IP/97/1174

Brussels, 19 December 1997

Closing Conference of European Year Against Racism, , 19 December 1997 : Future Action against Racism announced as European Year ends

“The European Year Against Racism is just the start,” , Padraig Flynn, today informed the 400 delegates attending the official closing in Luxembourg of the European Year Against Racism. The importance of the issue of racism for Europe in the future was reinforced by the President of the , Jacques Santer, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, and Marie-Josée Jacobs, Minister of the Family in Luxembourg, who all spoke during the 2 day conference. The closing ceremony of the conference was held in the presence of His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The closing of the European Year Against Racism coincides with the publication today of a summary of the results of the latest opinion poll on racism and xenophobia in Europe. The Eurobarometer survey was conducted at the request of the European Commission among over 16,000 people across the Member States in March and April of this Year. The results reveal that 33% of those interviewed openly describe themselves as “quite racist” or “very racist”. Mr. Flynn expressed his “extreme concern” at what he described as “shocking statistics.”

Despite this, Mr Flynn said he is optimistic for the future. He praised the achievements of the European Year Against Racism and plans for future action against racism. The mobilisation of so many people during the Year and the large numbers of respondents to the survey (84%) who call for a continued and strengthened role for the European institutions in the fight against racism are very encouraging.

Results of the European Year Against Racism

The European Year Against Racism has yielded many positive, lasting results. Launched in January of this Year, it marks the first time that the European Institutions and the Member States have joined forces to take concrete action against racism European funding of a total of ECU 3.2 million was spread out over 177 projects. Thousands more anti-racism activities took place within the framework of the Year at local, regional, national and European level. The Year has also seen some major political achievements at a European level. A European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia will shortly become operational in Vienna. The Centre’s prime objective will be to supply the Institutions of the European Community and its Member States with objective, reliable and comparable data on racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism. But perhaps the greatest step forward has been the inclusion - for the first time - of a general anti-discrimination clause in the Amsterdam Treaty. This was one of the Commission’s key objectives going into the Inter-Governmental Conference. And it was seen by all of the speakers as the foundation to build on for the future.

Future Action

Action against racism will remain a priority on the European Agenda. Mr Flynn announced that he will launch an action plan against racism within the coming months. The action plan will build on the achievements of the past and on the lessons learned in 1997. Mr Flynn also announced today that, following ratification of the Treaty by the Member States, it is his firm intention to present proposals for anti-discrimination legislation before the end of this Commission.

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