Publications – ERGO Network

Response to the Competitiveness Compass and the Autumn Package 2025

The Competitiveness Compass and the draft Joint Employment Report 2025 – What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

The Autumn Package kick-starting the European Semester 2025 was released by the European Commission in two batches, on 24 November and on 18 December 2024. While the latter batch included the usual draft Joint Employment Report, none contained the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey. This is the first ever since the establishment of the European Semester in 2011. There was only a brief accompanying communication of two and a half pages. Instead, the European Commission put forward a new document, entitled the Competitiveness Compass, on 29 January 2025.

Read our full response to the Competitiveness Compass and draft Joint Employment Report here!

The Competitiveness Compass is a programmatic framing document aimed to “guide the work in the coming five years” and listing “priority actions to reignite economic dynamism in Europe.” This approach means that most – if not all – other policy areas, including social and environmental policies, are subsumed to competitiveness goals. The vision seems to seek competitiveness at any price since it outlines no red lines or areas to be spared in this quest. The lack of attention to social issues is a significant step back even from the previous Annual Sustainable and Growth Surveys (itself primarily an economic document), and the narrative of the Competitiveness Compass leaves little doubt as to the low priority assigned by this Commission to equality and inclusion.

There was also no place for Roma, ethnic minorities, racism, or discrimination anywhere in the Competitiveness Compass. This is another missed opportunity compared to the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey where, more often than not, the Roma were mentioned, or at the very least there was a commitment to the Union of Equality – also absent from the current document. The Compass includes one sentence about taking pride in Europe’s anti-discrimination laws, a sentiment that many human rights organisations would like to question. Vulnerable groups are only mentioned once in the entire text.

The document features a small section on social fairness, which prioritises skills and jobs. Moreover, social aspects are viewed exclusively as an enabler of competitiveness rather than a goal in themselves. The European Pillar of Social Rights (Social Pillar) is mentioned once from the perspective of its role in shaping a competitive Europe. There is some positive language on quality jobs, adequate wages, inclusive labour markets and the welfare state, as well as references to welcome initiatives like the EU Job Quality Roadmap, the Affordable Housing Plan, and the EU Affordable Energy Action Plan – but no wording on the EU’s upcoming first Anti-Poverty Strategy. However, the overall approach is one of instrumentalising social policies for economic gains, where people are seen as bargaining chips in a race of global business interests.

The Competitiveness Compass also announces some very worrisome structural changes to EU processes and funds, such as aligning the new MFF with competitiveness objectives, raising great concerns that vital social funding will be cut or redirected. A new and streamlined European Semester is meant to focus on reforms and investments for competitiveness, but once again the worry is that social monitoring through the Semester might disappear or at least be significantly downsized.

We are very pleased to see Europe’s Roma acknowledged multiple times in the Joint Employment Report concerning issues such as their heightened risk of experiencing poverty and social exclusion (including that of children), early school leaving, and difficult access to services and the labour market. Additionally, strong links are made to the EU Strategic Framework on Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation as part of the Union of Equality. Very disappointingly, though, there is no mention of antigypsyism or racism and only four references to discrimination.

The references to civil dialogue are rather poor, as the Competitiveness Compass does not mention civil society, while social partners are mentioned three times. The accompanying communication of the second batch of documents of the Autumn Package includes one explicit reference to civil society about increasing ownership of the Country Reports. Finally, the Joint Employment Report fares much better, with multiple references to the role of civil society organisations in delivering impactful and inclusive policies.

ERGO Network will continue to advocate for a stronger focus on Roma rights and inclusion in the framework for these processes and for better synergies between the European Semester and the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation, the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan, and the Union of Equality.

For more information on ERGO Network’s work on the European Semester, please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro – a.ferro@ergonetwork.org

Roma access to quality, affordable, and inclusive essential and social services

Roma access to quality, affordable, and inclusive essential and social services

Access to essential and social services is a fundamental component and pre-requisite for lifting people out of poverty, combatting material deprivation, and raising work intensity. Europe’s Roma face multiple obstacles in benefitting from good quality, affordable essential and social services despite being among the key groups most needing this support to unlock equal opportunities for themselves and their families.

