At #WFD2024, @zjovanovic.bsky.social challenged the false idea that empowering Roma is a threat. Roma are vital to economic progress, a healthy democracy, social stability and national security. Read more in our Roma for Europe 2030 agenda—link in bio. #romaforeurope

16 heirs on paper. Zero support in reality. The Fursenkos in Zaporizhzhia are living in a cracked home—with no legal path to recovery. This must change. #romaforeurope #urc2025

Met with Florin Manole, Romania’s new minister of labour and the first of Romani origin with a real policy portfolio. We committed to removing barriers to decent work. #romaforeurope #roma #politicalparticipation

The strength and solidarity of the families in Sofia’s Zaharna Fabrika, still living among the ruins of their demolished homes after months, show what true resilience looks like. We remain with them, working together toward lasting solutions. It’s their future—their voices guide every step. #rfe

“Our focus is on how Roma can be part of the solution.” – Our Rahiela Mustafovska speaks about how governments can harness the enormous potential of the Roma to help solve some of the Western Balkans’ pressing economic problems. Read more at the link in our bio. #romaforeurope

This week we met Oliver Röpke, President of the @eesc.bsky.social. He supports our vision: Roma are not a problem to fix—we’re an advantage. Young. Multilingual. Resilient. Together we agreed on next steps to make this truth heard where it counts. #romaforeurope

6% of Roma in Europe live without electricity. While nearly everyone else has power, Roma families are left in the dark. No heating, no light to study, real risks. This is a failure of inclusion—not just infrastructure. Europe must act. #romaforeurope

Roma voters played a decisive role in Romania’s presidential runoff. A surge in turnout in municipalities with high numbers of Roma helped stave off a far-right victory. But this was not just a shift in turnout—it was a shift in power. Read more in our bio. #romafordemocracy #romaforeurope

At "Europe’s Quest for Competitiveness" with @politico.eu, @zjovanovic.bsky.social argued that Roma inclusion is vital to the EU’s economic future. Training Roma youth for in-demand jobs could add billions in GDP. Watch his remarks and read our new report at the links in our bio. #romaforeurope

At “Europe’s Quest for Competitiveness” with @politico.eu , we made the case for investing in Roma youth as smart economic strategy. With 56% of young Roma not working or studying, Europe is missing out. Training programmes could quickly change that. Read our new report—link in bio. #romaforeurope

Happening now: “Europe’s Quest for Competitiveness” Barbara Rambousek from EBRD: We need to ensure our people are getting the education and skills they need. We need to figure out how we get young people into education and jobs—that includes the Roma population. Join live—link in bio. #romaforeurope

Happening now in Brussels – Europe needs every worker it can get. Excluding millions of young people from economic life is not just unjust—it’s inefficient. Investing in Roma youth is not about charity. It’s about competitiveness, resilience and common sense. Join live—link in bio #romaforeurope

🔴 Join us live at 2pm: "Europe’s Quest for Competitiveness" The EU is losing 2M workers a year—while 56% of Roma youth are out of work or school. Our president @zjovanovic.bsky.social joins the debate 🎙️ One-to-one interview with EVP Roxana Mînzatu 📢 Ask questions: www.politico.eu/event/europe...

📄 Our new report is live. Today we’re discussing it with POLITICO at Europe’s Quest for Competitiveness. Training Roma youth for in-demand jobs could deliver returns in 1–4 years and generate up to €10B in GDP across three countries. 🔗 Join below and read the report. #romaforeurope

Romani Resistance Day isn’t just about remembering, writes Mensur Haliti. It’s about continuing what our ancestors defended—Roma sovereignty. Those who resisted at Auschwitz weren’t only fighting to live; they were protecting a way of life the world refused to recognise. Link in bio. #romaforeurope

Martin from Slovakia is 16 and studying gastronomy. Thanks to the Roma Education Fund, he’s seeing how far education can take him. At our Monday “Europe’s Quest for Competitiveness” event with @politico.eu, we’ll ask: is Europe ready to invest in young Roma like Martin? Link in bio. #romaforeurope

Roma are part of the solution to the Western Balkans’ labour shortage. They’re young, adaptable, and excluded from training systems. Investing in Roma youth is smart economics. Shared this today at the #EESC_WB Forum. #romaforeurope #Jobs #SocialRights

“It shouldn’t take luck for a Roma child to go far.” On Sunday, Romania votes in the second round. Bogdan Burdusel writes about his home — and what’s at stake for Roma in Romania: dignity, representation, and the fight to be seen. Read the op-ed on our site (link in bio and below). #romaforeurope

Read the full op-ed here: romaforeurope.org/work/article...

Can Roma entrepreneurs help make Europe more competitive? Join us for a POLITICO Live event on 19 May as leaders discuss small business, access to finance, skills and labour, and what’s needed to secure the EU’s economic future. 👉 Register at link in bio to watch. #romaforeurope

On #EuropeDay, we call on the EU to invest in Roma youth. This isn’t charity—it’s economic sense. Europe needs this workforce. Watch our video with @politico.eu and register for our 19 May event in the comments below. #romaforeurope

Demolitions in Zaharna Fabrika show a system where poverty is criminalised and power protected. “The poor must be perfect to earn rights. The rich only need to be rich.” Full article by Daniela Samiri — link in bio. #romaforeurope

@zjovanovic.bsky.social made these remarks months ago, but his warning resonates now. In Romania’s presidential election, Roma voters are once again faced with a choice between token inclusion and exclusion wrapped in “family values”. #romafordemocracy #romaforeurope

Illegal Roma evictions in Sofia defy ECHR ruling. Delegation of lawyers and civil society calls for reparations, legal enforcement, and housing rights. Led by Roma for Democracy. 📄 Press release in the comments #romaforeurope

