"International Roma Day is a day of awareness for a more multicultural, fair and even more socially inclusive Portugal", Rebelo de Sousa said in an official statement published on his website.

"It is necessary to call for everyone's involvement, including Roma families so that the strategy will effectively produce the desired results", he added.

Rebelo de Sousa also said International Roma Day was an opportunity to remember the community's "secular presence" in Portugal for 500 years.

He also pointed out the Roma community's efforts through associations to increase their representativeness and integration and denounce discrimination.