There are some key opportunities to capitalise on this subject in the next mandate of the European Commission, chiefly the new Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights and associated initiatives. Revising the Multi-Annual Financial Framework is another opportunity to review support for quality, affordable, accessible, and inclusive service provision. The Mission Letter to Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu lists a call for her to “lead the work on the first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, aimed at helping people to access the essential protections and services they need and addressing the root causes of poverty.” (our underlining).

The work has already begun, with the European Commission releasing a comprehensive and long-awaited report on access to services on 18 June 2023. The report aims to support the delivery of Principle 20 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which refers to access to essential services such as water, sanitation, energy, banking services, and digital communications. Consultations with civil society are also taking place, and oral and written feedback is being submitted.

This policy paper aims to review the aforementioned European Commission report from a Roma inclusion perspective, as well as to formulate policy recommendations that concern access to both essential and social services for one of Europe’s most vulnerable communities. It is also part of ERGO Network’s advocacy in the framework of our efforts to ensure that the upcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy does not leave the Roma behind. We have consistently advocated for more and better access to services, including digital services, for the Roma as a fundamental pre-requisite to thrive, achieve equality, and participate in society and the labour market.

Last but not least, we hope to see full synergies between the Union of Equality and its composing strategies, including the EU Strategic Framework for Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation, and key mainstream processes such as the European Semester and the initiatives it monitors.

=> Read the policy paper here!

For ERGO Network’s engagement with access to social and essential services, please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro: a.ferro@ergonetwork.org

Research report on Roma access to decent and sustainable employment

ERGO Network launches its research report on Roma access to decent and sustainable employment

The European Roma Grassroots Organisations (ERGO) Network held its annual Policy Conference on 25 November, entitled “Implementing the EU Roma Strategic Framework. Roma access to decent and sustainable employment.”

The Roma are more likely to experience discrimination in recruitment and in the workplace, to be paid less, to be offered precarious contracts, to be overlooked for promotions or learning opportunities, or to be given dangerous or unsuitable tasks. While overrepresented in unsustainable and exploitative forms of employment, the Roma are also underrepresented in trade union structures. Additionally, many Roma earn their livelihood from atypical or seasonal forms of work, which are not covered by adequate labour protection legislation and do not provide for employment rights and social security. Job creation efforts are not enough to provide the Roma with quality and secure jobs, and the great potential of social entrepreneurship is insufficiently supported.

The EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation 2020 – 2030 includes, as one of its four sectoral objectives, “Increase effective equal access to quality and sustainable employment” by 2030, while the Council Recommendation on Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation features a comprehensive section calling on Member States to “promote effective equal access for Roma, in particular young Roma, to quality and sustainable employment”. Access to quality and sustainable employment is extensively covered by the European Pillar of Social Rights (Social Pillar), chiefly in its Principles 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, while decent work is Goal 8 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

During 2024, ERGO Network conducted in-depth national case studies in six countries (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain), looking at the realities of Roma employment and access to the labour market and the key barriers the Roma face when trying to access quality and sustainable jobs in these countries. Our members in Ireland provided additional benchmarking evidence. The main findings and recommendations were brought together in an EU synthesis report launched in the framework of the above-mentioned event.

Key messages of the synthesis report:

