COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 14.05.1997 
COM(97) 201 final 
96/ 0298 (CNS) 
Amended proposal for a 
COUNCIL fiEQUlATIQN (EC) 
establishing a European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

Explanatory memorandum 
On 27 November 1996 the Commission presented a proposal for a Council regulation 
establishing a European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia. This proposal 
aims to establish a European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia which 
will place the results of its work at the disposal of the Community and the Member 
States. 
The Economic and Social Committee and the European Parliament have been 
consulted on the basis of Article 235 of the Treaty, the legal basis of the proposal. 
On 19 March 1997 the Economic and Social Committee adopted an Opinion in which 
it proposed a number of amendments of which one has been accepted by the 
Commission and integrated in this amended proposal. 
The European Parliament, in its session of April 1997, made several amendments to 
the Commission's text. The Commission was unable to accept all the amendments 
since some aimed to change standard articles applied to monitoring centres functioning 
under the Community's aegis and others aimed to extend the field of activity of the 
Centre beyond what could be conferred under the EC Treaty. 
However, the Commission did accept some amendments. 
Consequently, it proposes, on the basis of Article 189(a)(2) of the EC Treaty to 
modify its initial proposal to take account of certain amendments proposed by the 
European Parliament in its legislative resolution. 
o£ 
CoiîïineitC on proposée ntodificalbuts 
md 2 Amendments consisting in the addition of 2 new recitals. 
The amendments contain useful clarifications which supplement the recitals 
already proposed. 
Amendment consisting in the addition of the words "in the Member States" 
to the fourteenth recital. 
The addition of a reference to the organisations in the Member States 
usefully supplements the reference to national and international 
organisations. 
Amendment concerning Article 2,(2) - Objective and tasks of the Centre. 
The amendment proposed contains useful clarifications. 
Amendment concerning the title of Article 7. 
This consists in the addition of organisations in the Member States to 
national or international organisations (see point 3). 
Amendment concerning Article 7(1).* 
This amendment is on all fours with point 5 (supra). It also aims to oblige 
the Centre to cooperate with the organisations referred to. 
Amendment concerning Article 10, paragraph 3. 
This amendment is a clarification. 
Amendment concerning Article 11,2,2. 
This amendment reflects the addition of the organisations in the Member 
States in Article 7. 
Amendment concerning Article 13. 
This amendment adds an Article 13a and states that the translation services 
required are provided by the Translation Centre to bodies of the European 
Union. 
Proposal for a Council 
regulation establishing a European 
Monitoring Centre for Racism and 
Xenophobia 
Old version 
presented by the Commission on 
27 November 1996 Amended proposal for a Council 
Regulation establishing a European 
Monitoring Centre for Racism and 
Xenophobia 
New version 
taking into account certain amendments 
of the European Parliament 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EO 
establishing a European Monitoring 
Centre for Racism and Xenophobia 
THE COUNCIL OF THE 
EUROPEAN UNION 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing 
the European Community, and in 
particular Article 235 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the 
Commission1, Unchanged 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
European Parliament2, Unchanged 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
Economic and Social Committee3, Unchanged 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
Committee of the Regions4, Unchanged 
4 
Whereas, in the preamble to the Single Unchanged 
European Act, the Member States stress 
the need to "work together tc promote 
democracy on the basis of the 
fundamental rights recognized in the 
constitutions and laws of the Member 
States, in the Convention for the 
Protection of Human Rights and 
Fundamental Freedoms and the European 
Social Charter, notably freedom, equality 
and social justice"; 
. . .*, v <~ , ~ Unchanged 
Whereas Article F(2) of the Treaty on 
European Union states that the Union is 
to "respect fundamental rights, as 
guaranteed by the European Convention 
for the Protection of Human Rights and 
Fundamental Freedoms signed in Rome 
on 4 November 1950 and as they result 
from the constitutional traditions common 
to the Member States, as general 
principles of Community law"; 
Whereas racism, xenophobia and Unchanged 
antisemitism. seriously impinge on 
fundamental rights; 
Whereas the Community must respect Unchanged 
fundamental rights in formulating and 
applying its policies; whereas, in 
particular, compliance with human rights 
constitutes a condition of the legality of 
Community acts; 
Whereas on 11 June 1986, the European Unchanged 
Parliament, the Council, the 
representatives of the Member States 
meeting within the Council and the 
Commission adopted a joint declaration 
on racism and xenophobia stressing the 
"importance of adequate and objective 
information and of making all citizens 
aware of the dangers of racism and 
xenophobia, and the need to ensure that 
all acts or forms of discrimination are 
prevented or curbed"5; 
. : 1 : .. 
