Roma Security Now: European Institutions Must Act!

We call for the appointment of a Special Representative of the Council of Europe and an EU Coordinator to protect Roma from racism and violence, and for the protection of Roma to be included in the new European Security Strategy.

Racist hate speech and violence against Roma are increasing across Europe. At the same time, Roma are increasingly portrayed as a security problem rather than as people who need protection.

The situation

This process of “securitisation” is reflected in collective suspicion, criminalisation and policies that treat Roma primarily as a threat. This can currently be observed, for example, in Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Hungary. It fuels hate speech and violence.

Those affected receive little support. Roma self-organisations lack the resources to support victims in reporting incidents and navigating the procedures and measures that follow. The 2024 FRA survey shows how rarely discrimination is reported: only 6% of the Roma and Travellers surveyed who had experienced discrimination reported it to the relevant authorities, compared with 16% in 2016. As a result, the problem remains largely invisible.

The gap

The European Commission has appointed coordinators to combat antisemitism and anti-Muslim racism. There is no equivalent position dedicated to protecting Roma, one of Europe's largest ethnic groups. The Council of Europe also lacks clear political responsibility in this area. Responsibilities are passed from one authority to another, while concrete protection measures fail to materialise.

Who is behind this petition?

The petition is initiated by the Global Roma Alliance for Strategic Security (GRASS), an alliance of Roma organisations, political parties and human rights activists from various European countries. It builds on the open letter sent by GRASS to EU Commissioners Lahbib and Brunner on 5 October 2026. The call for a Special Representative was also raised at the 22nd meeting of the Council of Europe Dialogue with Roma and Traveller civil society in Strasbourg.

This petition is addressed to

the Secretary General of Council of Europe Alain Berset
the President of European Parliament Roberta Metsola
the President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen
the President of European Council Antonio Costa

Our demands

To the Council of Europe

Appoint a Special Representative on Roma Security.
Task: To monitor, assess and coordinate proactive measures against growing threats and racially motivated violence.

To the European Commission

Appoint an EU Coordinator on Combating Racism against Roma and Protecting Roma.
Task: To ensure that hate speech, radicalisation and threats against Roma are systematically treated as critical security-related signals across EU mechanisms.
Include the protection of Roma in the new European Security Strategy.
Goal: To make the protection of Roma part of the long-term framework for strengthening internal resilience and social cohesion.
Allocate dedicated funding in the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.
Goal: To provide targeted funding for measures to combat racism against Roma and improve their security in EU Member States.
Establish an emergency funding mechanism under CERV for Roma self-organisations.
Goal: To provide Roma self-organisations with direct, accessible funding to support victims of violence, monitor securitisation and report hate crimes safely, without fear of administrative or financial retaliation.

To the European Parliament

Establish an interinstitutional working group on Roma security and racism against Roma.
Tasks: To hold regular hearings, review the implementation of EU security strategies and ensure that Roma self-organisations participate meaningfully in European discussions on internal security.

Security, human rights and equality must apply to everyone in the EU. At a time of growing social polarisation and hostility, Roma need targeted institutional protection to live in safety and dignity.

Sign now and call on European institutions to ensure effective protection for Roma.