In April 2025, we attended the 2025 EU Award for Roma Integration in the Western Balkans and Türkiye.
The awards, which took place in Brussels as part of EU Roma Week 2025 (7-10 April) and were hosted by Roma Active Albania, recognised the achievements and commitment of organisations who work to empower Roma communities through quality and inclusive education.
We were delighted to see ENS Members Roma Versitas Kosovo collect the first prize for Kosovo. Executive Director Avni Mustafa, who collected the award on behalf of the organisation, and his team work tirelessly to resolve enduring cases of statelessness among their community.
We are proud and privileged to work with them as key partners in our Roma Belong project and are so pleased to see them get the recognition that they deserve.
We were also delighted to see Senada Sali, Legal Director at our member the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), winning the second prize for North Macedonia. Senada is a longstanding advocate on statelessness and was very involved in the early years of our Roma Belong project.
We send our heartfelt congratulations to all of the winners who are working extensively to improve the lives of Roma communities across the Western Balkans and Türkiye.
Our #RomaBelong project
Living without citizenship and basic rights is a harsh reality for thousands of Roma people in Europe, including children. Our #RomaBelong project was developed to better understand and address Roma statelessness with a particular focus on the Western Balkans and Ukraine.
In many States, legal barriers and antigypsyism combine to make it particularly challenging for Roma people to access their rights. But ending statelessness is possible, and is a priority for Roma equality in Europe.
Learn more about our work to end Roma statelessness.
