ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES 
DE LA COMMISSION 
 
 
 
COLLECTION RELIEE DES 
DOCUMENTS "COM" 
 
 
 
 
COM (85) 743 
 
 
 
Vol. 1985/0 254 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the openi ng to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this f ile is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 198 3 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 vom 27 .9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C0M185) 743 final
Brussels, 19 December 1985
JOINT D E C LA R A TIO N  B Y  T H E  E U R O P E A N  PARLIAM ENT, T H E  C O U N C IL A N D  T H E  C O M M IS S IO N
on attitudes and organisations motivated by racism and xenophobia
CO M (85) 743 fin a l

t°H- I r H  %
Joint Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission 
on a ttitudes and organisations motivated by racism and xenophobia
E X P L A N A T O R Y _ M E M 0 R A N D U M
(1 )In its Communication to the Council of 1  March 1985 the Commission proposed
adopting at Community level a  declaration on the fight against racism and
xenophobia. In its  Resolution of 16 July 19851  (2) 3  4  on guidelines for a  Community
policy on migration the Council of Ministers decided on the preparation of such a
declaration, while the European Parliament expressed a  simitar view in its
(1)Resolution of 9 M a y 1985.
(4)In its  Communication to the Council, dated 29 March 1985 , the Commission
stated in regard to the implementation of a  Mediterranean policy for the enlarged 
Community that through a  declaration by the European Council the Community should 
"make a  formal acknowledgement of the contribution m a d e  by immigrant workers to 
the Community's development and condem n the racist attitudes of which they are 
increasingly the victims".
Economic d iffic u ltie s  are frequently accompanied by social tension largely caused 
by persistent high unemployment. This situation can provoke demonstrations of 
intolerance towards the foreign workers on Community te rrito ry and encourage the 
development and expression of various forms of racism.
Ignorance about the real situation of foreign workers and their contribution to 
the European economies, lack of fa m ilia rity with their life style  and culture can 
also lead to rejection of the foreigner.
It is true that differences often m ake for unease or arouse instinctive mistrust 
in m any people. This latent, often unconscious, mistrust can emerge and is m ore 
easily aroused in times of crisis and in a  d iffic u lt employment situation.
The ideological, social and psychological aspects of racism and xenophobia stem 
from the fear that any different person or group presents a  threat.
(1) C O M C 8 5 ) 48 fin a l of 1.3.1985.
(2) O.J. N o  C  186, 26.7.1985, p.3.
(3) O.J. N o  C  141, 10.6.1985, p. 462.
(4) C 0M C 84) 107 fin a l of 29.3.1985.

- 2 -
There is no doubt that the taws in a ll the M em ber States of the Community 
proclaim the equality of a ll citizens, the elimination of a ll forms of 
segregation and racism and the protection of fundamental rights.
It is obvious, however, that suppression alone cannot eliminate every latent 
form of racism. In this context, efforts to inform and educate people 
concerning tolerance, respect for differences and appreciation of other cultures 
are as important as suppression. The dangers of disseminating biased 
information to an unenlightened population are a ll too obvious.
In their Joint Declaration of 5  April 1977, the European Parliament, the Council 
and the Commission solemnly underlined their respect for fundamental rights.
Faced with the rising dangers of racism and xenophobia, it would appear to be 
a  responsibility of the Community, motivated by its  ideals of freedom and 
peace, to reiterate its belief in the dignity of man, and launch an appeal to 
combat any action detrimental to that dignity, regardless of race, religion, 
nationality or ethnic origin.
The present draft Declaration is intended as a  moral and p o litic a l undertaking 
by the Community institutions in the face of racism and xenophobia and every 
form of discrimination and to call for a  vigorous information and education 
campaign.

JOINT DECLARATION
by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission
on attitudes and organisations motivated by racism and xenophobia
T H E  E U R O P E A N  PARLIAM ENT, T H E  C O U N C IL  A N D  T H E  C O M M IS S IO N ,
Recognizing the existence and resurgence of xenophobic attitudes, m ove­
ments and acts of violence which are often directed against immigrante;
W hereas the Community institutions attach basic importance to respect 
for fundamental rights, as solemnly proclaimed in the Joint Declaration 
of 5  April 1977;
Whereas respect of the dignity of m a n  and the elimination of a ll forms 
of racial discrimination are part of the cultural and legal heritage of 
a ll the M em ber States and are enshrined in their national constitutions 
and legislation;
1. Vigorously condemn a ll forms of discrimination, defamation, racist 
theory or in su lt, expression of hate or violence in physical, spoken 
or written form directed against persons or groups of persons on the 
grounds of their origin, or their belonging or not to a  particular 
ethnic group, nationality, race or religion;
2. Solemnly call on M em ber States to adopt the necessary measures to 
protect the identity and dignity of every m em ber of society, regard­
less of race, religion, nationality or ethnic origin;
3. Recall the importance of disseminating balanced and accurate infor­
mation to a ll citizens in response to the dangers of racism and 
xenophobia, and the need to ensure that a ll forms of discrimination 
are pre vented or eliminated.