The Rroma, also variously known as Roma, Gypsies, Tsiganes, Tsigan, Gitanos or Gitans, as well as Sinti, Cale, and many other names, Until the XVIIIth century, many thought that Rroma came from Egypt, Nubia or some other "Saracen" land or even, that they were one of the lost Jewish tribes. Since Rroma were and are a closed society, where "foreigners" have little access, outsiders were prevented from learning about Rroma traditions and language. Words from this language nevertheless shed a light about the origins of the Rroma. In 1753, a young Hungarian, Istvan Valyi studied in Leiden in the Netherlands where he met fellow students from India who taught him about 1000 words of their language. Back home, he realised that part of the vocabulary he learned in Leiden was understood by Rroma and he exposed this fact in an article in 1776 marking the beginning of Rroma studies.

ECRE, the European Committee on Romani Emancipation, was organized in June 1999 and incorporated in April, 2000. ECRE is formed under the terms of European Council Regulation Number 2137/85 (European Union). Under this Regulation, ECRE is a European Organization with equivalent operational status in all member states of the European Union. ECRE is registered under the United Kingdom Statutory Instrument 1989/638 on the European Economic Interest Grouping Regulations 1989. ECRE is a non profit making organization.