On 1 August 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Mînzatu, and Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib issued a joint statement ahead of European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on 2 August, marking the 82nd anniversary of the murder of 4,300 Roma and Sinti at Auschwitz-Birkenau and reaffirming the EU's commitment to combat antigypsyism. The statement, which contains no new policy proposals, reiterates the Commission's existing pledges under the EU Roma Strategic Framework 2020-2030 and the recently adopted Anti-Racism Strategy 2026-2030, which explicitly identifies antigypsyism as a distinct and severe form of racism requiring dedicated action. The leaders also referenced the joint Commission-Council of Europe project 'RomaMemory' and the 'No place for hate' communication, underscoring the EU's ongoing efforts in remembrance and education.
The statement comes as the EU continues to implement its Roma equality framework, which was adopted in 2020 and includes a Council Recommendation on Roma equality, inclusion and participation. The Commission's 2024 report on national Roma strategic frameworks assessed progress across member states, highlighting persistent gaps in education, employment, health and housing. The new Anti-Racism Strategy 2026-2030, adopted earlier this year, builds on the 2020-2025 strategy and adds a specific focus on antigypsyism, reflecting growing recognition of the unique discrimination faced by Roma communities. The statement also aligns with the joint communication 'No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred', which outlines measures to counter hate speech and hate crimes across the EU.
The leaders' message emphasizes that antigypsyism continues to drive inequality, social exclusion, systemic discrimination and violence against Roma across Europe, and they call for determined action through remembrance, education and policy. While the statement is largely symbolic, it reinforces the EU's institutional commitment to Roma inclusion and the fight against racism, which are central to the bloc's fundamental values. The Commission has funded projects under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme and supports initiatives like ROMACT and the RomaMemory joint programme to preserve the memory of the Roma Holocaust and promote inclusion.
The statement's impact is primarily political and symbolic, reaffirming the EU's stance without introducing new measures. For Roma civil society, it provides visibility and validation of their ongoing struggles, but it does not allocate new funding or set new targets. For national authorities, it serves as a reminder of their obligations under the Roma Strategic Framework and the Anti-Racism Strategy, though implementation remains uneven. For the broader public, it underscores the EU's commitment to human dignity and non-discrimination, but critics may note the gap between rhetoric and tangible progress, as the 2024 implementation report showed mixed results across member states. The statement also carries a moral weight, honouring the memory of the 500,000 Roma who perished in the Holocaust, and serves as a call to prevent such atrocities from recurring.