OJNoC 158, 25.6.1986, p. 1 r 
Whereas the European Council meeting Unchanged 
in Corfu on 24 and 25 June 1994 
determined to step up efforts to define, at 
European Union level, a global strategy 
aimed at combating acts of racist and 
xenophobic violence; whereas to this end 
it set up a Consultative Commission 
charged with making recommendations 
on combating racism and xenophobia; 
Whereas the European Council meeting Unchanged 
in Cannes on 26 and 27 June 1995 called 
on the Consultative Commission to 
extend its work in order to study, in close 
cooperation with the Council of Europe, 
the feasibility of a European Monitoring 
Centre on Racism and Xenophobia; 
Whereas the conclusions of this feasibility Unchanged 
study were put to the European Council 
meeting in Florence on 21 and 22 June 
1996; 
Whereas the European Council meeting Unchanged 
in Florence reaffirmed the Union's 
determination to combat racism and 
xenophobia with the utmost resolve and 
approved the principle underlying the 
establishment of a European Monitoring 
Centre; 
Whereas the collection, recording, Unchanged 
analysis and publication of objective, 
reliable and comparable information on 
racist and xenophobic acts and attitudes 
are necessary at European level to 
provide full information in the 
Community on the problem of racism and 
xenophobia so as to enable the 
Community to meet its obligation to 
respect fundamental rights and to take 
account of them in formulating and 
applying whatever policies and acts it 
adopts in its sphere of competence; 
Whereas racism and xenophobia are Unchanged 
phenomena which manifest themselves at 
all levels within the Community: local, 
regional, national and Community; 
C 
Whereas the information which is 
collected, recorded and analysed at 
Community level can also be useful to the 
Member States' authorities in formulating 
and applying measures at local, regional 
and national level in their own spheres of 
competence; Unchanged 
Whereas, in the Member States, there 
are numerous outstanding organizations 
which study racism and xenophobia; 
Whereas the harmonisation of research 
and the creation of a network of 
organizations will enhance the 
usefulness and effectiveness of such 
work; 
Whereas it is therefore appropriate to set 
up a European Monitoring Centre for 
Racism and Xenophobia which will make 
the results of its work available to both 
the Community and the Member States; Unchanged 
Whereas the tasks assigned to the Centre 
presuppose cooperation with other 
national and international organizations, 
and particularly with the Council of 
Europe., which has considerable 
experience in this field; Whereas the tasks assigned to the Centre 
presuppose cooperation with other 
organizations in the Member States and 
international organizations, and 
particularly with the Council of Europe, 
which has considerable experience in this 
field; 
Whereas the protection of personal data 
must be assured in accordance with 
Directive 95/46/EC of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 24 
October 1995 on the protection of 
individuals with regard to the processing 
of personal data and on the free 
movement of such data6; Unchanged 
Whereas the Centre must enjoy maximum 
legal and political autonomy, while 
maintaining close links with the 
Community institutions;' Unchanged 
OJNoL281, 23.11.1995, p. 31. 
7 
Whereas this Regulation might, where Unchanged 
appropriate, be adapted on expiry of a 
three-year period, with a view to deciding 
whether or not to modify or extend the 
Centre's tasks, more especially depending 
on any changes in Community powers; 
Whereas the Treaty does not, for the Unchanged 
purpose of adoption of this Regulation, 
provide for any powers of action other 
than those laid down in Article 235, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Unchanged 
Article 1 
A European Monitoring Centre for 
Racism and Xenophobia (hereinafter 
referred to as "the Centre") is hereby 
established. 