A majority of Roma are not in paid work, at least not in the formal economy, nor are they adequately supported to enter the labour market. Urgent and significant investment is needed into integrated, personalised Active Inclusion approaches, combining income support with enabling services and Public Employment Services to have the necessary resources, staff, and training.
The Roma who work are in poor-quality jobs with low pay, insecure contracts, unsafe working conditions, no access to training, and almost no trade union coverage. Countries need to develop and implement a comprehensive definition of job quality, covering all the aspects mentioned above, and ensure that it applies to all jobs, all sectors, and all workers. They also need to support and strengthen trade unions and collective bargaining.
Antigypsyism is pervasive in recruitment as well as in the workplace. Much stronger anti-discrimination legislation is needed, coupled with effective implementation mechanisms and monitoring, anti-bias training for employers and recruiters, and broad campaigns to combat antigypsyism in society at large.
Pushed to the margins of the labour market, the Roma make ends meet through the informal economy, pursuing traditional crafts, or seeking work abroad.Combating undeclared work needs to be done by regularising sectors and penalising rogue employers instead of poor workers; broader support schemes for self-employment and more protection for mobile workers are needed to prevent exploitation.
Job creation efforts that would benefit the Roma are scarce – and while the social economy holds great potential for Roma employment, it is currently underutilised. More public investment is needed in locally accessible, community-rooted quality jobs, as well as supportive legislation and improved access to funding for social enterprises as a key tool for Roma employment, including the promotion of Roma social entrepreneurship.
Participation of Roma communities and their civil society organisations is paramount in co-creating sustainable ways forward. Policymakers and labour market actors must cooperate closely with Roma stakeholders and their civil society representatives to ensure evidence-based solutions, support disaggregated data collection, foster common understanding, and bridge cultural gaps.

With this research, we aim to kick-start a debate with policy makers on improving the availability, accessibility, quality, sustainability, and inclusiveness of employment for Europe’s Roma.

Read the EU synthesis report here!
Read the national case studies: Bulgaria – Czech Republic – Hungary – Romania – Slovakia – Spain.
Read the additional benchmarking evidence: Ireland

For more information about ERGO Network’s work on Roma access to decent and sustainable employment, please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro.

EC Spring Package 2024 – What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

European Commission releases Spring Package 2024 – What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

On 19 June 2024, the European Commission published the so-called Spring Package, comprising the 27 Country Reports, 27 Country-Specific Recommendations, and the accompanying Communication on the Spring Package, in the framework of the 2024 European Semester. ERGO Network and its national members have reviewed the Package to see to which extent it explicitly mentions Roma rights and inclusion, ethnic minorities, discrimination, and racism, as well as to assess whether national civil society was involved in drafting the Country Reports.

Access the full analysis here

Key Findings

1. The Communication on the Spring Package mentions the Roma twice regarding their labour market participation and the impact of inflation—but nothing on health, housing, or education.

2. 8 Country Reports include references to the Roma (BG, CZ, GR, HU, IE, RO, SK, SI) in 2024, one more than in 2023, but still insufficient as Roma live in 26 EU Member States.

3. There is 1 Country-Specific Recommendation (SK) on Roma, who are also mentioned in 6 Preambles (BG, CZ, GR, HU, RO, SK), a significant step up from 2023 (only one Preamble, HU).

4. Ethnic minorities feature in 4 Country Reports (BG, DE, EE, FI) and no CSRs, while discrimination is mentioned in 7 CRs (AT, HU, IE, NL, SK, ES, SE) and two Preambles (AT, NL).

5. Civil society was poorly associated to the drafting of the Country Reports, but it is mentioned in 8 of them (CZ, DK, GR, HU, IE, LV, SK, SI), and in all Preambles except CY & ES).

Overall, while our members welcome references to Roma communities in more countries, they lament that most of the Spring Package 2024 doesn’t explicitly mention them, whereas the Roma are present in all Member States except Malta and experience rates of poverty and social exclusion of over 80% in most of them, and almost 100% in some. This situation was exacerbated by the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the rising cost of living and energy price spikes. As the Package itself highlights these very challenges, it would have warranted more attention paid to one of Europe’s most left-behind communities.

The recurrent focus on competitiveness as well as productivity, and curbing public spending spells dire times for social inclusion, human rights, and equality. It is our members’ experience that, unless the Roma are explicitly named as key target beneficiaries of support measures, and unless specific measures and resources are dedicated to them, mainstream initiatives and broad national and EU funds end up not reaching them. Europe’s Roma must be specifically prioritised in the EU’s Recovery Package and associated funds if the EU is serious about delivering on its commitments for Roma equality, inclusion, and participation by 2030.

