Proposal for a Council Decision designating 1997 as European Year against Racism (COM(95)0653 - C4-0132/96 - 95/0355(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital -1 (new)

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Whereas the existence of the European Community is based on the desire to replace conflict between nations with international solidarity, to eliminate racism and ethnic hatred and to develop a legal order opposed to totalitarianism;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 2a (new)

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Whereas racism and xenophobia are a threat to the legal order and democracy in Europe and undermine confidence in European solidarity;

(Amendment 58)

Recital 3

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Whereas the promotion throughout the Community of a high level of employment and of social protection, the raising of the standard of living and quality of life among Member States are aims of the European Community;

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Whereas the promotion throughout the Community of the democratic legal order, of public safety and of a high level of employment and of social protection, the raising of the standard of living and quality of life, and economic and social cohesion, are aims of the European Community;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 5

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Whereas the continued existence of racism and xenophobic attitudes prejudices economic and social cohesion in the European Union;

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Deleted

(Amendment 5)

Recital 5a (new)

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Whereas reflection concerning and the elimination of any racist and xenophobic aspects of the policies of the Union could improve the example set by the Union;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 7

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Whereas the increase in economic difficulties excludes many in the European Union from all economic, social and political participation and represents fertile ground for racist and xenophobic attitudes;

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Whereas the increase in economic difficulties excludes many in the European Union from all economic, social and political participation; whereas irresponsible politicians and opinion-formers exploit this problem to incite racism and xenophobia;

(Amendment 8)

Recital 8

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Whereas racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism must be tackled mainly at local, regional and national level;

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Whereas within the Member States racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism must be tackled mainly at local, regional and national level, particularly by promoting within society organizations of various types and based on various views;

(Amendment 9)

Recital 17a (new)

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Whereas the existence of harmonious societies which are ethnically and culturally diverse is an expression of civilization and supports the European ideal; whereas the European Year against Racism should be organized in this light;

(Amendment 10)

Recital 17b (new)

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Whereas action to combat racism and xenophobia in Europe has been one of the recurrent priorities of the European Parliament since the 1980s;

(Amendment 11)

Recital 24a (new)

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Whereas the proposals 'Starting Line' and 'Starting Point' made by the churches and NGOs, through which they stress their responsibility for the subject, are to be welcomed;

(Amendment 12)

Recital 24b (new)

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Whereas Parliament has entered a budgetary appropriation in the 1996 budget to cover measures to combat racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism;

(Amendment 14)

Article 2(ca) (new)

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(ca) contribute to knowledge and recognition of other civilizations and their contributions to the culture of the countries of Europe;

(Amendment 15)

Article 2(d)

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(d) encourage reflection and discussion on the action required in order to combat racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism in the Community;

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(d) encourage reflection and discussion on the action required in order to combat racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism in the Community on the basis of a broad definition of the problem, taking account of political, social, economic and cultural factors, in order to improve the example set by the Community in the field of eliminating racism and xenophobia;

(Amendment 16)

Article 2(da) (new)

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(da) encourage social, cultural and religious organizations to play their own part in combating racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism in the Union, and promote social dialogue at European level;

(Amendment 17)

Article 2(ga) (new)

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(ga) promote new methods and strategies designed to combat racism and xenophobia in large sections of the population;

(Amendment 18)

Article 2(gb) (new)

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(gb) encourage migrants to make their own contribution to European art and culture;

(Amendment 19)

Article 2(gc) (new)

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(gc) support projects in the field of education (at schools and businesses, in churches, etc.) which promote awareness of racism and xenophobia and equip people to combat racism;

(Amendment 20)

Article 3(1), indent 4

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- cooperation with the media in relation to information campaigns, notably on the contribution of immigrants and ethnic minorities to the prosperity of the Community;

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- cooperation with the media in relation to information campaigns, notably on the contribution of immigrants and ethnic minorities to the culture, economy and history of Europe;

(Amendment 21)

Article 3(1), indent 5a (new)

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- the organization of public debates with a wide impact in the Member States and the Union;

(Amendment 22)

Article 3(1), indent 5b (new)

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- support for exchanges of experience between local and regional institutions which are responsible for taking decisions on social and economic matters and housing construction and can incorporate the integration of minorities in their regional and urban planning;

(Amendment 23)

Article 3(1), indent 5c (new)

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- support for organizations representing minorities and local organizations which combat discrimination against cultural minorities;

(Amendment 25)

Article 5(2)

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2. The Committee or body referred to in paragraph 1 shall ensure that it is representative of the whole range of bodies and organizations involved in the struggle against racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism.

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2. The Committee or body referred to in paragraph 1 shall ensure that it is representative of the whole range of bodies and organizations involved in the struggle against racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism and shall maintain relations with social organizations in the fields of the media, education, philosophy of life, religion and culture in order to ensure that the activities have a wide impact.

(Amendment 26)

Article 7

>Original text>

The Commission shall ensure that the programmes envisaged by this Decision shall be consistent with, and complementary to, other Community action, in particular education and training programmes, action to combat social exclusion, as well as activities undertaken by the Council of Europe.

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The Commission shall ensure that the programmes envisaged by this Decision shall be consistent with, and complementary to, without overlapping, other Community actions, in particular by linking up these actions with those of education and training programmes, actions to combat social exclusion and activities undertaken by the Council of Europe.

(Amendment 27)

Article 8

>Original text>

The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of the progress of the work and shall submit to them a final report on the implementation of the programme no later than 31 December 1998.

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The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of the progress of the work in an annual report and shall submit to them a final report on the implementation of the programme no later than 31 July 1998.

(Amendment 28)

Annex (A), heading

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A. Projects to be funded solely from the Community budget

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A. Projects eligible for possible funding from the Community budget

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision designating 1997 as European Year against Racism(COM(95)0653 - C4-0132/96 - 95/0355(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0653 - 95/0355(CNS) ((OJ C 89, 26.3.1996, p. 7. )),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 235 of the EC Treaty (C4-0132/96),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights and the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment (A4-0135/96),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to amend its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.