Article 2 Unchanged 
Objective and tasks 
1. The prime objective of the Centre shall 
be to provide the Community and its 
Member States, more especially within 
the fields referred to in Article 3(3), with 
objective, reliable and comparable data at 
European level on the phenomena of 
racism, xenophobia and antisemitism in 
order to help them when they take 
measures or formulate courses of action 
within their respective spheres of 
competence 
2. The Centre shall study the extent and Unchanged 
development of the phenomena and 
manifestations of racism, xenophobia and 
antisemitism, analyse their causes, 
consequences and effects and examine 
examples of good practice in dealing with 
them. To these ends, the Centre shall: 
(a) collect, record and analyse (a) collect, record and analyse 
information and data, including data information and data, including data 
resulting from scientific research, resulting from scientific research, 
communicated to it by the Member communicated to it by research 
States, the Community institutions, centres, the Member States, the 
international organizations - Community institutions, international 
particularly those referred to in organizations - particularly those 
Article 4(1) - and non-governmental referred to in Article 4(1) - and non-
orgaruzations; governmental organizations; 
r 
(b) build up cooperation between the 
suppliers of information and develop 
a policy for concerted use of their 
data bases in order to foster, where 
appropriate at the request of the 
European Parliament, the Council or 
the Commission, the wide 
distribution of their information; Unchanged 
(c) carry out scientific research and 
surveys, preparatory studies and 
feasibility studies, where appropriate 
at the request of the European 
Parliament, the Council or the 
Commission. It shall also organize 
meetings of experts and, whenever 
necessary, set up ad hoc working 
parties; Unchanged 
(d) set up documentation resources open 
to the public, encourage the 
promotion of information activities 
and stimulate scientific research; (d) support the setting up and linking of 
documentation resources open to the 
public, assist in the promotion of 
information activities and stimulate 
scientific research; 
(e) formulate conclusions and 
recommendations for the Community 
and its Member States; Unchanged 
(f) publish an annual report on the 
situation regarding racism and 
xenophobia in the Community, also 
highlighting examples of good 
practice, and on the Centre's 
own activities; Unchanged 
(g) set up and coordinate a "European 
Racism and Xenophobia Information 
Network" (Raxen) consisting of the 
Centre's own central unit, which shall 
cooperate with national university 
research centres, non-governmental 
organizations and specialist centres 
set up by national or international 
organizations referred to in Article 7; (g) set up and coordinate a "European 
Racism and Xenophobia Information 
Network" (Raxen) consisting of the 
Centre's own central unit, which shall 
cooperate with national university 
research centres, non-govemmentai 
organizations and specialise centres 
set up by organizations in the 
Member States or international 
organizations referred to in Article 7; 
(h) facilitate and encourage the Unchanged 
organization of regular round-table 
discussions or meetings of other existing, 
standing advisory bodies within the 
Member States, with the participation of 
the social partners, research centres and 
representatives of competent public 
authorities and other persons or bodies 
involved in dealing with racism and 
xenophobia. The Centre shall take the 
findings of the national round-table 
discussions or of other existing, standing 
advisory bodies into account in its annual 
report on the situation regarding racism 
and xenophobia in the European 
Community. 
„, .. Article 3 Unchanged 
Working methods and areas of 
activity 
1. The Centre shall carry out its tasks 
in the light of the objectives adopted in its 
annual programme and with due regard 
to the available budgetary resources. 
2. In pursuing its activities, the Centre Unchanged 
shall, in order to avoid duplication, take 
account of activities already carried out 
by the Community institutions and by 
other institutions, bodies and competent 
international organizations, particularly 
the Council of Europe, and shall ensure 
that it provides added-value. 
3. The information and data to be Unchanged 
collected and processed, the scientific 
research, surveys and studies to be 
conducted or encouraged shall be 
concerned with the extent, development, 
causes and effects of the phenomena of 
racism and xenophobia, particularly in the 
following fields: 
/o 
(a) free movement of persons within the 
Community; 
(b) employment; 
(c) the media and other means of 
communication; 
(d) education, vocational training and 
youth; 
(e) social exclusion; 
(f) free movement of goods; 
(g) culture. Unchanged 
Article 4 
European Racism and Xenophobia 
Information Network (Raxen 
i. To enable the network provided for 
in Article 2(2)(g) to be established as 
rapidly and efficiently as possible, the 
Member States shall forward to the 
Centre a list of the centres and 
organizations referred to in that Article. Unchanged 
2. The Centre's Management Board 
shall designate the bodies which are to be 
parties to Raxen. The decision of the 
Management Board shall be subject to a 
favourable opinion from the Scientific 
Committee referred to in Article 11. Unchanged 
3. The Centre may enter into 
contractual relations, in particular 
subcontracting arrangements, with the 
bodies referred to in paragraph 2, in 
order to accomplish any tasks which it 
may entrust to them. Unchanged 
The Centre may also enter into 
contractual relations, on an ad hoc basis 
and for specific tasks, with bodies which 
are not part of Raxen. Unchanged 
The allocation of such tasks shall appear 
in the Centre's annual programme .Unchanged 
fi 
Articlc5 Unchanged 
Protection and confidentiality of 
personal data 
1. The Centre shall apply to its 
processing of personal data under this 
Regulation the provisions laid down in 
Directive 95/46/EC. To this effect, the 
Management Board shall adopt rules 
implementing these provisions, in 
particular concerning the rights of 
the individuals concerned, the 
confidentiality and security of processing, 
suitable safeguards for rendering data 
anonymous before disclosure, and the 
internal supervision of processing. 
