When we speak of inclusion in Europe, we often rely on familiar categories: migrant communities from Africa, Latin America, or Asia; young people navigating socioeconomic precarity; minorities whose presence is visible in public debates. Yet, inclusion also requires us to recognise those whose exclusion is so deeply normalised that it often goes unmentioned. Among them is the Roma community, one of the largest and most systematically marginalised minorities in Europe. For many in our group, their reality had been present on the periphery of daily life, yet rarely acknowledged with the attention it demands.
During our study visit to Brussels, we had the opportunity to confront this gap directly. At Mundo-B, a hub for organisations engaged in social justice and human rights, we participated in a session led by representatives of the ERGO Network, one of the leading actors working to advance Roma rights across Europe. The encounter offered more than an introduction to their work; it challenged our assumptions about inclusion, brought forward uncomfortable truths about discrimination, and expanded our understanding of what it means to build an inclusive Europe in practice.
ERGO’s approach is grounded in addressing antigypsyism, a structural form of racism that remains widespread yet insufficiently discussed. By identifying it as a root cause of inequality, ERGO confronts exclusion not as a series of isolated incidents but as a systemic phenomenon embedded in social, political, and institutional dynamics. Their work focuses on ensuring Roma participation in civic life, amplifying the voices of Roma activists, and strengthening the capacity of local organisations to advocate for their rights. In doing so, the network operates as a bridge between grassroots experiences and the spaces where national and European policies are shaped.
The presentation made clear that inclusion cannot be approached solely from an abstract, theoretical lens. It requires recognising communities whose experiences of discrimination are often overlooked, and understanding that visibility does not always translate into recognition. For many participants, the session was eye-opening. It revealed the quiet paradox of exclusion: some communities are seen every day, yet their marginalisation remains unnoticed because it has been normalised.
What made the encounter particularly meaningful was not only the information shared, but the shift in perspective it generated. It reminded us that building an inclusive Europe demands a willingness to look beyond the dominant narratives of migration and integration. It requires acknowledging the multiplicity of marginalised voices, each shaped by distinct histories but united by a common need for recognition, rights, and representation.
As we left Mundo-B, one idea resonated strongly: Towards Inclusive Europe must truly be for everyone. Not only for the groups most frequently mentioned, not only for those whose struggles fit the categories policymakers expect, but also for those whose experiences have been rendered invisible through silence or familiarity. Inclusion begins with listening deeply, deliberately, and with the humility to recognise what we have previously overlooked.
This activity has been developed in the frames of the Youth Participation Activity project Towards Inclusive Europe - Cap a l'Europa Inclusiva, supported by the Erasmus+ programme co-funded by the European Union and Coordinated by AHEAD.
Find further information about the project in: https://aheadedu.org/en/projects/towards-inclusive-europe/
The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.