Roma_mgsrom - Council of Europe

The setting up by the Committee of Ministers of a Committee of Experts on Roma and Travellers (MG-S-ROM) was decided in September 1995. This Committee is the first Council of Europe body responsible for reviewing the situation of Roma and Travellers in Europe on a regular basis.

Under the authority of the European Committee on Migration (CDMG), the Committee is instructed to:

• study, analyse and evaluate the implementation of policies (national programmes and/or action plans) and practices of member states concerning Roma and Travellers;
• draw up guidelines for the development and/or implementation of policies which promote the rights of the Roma and Traveller populations taking into account the findings of the monitoring mechanisms of the relevant legal instruments of the Council of Europe;
• keep under review the situation of Roma and Travellers in member states in compliance with relevant legal instruments of the Council of Europe.

The Committee meets twice a year and welcomes participants from 32 Member States.

Ms. Louiza KYRIAKAKI (Greece) is the current Chair of the Committee; Mr. Dezideriu GERGELY (Romania) and Mr. Petar Antic (Serbia) are the two Vice-Chairs.

The Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe and ECRI (European Commission against Racism and Intolerance) can send one or more representatives. In addition, representatives of the Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights/Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues) and the European Commission attend meetings of the Committee as observers. The Committee can invite representatives of other Council of Europe bodies and other international organisations where appropriate. Lastly, depending on the agenda of its meetings, it may invite competent experts and representatives of Roma and Travellers organisations. The European Roma and Travellers Forum recently received Observer status.

• MG-S-ROM (2004)14, Council of Europe activities related to Roma, Gypsies and Travellers
• MG-S-ROM (2002)10rev, The movement of Travellers in Council of Europe Member States, 2002
• MG-S-ROM (2000)13, Roma and statistics
• MG-S-ROM (2000)5, Problems arising in connection with the international mobility of the Roma in Europe and the recent emigration of Roma from the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, 2000
• MG-S-ROM (2000)3, Memorandum prepared by the Secretariat on problems facing Roma/Gypsies in the field of housing, 2000
• MG-S-ROM (1999)5rev, Economic and employment problems faced by Roma/Gypsies in Europe
• MG-S-ROM (99) 1, Housing, urban planning and poverty: problems faced by Roma/Gypsy communities with particular reference to central and eastern Europe
• MG-S-ROM (98) 15, Meetings of national consultative bodies between Roma/Gypsies and governments, 1998