2. The Centre shall transmit the Unchanged 
implementing rules referred to in 
paragraph 1 to the Commission for 
publication in the Offrcial Journal of the 
European Communities. The Centre may 
not process personal data before the 
entry into force of those rules. 
3. Where, under the provisions of this Unchanged 
Regulation, the Member States transmit 
or receive personal data, they shall apply 
their respective national data-protection 
laws to the processing of such data in 
accordance with the provisions of 
Directive 95/46/EC. < 
4. Where personal data are forwarded Unchanged 
to the Centre pursuant to this Regulation 
and in accordance with national law, such 
data may be used only for the purposes 
stated and under the conditions 
prescribed by the forwarding authority. 
This provision shall 
apply mutatis mutandis where personal 
data are communicated by the Centre to 
the competent authorities of the Member 
States or to international organizations j 
and other Community bodies. The Centre 
shall refrain from any activity which 
concerns specific and named cases. 
5. Data on racist, xenophobic and Unchanged 
antisemitic violence supplied to and ~ 
communicated by the Centre may be 
published subject to compliance with the 
Community and national rules on 
information dissemination and 
confidentiality. 
/& 
6 Member States and national bodies Unchanged 
cooperating with the Centre shall be 
under no obligation to provide 
information classified as confidential 
under their national law. 
Article 6 Unchanged 
Legal personality and capacity 
The Centre shall have legal personality. It 
shall enjoy, in each of the Member States, 
the most extensive legal capacity 
accorded to legal persons under their 
laws. In particular, it may acquire or 
dispose of movable and immovable 
property and may be a party to 
legal proceedings. 
Article 7 . Article 7 
Cooperation with national and Cooperation with organizations in the 
international organizations Member States and international 
organizations 
1. To help it carry out its tasks, the 
Centre may cooperate with national or 1. To help it cany out its tasks, the 
international, governmental or non- Centre shall cooperate with organizations 
governmental organizations competent in in the Member States or international, 
the field of racist and xenophobic governmental or non-governmental 
phenomena. organizations competent in the field of 
racist and xenophobic phenomena. 
2. The arrangements for the Unchanged 
cooperation referred to in paragraph 1 
shall be subject to the approval of the 
Management Board. 
3 The Centre shall coordinate its Unchanged 
activities with those of the Council of 
Europe, particularly with regard to its 
programme of work. To this end, the 
Community shall enter into an 
agreement, on behalf of the Centre, with 
the Council of Europe for the purpose of 
establishing close cooperation between 
the latter and the Centre. This agreement 
shall include the appointment of a person 
nominated by the Council of Europe to 
sit on the Centre's Management Board 
is 
Article 8 Unchanged 
Management Board 
1. The Centre's Management Board 
shall be composed of one independent 
person appointed by each Member State, 
one independent person appointed by the 
European Parliament, one independent 
person appointed by the Council of 
Europe pursuant to Article 7(3), and a 
representative of the Commission. 
Each member shall have a deputy 
appointed on a similar basis. 
2. The names of the members and Unchanged 
deputy members of the Management 
Board shall be notified to the European 
Commission for publication in the 
Official Journal of the European 
Communities. Their term of office shall 
be three years, which shall be renewable 
once. The Management Board shall elect 
its Chairman and Vice-Chairman and the 
other members of the Executive Board 
referred to in Article 9. 
