Advancing Roma inclusion in Europe

Across Europe, many Roma communities continue to face entrenched social and economic exclusion driven by overlapping discrimination, spatial segregation and persistent informality in employment, housing and access to finance. This publication highlights how such structural barriers not only perpetuate poverty and marginalisation, but also obscure Roma communities from formal systems and policy responses, reinforcing a cycle of exclusion. At a time of labour shortages and demographic decline, it underscores the significant untapped potential of Roma inclusion for economic growth, productivity and social cohesion. Despite existing policy frameworks and funding, progress remains uneven, with rising discrimination and widening inequalities signalling an urgent need for renewed political commitment. The report argues that financial institutions like the Council of Europe Development Bank can play a central role by complementing traditional grant-based approaches with innovative financial instruments, helping to bridge the gap between social policy and sustainable investment to deliver lasting inclusion outcomes.