IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 596 
Expressing support for the Black European Summit. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 26, 2009 
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for himself, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. 
PAYNE, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Ms. CORRINE 
BROWN of Florida, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. RUSH, Ms. CLARKE, 
and Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the Black European Summit. 
Whereas, on April 15–16, 2009, political leaders from the 
United States and Europe convened in Brussels, Bel-
gium, at the European Parliament for the ‘‘Black Euro-
pean Summit: Transatlantic Dialogue on Political Inclu-
sion’’; 
Whereas the historic two-day Summit brought together polit-
ical and intellectual minority leaders from the United 
States and Europe to exchange information on the roles 
of racial and ethnic minority policymakers in developing 
and supporting policies and initiatives to address racism, 
discrimination, and inequality; 
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•HRES 596 IH 
Whereas Summit participants adopted the ‘‘Brussels Declara-
tion’’, which states, ‘‘We recognize that the full access of 
racial and ethnic minorities to participate in the political 
sphere and relevant areas of decision making at the levels 
of national, regional, and locally elected government ap-
propriate to each nation is critical to combating racism 
and inequality and ensuring our democratic societies’’; 
Whereas the ‘‘Brussels Declaration’’ also states, ‘‘We there-
fore note the need for concrete strategies to: increase the 
representation and influence of racial and ethnic minority 
policymakers; jointly seek solutions to racial and ethnic 
minorities increased participation in decision-making in 
the development and implementation of policy initiatives 
to address discrimination and inequality; and support op-
portunities to exchange and share perspectives in these 
areas through the continuance of a transatlantic dialogue 
to realize these goals.’’; 
Whereas the ‘‘Brussels Declaration’’ resolves to enact initia-
tives to eradicate racial and ethnic discrimination 
through ‘‘Reaffirming our continued cooperation and 
commitment to work with our governments, international 
institutions, civil society, private sector, and other part-
ners to improve institutions so that they are fully 
participatory and reflect the democratic principles of 
equality, justice, and celebration of the strengths of our 
countries’ diversity’’; and 
Whereas implementation of the Brussels Declaration will 
begin to address concerns raised at the United States 
Helsinki Commission Hearings, ‘‘The State of (In)visible 
Black Europe: Race, Rights, and Politics’’, held on April 
29, 2008, and ‘‘Racism in the 21st Century: Under-
standing Global Challenges and Implementing Solutions’’, 
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•HRES 596 IH 
held on July 16, 2008, that highlighted the lack of inclu-
sion of Black and other minority communities in policy-
making, especially related to initiatives to combat dis-
crimination and inequality and counter far-right and 
anti-migrant political platforms: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses support for the Black European 
Summit as an effective forum convened in the spirit 
of cooperation and partnership for political and in-
tellectual leaders from the European Union and 56 
participating states of the Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to address 
shared challenges and foster collaboration through-
out North America and Europe in the development 
and implementation of policy initiatives to address 
racial and ethnic discrimination and inequality; and 
(2) urges the United States to continue and ex-
pand efforts to partner with the countries of the 
OSCE on efforts to combat racism, discrimination, 
inequality, and inclusion. 
Æ 
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