Each member of the Management Board, 
or in his absence, his deputy, shall have 
one vote. Decisions shall be taken by a 
two-thirds majority of the votes cast. The 
Chairman shall vote. 
3. The Management Board shall take Unchanged 
the decisions necessary for the operation 
of the Centre. In particular, it shall: 
(a) determine the Centre's annual Unchanged 
programme of activities in 
accordance with the budget and the 
available resources and after 
consulting the Scientific Committee, 
this programme may be reviewed 
when necessary during the year; 
(b) adopt the Centre's annual report and 
its conclusions and 
recommendations and forward them 
to the European Parliament, the 
Council, the Commission, the 
Economic and Social Committee 
and the Committee of the Regions; it 
shall have the annual report 
published; 
;y 
(c) appoint theCentre's Director Unchanged 
(d) adopt the Centre's annual draft and 
final budgets 
(e) approve the accounts and give the 
Director discharge. 
4. The Management Board shall adopt Unchanged 
its rules of procedure. The Board shall 
meet, as convened by its Chairman, at 
least twice a year. 
Al1ide 9 , Unchanged 
Executive Board 
1. The Executive Board shall be 
composed of the Chairman of the 
Management Board, the Vice-Chairman 
and a maximum of three other members 
of the Management Board, including the 
person appointed by the Council of 
Europe and the 
Commission representative. 
2. The Executive Board shall supervise Unchanged 
the work of the Centre, monitor the 
preparation and execution of 
programmes and prepare the meetings of ' 
the Management Board with 
the assistance of the Centre's Director. 
The Executive Board shall also perform 
any task entrusted to it by the 
Management Board, in accordance with 
the tetter's rules of procedure. 
Article 10 Unchanged 
Director 
1. The Centre shall be headed by a 
Director appointed by the Management 
Board on a proposal from the 
r Commission for a period of four years, 
which shall be renewable. 
2. The Director shall be responsible Unchanged 
for: 
JS~ 
(a) performance of the tasks referred to 
in Article 2(2); 
(b) preparing and implementing the 
Centre's annual work programme; 
(c) preparing reports, conclusions and 
recommendations as referred to in 
this Regulation 
(d) all staff matters and matters of day-
to-day administration. Unchanged 
3. The Director shall be accountable 
for these activities to the Management 
Board and shall attend its meetings and 
the meetings of the Executive Board. 3. The Director shall be accountable 
for his activities to the Management 
Board and shall attend its meetings and 
the meetings of the Executive Board. 
4. The Director shall be the Centre's 
legal representative. Unchanged 
Article 11 
Scientific Committee 
1. The management Board and the 
Director shall be assisted by a Scientific 
Committee charged with giving its 
opinion on any scientific question 
relating to the Centre's activities which 
the Management Board or the Director 
put to it. 
The Scientific Committee shall adopt its 
opinions by a simple majority of the 
votes cast, each member having one 
vote. Divergent views shall be notified to 
the Management Board. Unchanged 
2. The Scientific Committee shall be 
composed of up to nine experts, 
preferably from different States, who 
are particularly qualified or experienced 
in analysing racist and xenophobic 
phenomena. 
These experts shall be appointed by the 
Management Board on the basis of 
proposals from the Member States, the 
Commission, and the national and 
international organizations associated 
with the Centre's work as referred to in 
Article 7 
The Management Board shall ensure 
that the Scientific Committee is 
multidisciplinary in its composition These experts shall be appointed by the 
Management Board on the basis of 
proposals from the Member States, the 
Commission, and the various 
organizations associated with the 
Centre's work as referred to in Article 7 
lç 
i ; ~ j 
3. The term of office of the members of Unchanged 
the Scientific Committee shall be three 
years. It shall be renewable once. / 
i ...... - . ... 
4. The Scientific Committee shall elect Unchanged 
its Chairman and Vice-Chairman. 
5. The Scientific Committee shall be Unchanged 
convened by its Chairman at least twice a 
year 
Article 12 Unchanged 
Staff & 
1. The staff of the Centre shall be 
subject to the regulations and rules 
applicable to officials and other servants 
of the European Communities. 
2. The Centre shall exercise in respect Unchanged 
of its staff the powers devolved to the 
appointing authority 
3. The Management Board shall, in Unchanged 
agreement with the Commission, adopt 
the appropriate implementing rules. 
