Yours is a valuable example of how to go about building a truly inclusive society. Unfortunately, no Member State is completely free of incidents where racism, small-mindedness and bigotry lead to harsh treatment. Yet I believe that such actions are very much those of a minority. There is growing public awareness among the citizens of the European Union that racism and exclusion are a fundamental threat to democratic society. They have to be firmly rejected.
European society works because it is multi-cultural.
Our diversity is part of our economic and social strength. We need to go on building that diversity. Only a rich ethnic and cultural mix will give us the constant supply of talent and ability that we will need in the future. And those talents and abilities are what will make the European workforce productive, flexible and modern. 1997 was the European Year Against Racism.