International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: Europe must deliver for Roma!
On the occasion of 17 October, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, ERGO Network recalls that Roma communities continue to experience some of the highest levels of poverty and social exclusion in Europe. According to the latest Roma Survey by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, 70% of Roma are at risk of poverty, a figure reaching 77% among Roma children. Despite some improvements, poverty remains widespread and deeply rooted in structural, historical antigypsyism.
Exactly one year ago, ERGO Network launched its position paper Ending Roma Poverty in Europe, calling for ambitious, rights-based anti-poverty policies. We urged the EU to embed the EU Roma Strategic Framework’s existing poverty-reduction target, tackle antigypsyism as a root cause of poverty, ensure adequate income and equal access to quality services and employment, and guarantee meaningful Roma participation, dedicated funding, and effective monitoring.
In May 2026, the European Commission published its first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy. In our response, we welcomed the explicit recognition of Roma poverty, the reference to the Roma poverty-reduction target, and the acknowledgement of discrimination and stigma as drivers of poverty. However, we regretted the absence of concrete Roma-specific measures, dedicated funding, stronger targets and accountability mechanisms, and the failure to explicitly address antigypsyism, ensure disaggregated equality data, and support structured civil society participation.
ERGO Network continues its work by engaging closely with the Strategy’s implementation. Most recently, we contributed to the EU Anti-Poverty Day, held at the European Parliament on 13 October, speaking in the workshop on How to ensure the implementation of the European Child Guarantee? We highlighted the need to ensure that Roma children and families can effectively access their rights and essential services, and that Roma child poverty is tackled through dedicated support, including combating antigypsyism and intersectional discrimination, and preventing family separation.
ERGO Network stresses that poverty is not an individual failure, but a political choice, and that ending Roma poverty is essential to achieving a fair, inclusive, and equal Europe for all.
For more information on ERGO Network’s work on Roma poverty, please contact Amana Ferro, Senior Policy Adviser, at a.ferro@ergonetwork.org