A*ic}e 13 Unchanged 
Budget 
1 Estimates shall be drawn , up of all 
the Centre's revenue and expenditure for 
each financial year, which shall 
correspond to the calendar year, and 
shall be entered in the Centre's budget. 
2 By 15 February each year at the Unchanged 
latest, the Director shall draw up the ° 
premiminary draft budget for the 
following financial year. The preliminary 
draft budget shall cover the operating 
expenditure and programme of work 
scheduled for the following financial 
year. The Director shall submit the 
preliminary draft, together with an 
establishment plan, to the Management 
Board. 
3. The revenue and expenditure shown Unchanged 
m the budget shall be m balance. 
i% 
4. The revenue of the Centre shall, Unchanged 
without prejudice to other resources, 
comprise 
(a) subsidy from the Community, Unchanged 
entered under a specific heading in 
the general budget of the European 
Communities ("Commission" 
section); 
(b payments received for services 
rendered; 
(c) any financial contributions from the 
organizations referred to in Article 
7. 
5. The Centre's expenditure shall Unchanged 
include staff remuneration, administrative 
and infrastructure expenses, operating 
costs and expenditure relating to 
contracts concluded with institutions or 
bodies party to Raxen and with third 
parties. 
6. The Management Board shall adopt Unchanged 
the draft budget and forward it to the 
Commission. On this basis, the 
Commission shall determine the 
corresponding subsidy estimates to be 
entered in the preliminary draft general 
budget of the European Communities, 
which it places before the Council 
pursuant to Article 203 of the Treaty. 
7. The Management Board shall adopt Unchanged 
the Centre's final budget before the 
beginning of the financial year, adjusting 
j it where necessary to trie Community 
| subsidy and the Centre's other resources. 
j 8. The Director shall implement the Unchanged 
I Centre's budget. 
9. Monitoring of the commitment and Unchanged 
payment of all the Centre's expenditure 
and of the establishment and recovery of 
all the Centre's revenue shall be carried 
out by the Commission's Financial 
Controller. | 
/? 
. _____ j -
10. By 31 March each year at the latest, Unchanged 
the Director shall send the Commission, 
the Management Board and the Court of 
Auditors the accounts for all the Centre's 
revenue and expenditure in respect of the 
preceding financial year. 
The Court of Auditors shall examine 
these accounts in accordance with 
Article 188c of the Treaty. 
11. The Management Board shall give a Unchanged 
discharge to the Director in respect of 
the implementation of the budget 
12. The Management Board shall, after Unchanged 
consulting the Commission and the 
Court of Auditors, adopt the internal 
financial provisions specifying in 
particular the arrangements for 
establishing and implementing the 
Centre's budget. 
New Article 13a 
The translation service required by the 
operation of the Centre shall be provided 
by the Translation Centre for bodies of 
the European Union established by 
Regulation (EC)No2965/94 
Article 14 _ Unchanged 
Privileges and immunities 
The Protocol on the Privileges and 
Immunities of the European 
Communities shall apply to the Centre. 
Article 15 Unchanged 
Liability 
1 The contractual liability of the 
Centre shall be governed by the law 
applicable to the contract in question. 
The Court of Justice shall have 
jurisdiction pursuant to an arbitration 
clause contained in a contract concluded 
by the Centre. : I 
/9 
2 In the case of non-contractual 
liability, the Centre shall, in accordance 
with the general principles common to 
the laws of the Member States, make 
good any damage caused by the Centre 
or its servants in the performance of their 
duties. 
The Court of Justice shall have 
jurisdiction in disputes relating to 
compensation for any such damage. Unchanged 
Article 16 
Reporting arrangements 
During the third year following the entry 
into force of this Regulation, the 
Commission shall forward to the 
European Parliament, the Council, the 
Economic and Social Committee and the 
Committee of the Regions a progress 
report on the Centre's activities, together 
with proposals, if appropriate, to modify 
or extend its tasks, taking into account, 
in particular, the development of 
Community powers in the field of racism 
and xenophobia. Unchanged 
Article 17 
Entry into force 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 
the day following the date of the decision 
by the competent authorities on where the 
seat of the Centre should be located. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its 
entirety and directly applicable in all 
Member States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
The President Unchanged 
oOO 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(97) 201 final 
DOCUMENTS 
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Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-185-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-19388-7 
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