OPEN LETTER TO EUROPEAN DECISION-MAKERS
Racism: a plague to
be cured but where is doctor EU?
13 December 1995: Commission Communication on Racism,
Xenophobia and anti-Semitism; 15 July 1996: Joint Action to Combat Racism and Xenophobia; 1997 European Year Against Racism; 2 June 1997: Establishment of the EUMC; 25 March 1998: Action Plan Against Racism; October 1999: Tampere Council summit: ÒEuropean Council calls
for the fight against racism and xenophobia to be stepped upÓ; 29 November 2001: Council proposal for a Council Framework Decision on
Combating Racism and Xenophobia; December 2001: Laeken Declaration ÒRacism is on the riseÓ.
These key dates have marked the EUÕs genuine political
commitment to combat racism and xenophobia and highlighted the dynamic
development of a coherent EU policy to combat racism and xenophobia.
2002-2004:
What has happened since the Laeken summit? The EUMC and civil society continued to draw the attention of the
general public and governments to the fact that racism is on the rise. Racist
and xenophobic crimes continue to be reported daily. In fact, political parties
openly developing a political programme based on racist and xenophobic
propaganda have even become members of a number of government coalitions in
Europe.
Paradoxically this evidence is totally ignored by
European decision-makers who, since the Laeken Declaration, have steadily
marginalised any EU action against racism on their political agenda by no
longer condemning racism in the European Council Presidency conclusions.
Discussions in the Convention on the Future of Europe about keeping the EUÕs
competence in justice and home affairs on combating racism and xenophobia have
been extremely difficult. We are witnessing a total blockage in political
negotiations regarding the proposed Framework Decision to combat racist and
xenophobic crime. In fact, the agendas of both the Irish and Dutch Presidencies
do not plan any action on this initiative, nor any alternative actions against
racism in 2004. Finally, to complete this negative picture, the Council
unexpectedly decided in December 2003 to ÒbroadenÓ the mandate of the EUMC to
become a general human rights agency.
Do European
Decision-makers think that there is no racism anymore? Or do they think theyÕve
done their bit? Or worse: does that INDICATE to Europeans that it is ok to be
racist?
The European Network against Racism, a Europe-wide network of more than 600 NGOs active
in the field of combating racism and racial discrimination, denounces the
collapse of the European UnionÕs commitment to combating racism.
The two Equality Directives are milestones in the EUÕs
policy to combat racism but are not an end-objective as such. A lot still needs
to be done and the Council must assume its responsibilities to implement the
Tampere objective to step up the fight against racism and xenophobia.
Negotiations with a view to adopting the Framework Decision on Combating Racism
and Xenophobia need to be restarted. Presidencies have the duty to keep the
item high on their political agenda.
The EUMC was one of the major outcomes of the European
Year Against Racism. It enhances the visibility of the European commitment to
combat racism and xenophobia and, through its RAXEN network, it produces very
valuable research and recommendations for the development of both EU and
national policies to combat racism and xenophobia. By changing the focus of the
EUMC, the issue of anti-racism is once again marginalised. Safeguards need to
be given to preserve the resources, the focus and the visibility of the
CentreÕs actions against racism. ÒPeople have the right to expect the Union to
address the threat to their freedom and legal rights posed by serious
crime.Ó(Extract Tampere Conclusions)ÉAND RACISM IS A SERIOUS CRIME!
NO EU ACTION AGAINST RACISM IS CREATING A SAFE HAVEN FOR RACISTS
Contact for information: Anoush der Boghossian, Communication Officer, T-02.229.35.71, F-02.229.35.75, anoush@enar-eu.org