A draft Glossary has been prepared by the Council of Europe Roma and Travellers Division, based on its previous versions from 2008, 2012 and 2018. A public written consultation on the draft Glossary will be held from 26 May 2026 to 30 June 2026. The purpose of this consultation is to ensure that the text benefits from the views of the broadest possible range of stakeholders prior to its finalisation and presentation to the Committee of Experts on Roma and Travellers Issues (ADI-ROM), for the Committee to take note of it.

The descriptive glossary is a working tool developed by the Roma and Travellers Division to support staff members, translators, interpreters, partner institutions and stakeholders in using consistent, accurate and context-sensitive terminology related to Roma and Travellers.

It does not aim to provide legal, official or exhaustive definitions, nor to impose terminology on member States or other institutions and organisations. The explanations provided are descriptive and contextual, reflecting current usage within the Council of Europe and evolving debates at the European level.

In line with the Council of Europe’s language policy, the glossary is also intended to assist translation and interpretation services by providing guidance on preferred terminology and usage in the Organisation’s official texts.

While we welcome all contributions, please note that the final text will be shaped by a range of considerations and that not all comments may be incorporated into the final text.

 To participate in the public consultation, please follow this link for more information.