France

EU funding for Roma integration

For the 2021-2027 period, France is allocated a total of €15.8 billion under the Cohesion Policy (European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund). At least 42.4% of this amount will be spent on the ESF with at least 25% of that going towards promoting social inclusion and combating poverty. The latter could also finance Roma-related measures.

Communication in 2015 on the implementation of the EU framework for national Roma integration strategies

Contacts

ESF managing authorities

Ministry of labour, represented by the General delegation of employment and vocational training (ESF+ national program), Regional Councils (regional programs), Single Territorial Collectivities of Martinique and Guyane.

ERDF managing authorities

In France, the managing authorities are under operational programs for each region. For the 2021-2027 period, the managing authorities are represented by the regional councils, the Single Territorial Collectivities of Martinique and Guyane and the prefect of the region for Mayotte. For more information on France’s operational programs see ESF OPs and ERDF OPs.

Facts and figures

The Council of Europe estimates that there are approximately 400,000 Roma living in France (0.21% of the population). In fact, there are around 350,000 to 400,000 French Travelers (« gens du voyage ») included in the umbrella term Roma as used by the European institutions. There are also around 15,000 to 20,000 European citizens considering themselves or considered as Roma, mainly from Romania and Bulgaria.

National Roma integration strategy

French republican tradition, which is reflected in an uncompromising conception of the principle of equality, does not allow for measures that would specifically target an ethnic group. The French government refuses any difference in law based on the belonging to a community defined by its real or supposed origin. This approach in no way precludes recognising and fighting against racism of which the communities that are the subject of the European framework may be victim.

Therefore, the 2020–2030 French Strategy in response to the recommendation by the Council of the European Union of 12 March 2021 for Roma equality, inclusion and participation has three objectives:

1. fight against Anti-Roma racism or “antiGypsyism” 
2. improve the living conditions and the inclusion of Travelers (Gens du voyage)
3. accelerate the resorption of slums where intra-European people live in precarious situation

Assessment of France’s strategy implementation

In 2014 the Commission assessed the implementation of the national Roma integration strategies in the 4 key areas of education, employment, healthcare and housing, as well as progress made in the fight against discrimination and the use of funding.

• Commission assessment of France’s national strategy (2014)
• Commission assessment of France’s national strategy (2012)
• The European Union and the Roma – Factsheet France

National Roma contact point

The contact point for the national Roma integration strategy in France is the Délégation Interministérielle à l'Hébergement et à l'Accès au Logement  (DIHAL), under the responsibility of the prime minister.

Contact persons: 

Mr Manuel Demougeot - manuel [dot] demougeotdihal-durable [dot] gouv [dot] fr (manuel[dot]demougeot[at]dihal-durable[dot]gouv[dot]fr)

Ms. Astrid Tanguy - astrid [dot] tanguydihal [dot] gouv [dot] fr (astrid[dot]tanguy[at]dihal[dot]gouv[dot]fr)

Ms Izia Viennot - izia [dot] viennotdihal [dot] gouv [dot] fr (izia[dot]viennot[at]dihal[dot]gouv[dot]fr)