Our members equally express disappointment that issues of discrimination and antigypsyism are largely absent from the present Package, while these phenomena have increased in recent years. The fact that the country analyses and recommendations do not seek to establish explicit synergies with the EU and national Roma Frameworks and with the National Action Plans against Racism is considered a significant missed opportunity.

Finally, they deplore the lack of recognition and support given to civil society organisations in the two country documents, given that most of them are not only on the frontlines, providing essential support to communities in need, but they equally possess the knowledge, expertise, and direct links to beneficiaries which are needed to inform the design of sustainable and effective public policies.

For more information about ERGO Network’s work on the European Semester and associated frameworks (European Pillar of Social Rights, Sustainable Development Goals etc), please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro.

GFoD Report on Roma Settlements

Substandard Romani settlements across Europe: Environmental racism and disinvestment

We are happy to showcase the work of our partners in the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated based on Work and Descend. It sheds light on
the situation of Roma living in substandard Romani settlements, which can take different forms such as slums, shanty towns, ghettos, squats, dwellers, etc.

This report aims to illustrate some of the key challenges and living conduction in such sub substandard Roma settlements across Europe and raise awareness of the slow violence of state disinvestment towards such communities.

This report has been coordinated by Simona Torotcoi (GFoD, Romania), with the collaboration of Fatos Kaytan (Romani Godi Association, Turkey), Slobodan Stankovic (Central European University, Serbia) and Albert Memeti (Romalitico Institute for Policy Analysis, N. Macedonia).

Download full report here

Discrimination based on Work and Descent (DWD) affects more than
270 million people worldwide. Communities Discriminated on Work
and Descent (CDWD) can be found on all continents: Dalit communities
in South Asia and Buraku in Japan, Roma communities in Europe,
Haratin, Osu and other communities in West Africa and Quilombola or
Palenque communities in Latin America.

DWD is a unique form of discrimination characterized by social exclusion based on inherited status and ancestral occupation. Rooted in notions of “purity and pollution,” DWD often manifests in practices of untouchability and systemic marginalization. As a result, CDWD face daily harassment, violence, and extreme discrimination in accessing fundamental rights such as employment, education, healthcare, and housing.

Imagine being denied the opportunity to live in a preferred neighbourhood solely because of social stigma linked to your identity. For CDWD identity-based groups, this scenario is not just hypothetical but a grim reality. Forced into separate settlements away from mainstream communities, CDWD individuals endure systemic segregation and deprivation.

The concept of “purity pollution” perpetuates the marginalisation of CDWD communities, relegating them to isolated areas devoid of essential services. Roma communities in Europe often inhabit suburban settlements lacking basic amenities like water and sanitation. Similarly, Quilombos in Latin America are secluded in remote mountainous regions with limited state support.

Spatial segregation extends beyond physical separation, encompassing social distancing and systemic barriers. CDWD individuals are often barred from using the same roads and facilities as dominant populations, further entrenching their marginalization.

Scholarly research, such as Picker’s analysis of Roma segregation in European cities and Vincze’s exploration of marginal urban housing areas, sheds light on the mechanisms perpetuating CDWD exclusion. However, many studies have historically “blamed the victim” instead of addressing systemic inequities.

This report delves into the plight of Roma communities residing in substandard settlements across Europe, highlighting the egregious forms of discrimination they endure. From slums and shanty towns to ghettos and squats, these settlements epitomize the slow violence of state disinvestment.

By raising awareness of the challenges faced by CDWD communities, this report advocates for systemic change to dismantle discriminatory structures and uphold the rights of all individuals, regardless of their descent or occupation.

Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD)

Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) is the global coordination and engagement mechanism for the Stakeholder Group of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (SG CDWD). Both were founded in 2021 and formally recognise the core motto of ‘Leave No One Behind’ propounded by Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which ensures Planet, Peace and Prosperity for all, especially those who are marginalized through generations and suffered social prejudices for life of dignity and peace.