Meet Théo Kwiek, 15, a Roma student in France who won 3rd place in a national public speaking competition. I spoke right after him at @coe.int—his courage and pride were unforgettable. A powerful reminder of the talent and hope Roma youth bring to Europe. #romayouth #romaforeurope

Natalia Jijerina fled Odesa with her family. Now in Bucharest, they’re rebuilding their lives with help from the Roma Education Fund's One Stop Shop Centre. Roma are part of Ukraine’s defence—and its future: link in bio. 📸 Akos Stiller #romaforukraine

“April 8 was created to remind ourselves of what we are capable of.” During Roma Week 2025, Zeljko Jovanovic called for a return to the intent behind World Roma Day: not a symbolic gesture, but a declaration of unity and agency. 🎥 Full video: link in bio. #romaforeurope

“What more should we be doing for Roma?” That’s what I was asked at the Council of Europe. My response: Fewer Roma strategies. More real action that improves lives. Sofia’s demolition of Roma homes shows the system is delaying change, not delivering it. #romaforeurope

Bulgaria ignored the European Court of Human Rights and bulldozed Roma homes. This isn’t just lawlessness—it’s economic sabotage. Without housing, Roma people can’t plan, save, or thrive. If their rights fall, yours may be next. #romarights #housingjustice

In the EU, Roma inclusion is too often just a performance. In Vreme, Mensur Haliti explains how Roma organisations are stepping in to create real change—protecting voters, running candidates, building independent media and securing investments. 👉 Read the article – link in bio. #romaforeurope

Roma unemployment in Europe is 6 times higher than the overall rate for Sub-Saharan Africa. 34% of Roma adults are jobless. It’s not by chance—it’s about systemic exclusion. Solutions? Education & training, fair hiring and stronger anti-discrimination laws. Europe must do better. #romaforeurope

Regina, 20, is a Roma refugee from Ukraine. She and her husband fled to Bucharest, where they now work in a restaurant and rent a small apartment. Starting over hasn’t been easy, but Regina is making it work—with strength, patience and a little help along the way. #romaforukraine #romaforeurope

“There’s a need to have the voices of Roma heard in parliaments, in political parties, in political life today.” —Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General, @coe.int A clear message at the end of #RomaWeek: Roma belong at the centre of political life—not on the sidelines. #romaweek2025 #romaforeurope

📉 A @bruegel.bsky.social brief highlights the labour-market effects of Europe’s population decline and calls for policy solutions. 💡 Roma youth are needed in Europe’s future workforce. Now is the time to invest in education and skills. 👉 See our website for more about the potential of Roma.

📢 “There is no more noble task in anyone’s life than doing something for others—that sense of compassion that is not only empathy but empathy plus action.”   Meet our president, Zeljko Jovanovic.   🔍 Learn more about Zeljko and our team—visit our website!   #romaleadership #romaforeurope

Roma creatives: Our network member ERIAC wants to hear from you! Take 10–15 mins to share your experience and help expose inequality in Roma arts & culture.   Let’s name the barriers—then break them.   🔗 eriac.org | Link in bio       #romaforeurope

🚨 Europe's Roma youth face more exclusion than young people in the Global South.   Youth not in school, work or training: 🔸Roma: 56% 🔸Global South: ~30% 🔸EU: 11%   📢 Europe must invest in education, training & jobs—or risk losing an entire generation.   #romaforeurope

🌍 As Albania and North Macedonia tap into the EU’s Growth Plan, Roma must be included. As the youngest demographic in Europe, we’re key to solving workforce challenges. Inclusion benefits everyone. #romaforeurope

“People have treated us like their own.” 💛💙   Elena and her family had to leave their home in Ukraine, searching for safety. Now, they are starting over—facing challenges, but also kindness and support.   👉 Follow us for more stories of Roma resilience.   #romaforeurope #romaforukraine

The Roma Education Fund (REF) supports quality education for Roma in Europe and Turkey. Led by Ciprian Necula, REF promotes ✔️ community resilience ✔️ employment ✔️ leadership ✔️ public engagement See the link in the thread for more! #romaforeurope

We mourn the loss of 59 young lives in North Macedonia. I visited the embassy in Brussels to express condolences and share that the Roma Foundation for Europe is donating €10,000 to support the victims’ families. 🕯️ Rest in peace. #romaforeurope

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. A 2021 survey found that 25.6% of Roma had been unfairly denied a job and 13.5% had been barred from renting or buying a home. Exclusion is a choice. So is taking action. 🔗 Full statement via the link in bio.

“How do we get the political attention we deserve in this geopolitical perfect storm?” Great meeting with MEP García Hermida-van der Walle of the European Parliament Intergroup on Minorities. We discussed ideas—follow-up coming soon! #RomaVoices #MinorityRights #EU #romaforeurope

Productive meeting with Mario Nava, Director-General of DG Employment, on tackling labour shortages in Europe and how Roma can be part of the solution. Investment in Roma talent goes beyond social justice—it’s a smart strategy for boosting economic growth and fostering resilience. #romaforeurope

Founded in 2017, our network member ERIAC is the first institute dedicated to promoting Roma pride and challenging prejudice through the arts. With over 140 members, ERIAC unites ideas and identities, celebrating Romani culture and history. Find out more 👉 eriac.org #RomaPride #RFEnetwork

Only 43% of Roma in the EU have paid work, while 62% of Roma youth are excluded from education, employment, or training. The EU cannot afford to overlook Roma talent for labour market gaps. Read more in our “Roma for Europe 2030” agenda (in bio). #romaforeurope www.brusselstimes.com/1371556/anti...