WRITTEN QUESTION E-0601/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Racism and xenophobia in the Union and applicant countries

Europe has experienced a resurgence of racism and xenophobia in recent years.

The EU founded the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia based in Vienna, which receives funds from the Community budget and draws up studies on racism and xenophobia in the Member States of the Union. The Centre, however, remains unknown to the public at large, while its practical contribution to combating these phenomena is negligible.

Neither does the Centre have any practical impact whatever on racism in the applicant countries, such as Turkey, where the anti-Semitic and fascist Grey Wolves organisation operates unhindered inside and outside the country. The bludgeoning to death in August 1996 of the Cypriot citizen, A. Isaak, in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Cyprus was a stark example of the organisation's international operations. The Government of Cyprus has in fact issued international warrants for the arrest of members of this fascist organisation on murder charges and its supporter, the Agriculture Minister of the self-styled state of northern Cyprus, who shot and killed the unarmed Cypriot citizen, S. Solomos, also in August 1996 in the buffer zone.

Will the Commission say what action it will take to curb racism and xenophobia in the Member States of the EU and the applicant countries and whether it has raised the issue of the Grey Wolves hate-motivated attacks within and outside Turkey during talks with Turkish officials in the context of the partnership with Turkey and, if not, when it intends to do so?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2001)

The fight against racism and xenophobia is a major concern of the Union.

Racism and xenophobia are completely contrary to the fundamental European values solemnly recognised in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union(1), pronounced in Nice on 7 December 2000. The Charter reaffirms the principle of equality between people and prohibits any discrimination based on race, colour or racial or ethnic origin.

Several Community measures have been introduced recently, aimed at promoting the application of and adherence to these fundamental principles in the Member States.

Further to the entry into force of the EC Treaty and of Article 13 thereof, on a proposal from the Commission, the Council adopted a package of measures aimed at combating discrimination. This includes:

Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin(2) was adopted on 29 June 2000. The Directive establishes a general principle of prohibition of any direct or indirect discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin in a number of fields such as employment, training, social protection, education and access to goods and services. The Member States now have until 2003 to take the necessary measures at national level to implement the Directive.

Council Decision 2000/750/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a Community Action Programme to combat discrimination (2001-2006)(3) puts into practice a strategy for combating all forms of discrimination on different grounds, including racial or ethnic origin. The programme has three main objectives: the improvement of the understanding of issues related to discrimination, the development of the capacity to prevent and address discrimination effectively and the promotion and dissemination of the values underlying the fight against discrimination, including through the use of awareness-raising campaigns.

Together, these measures will constitute a comprehensive basis for action to fight against discrimination on grounds of racial or ethnic origin, providing a minimum level of legal rights, supported by practical action to promote the effective application of those rights on the ground. It should be noted though that these instruments do not apply outside the Community.

This work has been supplemented by the creation, in 1997, of the Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia based in Vienna as an independent body to contribute to combating racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism throughout Europe. The Centre started its activities in July 1998. It has the task of reviewing the extent and development of the racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic phenomena in the Union and promoting best practice among the Member States. The Centre's areas of activity do not cover the applicant countries.

On the question of racism in the Candidate Countries, the Commission recalls its Communication to the European Council in Cologne on June 1999 on Countering Racism, Xenophobia and Anti-Semitism in the Candidate Countries(4), which considered the actions already taken and being taken by the Union and by the candidate countries themselves to combat racism and which made proposals for further measures.

The Commission also recalls the Joint Action adopted by the Council on 15 July 1996 concerning action to combat racism and xenophobia(5). The main objective of the Joint Action is to facilitate effective police and judicial co-operation between the Member States to deal with the racist crimes, by preventing the perpetrators from taking advantage of differences in legislation within the Union in order to escape justice. The Joint Action is part of the acquis communautaire and candidate countries will need to implement it in the same way as for other Union legislative measures. Furthermore, the Commission will present this year a proposal transforming the joint action in a framework decision including possible improvements to this instrument.

The implementation of appropriate measures to ensure the respect for human rights and to combat racist violence are being considered as part of the preparations for accession.

The Commission has not raised specific incidents or the existence of specific organisations in this context.

(1) OJ C 364, 18.12.2000.

(2) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000.

(3) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.

(4) COM(1999) 256 final.

(5) OJ L 185, 24.7.1996.