Travellers. 

9. European Commission Funds
European social fund and the Roma
Erasmus Plus Programme and the Roma
Roma projects: Opre Roma - The Education of Gipsy Childhood in Europe
The European Social Funds work on the integration of Roma through a wide variety of innovative projects in areas such as health services, counselling, education, training, and guidance for the self-employed:
- Teachers in schools with Roma children are trained to deal with the particular issues they may face – sometimes helped by mediators and assistants recruited from local communities.
- Successful Roma role models are promoted to young Roma in campaigns to improve their motivation to succeed. Families and whole communities are engaged in the effort to improve school performance.
- Universities and training institutions are training young Roma in medical and social protection skills which they can take back to their communities to help raise living standards.
Developing the role of Roma women in their communities is another focus. ESF projects support them in setting up their own craft enterprises – giving the training and financial support they need. Elsewhere, they are acquiring recognised health-worker skills to help them get jobs in the health sector.
Erasmus Plus and Roma – SALTO RC booklet “Youth in Action and the Roma Community: Inclusion of diversity” (
Opre Roma - The Education of Gipsy Childhood in Europe
This project was aimed at diagnosing the gypsy childhood educative situation. This diagnosis will further help in elaborating practical proposals of socio-educative intervention that would allow orientating the European educative policies.