Coordination and Support Group meeting dedicated to promoting the participation of Roma youth in Europe [editar]

On 20 and 21 January 2026, the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg hosted the Coordination and Support Group meeting dedicated to promoting the participation of Roma youth in Europe. The event was organised by the Council of Europe's Youth Department in collaboration with the Roma and Travellers Division and brought together more than 20 representatives of Roma youth organisations, networks and local and national authorities. A representative of Fundación Secretariado Gitano attended the meeting.

This activity was part of the second meeting of the Coordination and Support Group for Recommendation CM/Rec(2023)4, adopted by the Council of Europe on 5 April 2023. This recommendation urges Member States to ensure the real and meaningful participation of Roma youth in decision-making, as well as in social and political life at the local, national and international levels.

This follow-up meeting also addressed new opportunities for Roma youth within European institutions. Among the resources presented were the New Democratic Pact and the calls for proposals and support lines of the European Youth Foundation (EYF), which offer concrete tools to promote youth-led projects and actions.

As a particularly significant development, during the meeting the recent adoption by the Committee of Ministers of the new Council of Europe Strategy for Roma and Travellers Inclusion (2026 – 2030), was announced. This strategy is an important step towards strengthening the institutional commitment to equal rights and the effective inclusion of Roma in Europe.

At Fundación Secretariado Gitano, we remain committed to this type of space for participation and joint work, in collaboration with European entities and networks, convinced that the active involvement of Roma youth in decision-making spaces is essential to move towards a more just, inclusive and democratic Europe.