Networking

ERGO is a strong network of like-minded organisations from across Europe who come together to share experiences, learn from each other, create new ideas and develop common approaches. At the same time, we create networks with other partners to work on common issues and have a stronger voice together – both on European and on national level. Civil society is strongest when we form alliances, learn from and inspire each other and co-create social change.

Key Activities

European networks

ERGO Network is a sought out partner on the topic of Roma inclusion in Brussels, due to its expertise combining the experiences of the grassroots level with strong knowledge on EU policy processes. We engage in all Roma-related policy processes at EU level through taking part in civil society dialogues, consultation processes, lobbying decision-makers and providing knowledge and expertise in our own and partners’ events.

Alliance against Antigypsyism

The Alliance against Antigypsyism is an occasional coalition of organisations that promote equality of rights for Roma. The aim of the alliance is to advance a better understanding of antigypsyism. It is the author of the Reference Paper on Antigypsyism, coordinates advocacy efforts and regularly publishes policy papers.

National coalitions

ERGO Network supports its members in their national advocacy work to push for a better implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies and combatting antigypsyism. In many countries, ERGO members facilitate national coalitions of Roma NGOs in order to be stronger in their advocacy and share the work with partner organisations.

Networking news

Sep

Digital High-Level Conference

Digital High-Level Conference on the new Strategic EU Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation of Roma until 2030 Instead of the traditional “EU Roma Platform”, the German EU Presidency and the European Commission will organize on the 12 October the “Digital High-Level Conference on the new Strategic EU Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation of

Sep

Overdue action against racism by the European Union

PRESS STATEMENT Overdue action against racism by the European Union Brussels 23 September 2020: The European Coalition of Roma and pro-Roma organisations welcomes the adoption of an Action Plan against Racism by the European Commission, providing a framework to address structural racism in the EU, including antigypsyism. The Action Plan recognizes the structural dimension of

Sep

ERGO meets EC desk officers

ERGO members meet European Commission desk officers On 10 September 2020, the European Roma Grassroots Organisations (ERGO) Network facilitated an online exchange meeting between its national members in 5 key countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia) and their counterparts in the country desks of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) and DG

Sep

Call for revised Council Recommendation on Roma

In the context of the adoption of the new EU Strategic Framework on Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation by the European Commission, ERGO Network has sent a letter to the European Council, the German EU Presidency and the European Commission to call for the adoption of a revised Council Recommendation on Roma under the German

Jul

The role of Social Economy in supporting Roma social and economic inclusion

ERGO Network position paper: The role of Social Economy in supporting Roma social and economic inclusion in a Covid-19 context Directly to the position paper. Europe and the world are facing an unprecedented social and economic shock, brought about by the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many Europeans have lost their incomes, their homes,

Jul

ERGO Network’s Response to the Country-Specific Recommendations

European Semester: European Commission releases Spring Package 2020 What’s in it for Europe’s Roma? On 20 May 2020, the European Commission published the so-called Spring Package, comprising the 28 Country-Specific Recommendations 2020 (including the United Kingdom), and the accompanying Communication on Country-Specific Recommendations, in the framework of the 2020 European Semester. Together with its national

May

Roma equality as part of the EU accession process

Civil society letter addressing Roma equality as part of the EU accession process and the EU response to the Covid-19 pandemic to Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement On behalf of a European coalition of Roma and pro-Roma organizations, we call upon you and the European Commission to prioritise the fundamental rights and

Apr

EU Recovery plan – the case of Roma

The effects of Covid-19 on Roma communities in EU Member States and Enlargement and Neighbourhood Countries Throughout Europe, most governments have failed to design or implement specific measures to address the vulnerability of Roma during the coronavirus pandemic. With Commissioner’s Dalli statement on the importance of prioritising the protection of fundamental rights and racialised minorities

Apr

Joint letter to Helena Dalli

Coronavirus: NGOs warn against Roma exclusion from EU crisis response ERGO Network together with 8 other (pro-)Roma civil society organisations have sent a letter to EU Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli, calling on the Commission to do its utmost to ensure that in drawing down on crisis funds, Member States do not further discriminate against

