The Council of Europe began its involvement with the Roma in 1969 by adopting the first official text on the "situation of Gypsies and other Travellers in Europe". In 1983 the Council organised the first training seminar for teachers working with Roma children. In 1993 the Roma population was declared a European minority.
The Recommendation (2000)4 on the education of Roma/Gypsy children in Europe was adopted by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The project Education of Roma children began in 2002 with the aim to practically implement this official text. The main chapters of the recommendation refer to: the recognition of Roma as a minority, training for teachers and other Roma education staff, development and distribution of teaching material, language teaching, studies and dissemination of information on Roma history and culture, involvement of families, highlighting positive experiences, etc.
The project Education of Roma children began in 2002 with the aim to practically implement this official text. The project uses a whole series of approaches – co-ordination, analysis and evaluation, information and training – to adapt existing programmes to actual needs and make them more effective. The idea is to stimulate national initiatives, help to design and implement new working methods and encourage promising innovations, bearing in mind Roma's specific needs and the measures required to integrate them into the general education system.