On 8 April, the International Roma Day, the Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge participated in a High-level event at the European Parliament in Brussels on Roma History and Culture in School Curricula, co-organised by the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) and the European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network (ERGO). The event focused on the urgent need for Roma history and culture to be meaningfully included in national school curricula across Europe.
In his opening remarks, the Deputy Secretary General cautioned that there are signs of structural inequality in education - inequality that democracy alone has not yet solved. “It is a time to stand up for Roma history and culture in our schools and in our societies: everywhere we take a stand for equality, for dignity, and for the promise of democracy”, he said.
Zeljko Jovanovic, President of the Roma Foundation for Europe, called for a return to the original intent of Roma Nation Day as a declaration of agency and unity, not a symbolic gesture. He reminded that the First World Roma Congress was held in 1971 amid Cold War divisions. Jovanovic drew a clear parallel to today’s fractured world, marked by war in Ukraine, rising authoritarianism, and political polarisation- and urged a new commitment to Roma-led action. “If our schools still refuse to teach our history, we will teach it ourselves with modern materials. “We have the tools: Roma scholars. Roma teachers. Roma archives. Roma creators. We are picking up where 1971 left off,” he said, “with tools our ancestors never had - but with the same courage they carried.”
Some 100 participants from national ministries, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and members of the academic and Roma communities, explored lessons learned, showcased best practices and discussed policy commitments.
The Council of Europe’s work in advancing Roma right was presented, including the European Court of Human Righs, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance ECRI, the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (ACFC) and the Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (ADI-ROM) outlining clear priorities: combating discrimination, fostering inclusion and ensuring meaningful participation.
Bjørn Berge also informed that the Council of Europe is preparing a new Strategy for Roma and Traveller Inclusion aimed at reaffirming its commitment to building fairer, more inclusive societies.
The first panel discussion was chaired by Timea Junghaus, Executive Director of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) and the participants Nicolae Ștefănuță, Vice-President of the European Parliament; Ana Gallego Torres, Director-General for Justice and Consumers at the European Commission, Tomáš Drucker, Minister of Education, Research, Development, and Youth of the Slovak Republic; Dr. Mehmet Gürcan Daimagüler, Federal Commissioner against Antigypsyism and for the Life of Sinti and Roma in Germany addressed committed action by European institutions and tools to bring forward Roma history and education, including those designed by ERIAC and the Council of Europe CM Recommendation on Education of Roma and Travellers in Europe. Katarzyna Kotula, Minister for Equality during the European Union Polish Presidency addressed the event via video message.
Speech by the Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge
Video interview with Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge
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International Roma Day: a celebration of Roma life and culture and a call to step up efforts against anti-gypsyism - PACE