Apr

Post-2020 European Roma Coalition

Post-2020 European Roma Coalition In order to ensure a strong commitment and tangible results by European institutions to the post-2020 EU policy on Roma, a number of Roma and pro-Roma civil society organisations have come together and established a Post-2020 European Roma Coalition (working title). The aim of the Coalition is to achieve substantive equality,

Mar

ERGO Network feedback on Commission Roadmap

ERGO Network written feedback on the Roadmap published by DG Justice on 17 Feb 2020. An initiative setting out the EU post-2020 Roma equality and inclusion policy ERGO strongly welcomes the Roadmap by the European Commission setting out the post-2020 EU Roma equality and inclusion policy, which builds on the previous EU Roma Framework for

Mar

European Semester – ERGO response to the country reports

European Semester: European Commission releases Winter Package What’s in it for Europe’s Roma? On 26 February 2020, the European Commission published the so-called Winter Package, comprising the 28 Country Reports 2020 (including the United Kingdom), and the usual Communication on Country Reports, in the framework of the 2020 European Semester. The European Roma Grassroots Organisations

Mar

ERGO Network meets new EU Commissioners

ERGO Network meets European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli, and is part of the Social Platform delegation to meet Executive Vice Presidents Frans Timmermans (cabinet) and Valdis Dombrovskis In the first months of 2020, ERGO Network took the opportunity to get to know three of the new EU Commissioners who are essential for our work

Jan

European Commission releases Autumn Package – ERGO Response

European Commission releases Autumn Package What’s in it for Europe’s Roma? On 17 December 2019, the European Commission published the so-called Autumn Package, including the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2020 and its annex, the draft Joint Employment Report, thus marking the beginning of the 2020 European Semester. In a clear attempt to revamp the cycle,

Dec

Strategies against antigypsyism

Strategies against antigypsyism The international conference „Strategies against antigypyism“ took place in Tenerife on 12 and 13 December 2019. It was organized by the Karipen association in cooperation with the Ministry for Health, Consumers Affairs and Social Welfare of the Canary Island Government, Cabildo of Tenerife and Khetane Platform. At the invitation of FAGIC ERGO

Oct

ERGO conference on education, 19 November

Roma access to mainstream education: ERGO Network annual conference Time: 19 November 2019, 10:00-12:30 Place: Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the European Union, Rue Belliard 60-62 (Brussels) We kindly invite you to attend ERGO Network’s conference on Roma access to mainstream education. Education is an increasingly important topic in the European public and

Oct

Civil society united in their demands for the post 2020 EU Roma Strategic Framework

Civil society united in their demands for the post 2020 EU Roma Strategic Framework Around 40 members of the civil society and other close partners worked hard in September to coordinate and prepare civil society’s input into the ‘Workshop on future policies for Roma’ organised by the European Commission’s DG Justice on 1 October 2019.

Oct

International Congress on Discrimination based on Work and Descent

International Congress on Discrimination based on Work and Descent tackling Casteism, Antigypsyism, Traditional and Contemporary forms of Slavery and Other Analogous Forms of Discrimination (ICDWD) 21-23 September 2019, New York From 21 to 23 September, a delegation of Roma activists from ERGO Network took part in the International Congress on Discrimination based on Work and

Mar

Looking back at the EU Roma Week 2019

Looking back at the EU Roma Week 2019 From 18-21 March 2019, the fourth EU Roma Week took place in Brussels, jointly organised by several Members of the European Parliament, the EU Commission, the UN Human Rights Office in Brussels and civil society organisations. The Roma Week offered a framework for a series of events

Mar

Roma demand to be included in the SDGs

Roma demand to be included in the SDGs At the heart of the EU Roma Week 2019, which brought over 100 European activists and stakeholders to Brussels, policy-makers and civil society met for the first public debate on Roma and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The debate was co-hosted by Cornelia Ernst, MEP of the