This meeting is organised by the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) to discuss the situation of the Romany peoples of Europe. The meeting, under the patronage of the Hellenic government and the auspices of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the European Union, will be an opportunity for dialogue and an exchange of views about the work of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the Churches in Europe in political and pastoral fields for the Romany peoples in Europe.

At the root of the meeting is the realisation of the situation of neglect in which the Romany minority in Europe is living. This joint concern of the continent’s churches and nations demands joint and urgent responses. In many of the countries of origin, the Romany communities are in fact living more and more at the margins of society. On the part of the European nations that presents a great difficulty in the integration of this ethnic and cultural minority. During the meeting, there will be a number of testimonies and sharing of experiences linked to the pastoral activity of the Church on behalf of the Romany peoples and to the political commitment of people belonging to the Romany communities.