DRTO(2026)5                                                                               

Strasbourg, 30 June 2026

                                                                                               

22^nd Meeting of the Council of Europe

Dialogue with Roma and Traveller[1] civil society

Security Policies and Inclusion: Exploring Effects on Roma and Traveller Communities

Strasbourg, 6-7 October 2026

Council of Europe, Palais de l’Europe

Room G03, Agora building

DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE

The regular dialogue events with Roma and Traveller civil society organisations aim to:

1.       reinforce the regular dialogue between the Council of Europe and Roma communities on all policy issues relevant for Roma inclusion

2.       stimulate the regular dialogue between member states and Roma organisations at national level

3.       provide input to the various organs and entities of the Council of Europe on the effectiveness and appropriateness of their operational programmes, monitoring mechanisms and political initiatives, with due respect for their independent character and mandates.

4.       increase the capacity of Roma and Traveller civil society organisations and to build expertise and knowledge of the Council of Europe standards and monitoring mechanisms, relevant for Roma and Traveller inclusion.

Recent years have seen an increasing trend in European countries to address complex societal issues involving Roma and Traveller communities through security-oriented policies. Legislative and policy frameworks in countries such as Slovenia, Hungary, and Greece, among others, have introduced enhanced police powers, surveillance measures, and conditional social benefits, often outpacing consultation and oversight. While these efforts are framed as responses to public safety concerns, they have resulted in heightened risks of indirect discrimination, collective punishment, and deepening social exclusion for Roma and Travellers. Such developments also risk reinforcing antigypsyism, recognised by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)[2] as a specific form of racism affecting Roma and Travellers across Europe, and may undermine efforts to build trust between communities and public institutions

These approaches are often enacted under urgent procedures, with limited input from affected communities and civil society, raising questions about their compliance with national constitutions, the European Convention on Human Rights, and Council of Europe standards. Concerns arise regarding the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination, access to effective remedies, and the meaningful participation of Roma and Traveller representatives in the design, implementation and evaluation of policies affecting their communities, as emphasised by ECRI General Policy Recommendation No. 13. There is a documented pattern of legislative contagion, as similar measures appear across the region and in policy settings involving other minority groups.

Roma and Traveller civil society organisations, human rights advocates, and international bodies have raised concerns over the impact of these policies, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that respects human dignity, legal certainty, equality, and the principles of good democratic governance. Council of Europe bodies, including ECRI, the Commissioner for Human Rights, and the European Court of Human Rights, have consistently underlined that sustainable responses to social challenges require combating discrimination and antigypsyism, strengthening participation, and ensuring accountability of public authorities, rather than relying predominantly on restrictive or security-based measures[3].

The 22^nd Dialogue Meeting aims to foster a constructive and open exchange on the effects of security-oriented policy approaches on Roma and Traveller communities, exploring pathways toward greater social inclusion, trust-building, and human rights compliance. Drawing on the Council of Europe Strategy for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2026 - 2030)[4] and relevant Council of Europe standards, the meeting will examine how public policies can address legitimate security concerns while safeguarding fundamental rights, combating antigypsyism, promoting democratic participation, and strengthening public trust and social cohesion.

The meeting will:

• Examine and discuss the effects of recently adopted security-oriented policies (including legislation, policing strategies, and administrative measures) on Roma and Traveller communities and their intersection with human rights, social inclusion, and democratic resilience;
• Identify challenges and risks—such as collective punishment, profiling, disproportionate restrictions, indirect discrimination, and exclusion—as well as positive practices that promote security while safeguarding rights, dignity, equality and the rule of law;
• Explore opportunities for dialogue and cooperation between Roma and Traveller civil society, member states, and Council of Europe entities to promote more inclusive, participatory, and rights-based approaches in policy and practice, including mechanisms for consultation, trust-building, and accountability;
• Collect input from Roma and Traveller civil society organisations on strategies for engaging with authorities, building alliances, and supporting effective remedies against discriminatory policies, as well as strengthening community participation in policy design, implementation, and monitoring;
• Facilitate exchanges with the Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (ADI-ROM), Ombudspersons, and relevant actors involved in security policy and minority protection;
• Shape actionable proposals for Council of Europe follow-up, monitoring, and capacity-building initiatives related to human rights-respecting security policies.

·         25 civil society participants selected through an open call: representatives of Roma and Traveller organisations with expertise in security policy, human rights advocacy, and community strategies; priority given to those engaged directly with affected communities and policy dialogue;

·         Members of the Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (ADI-ROM), for relevant sessions;

·         Representatives of other Council of Europe sectors and bodiesof the Council of Europe involved in democratic participation, human rights, and security policy;

·         Ombudspersons, representatives of human rights monitoring bodies, and legal experts.

Participants must be able to work in English, French, or Romani, the working languages of the meeting.

The meeting will take place on 6 October, from 09:00-17:00 and on 7 October 2026 from 09:30 to 12:30 – in Strasbourg, France.

Travel and subsistence expenses, as well as visa fees where applicable, related to the participation in this 22^nd Dialogue meeting, will be reimbursed according to Council of Europe rules and regulations.

Working and background documents:

·          Agenda of the 22^nd Dialogue meeting

·          Concept Note of the 22^nd Dialogue meeting

·          Council of Europe Strategy for Roma and Traveller inclusion (2026-2030)

·          Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on combating hate crime and Explanatory Memorandum

·          Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)10 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on multilevel policies and governance for intercultural integration

·          Resolution 1760 (2010) of the Parliamentary Assembly on the recent rise in national security discourse in Europe: the case of Roma

·          Thematic report on relations between Roma communities and the police (2025)

·          2nd edition of the Toolkit for Police Officers: Council of Europe standards on racially motivated crimes and non-discrimination

·          Educational tools for addressing racially motivated crimes against Roma and Travellers - Resources for police academies and police schools Volume 1

·          Educational tools for addressing racially motivated crimes against Roma and Travellers - Resources for police academies and police schools Volume 2