WRITTEN QUESTION P-3088/00

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 September 2000)

Subject: Attack on a teacher of Jewish descent by a group of neo-Nazi skinheads

Luis Marsiglia, a Catholic teacher of Jewish descent, has been seriously injured by three neo-Nazi skinheads in the city of Verona.

This latest in a long series of attacks has caused considerable concern throughout Italy's Jewish community, particularly in Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice, Trieste, Genoa, Livorno and Turin.

The European Parliament has frequently spoken out against all forms of racism and xenophobia, stressing the dangers of the presence in Europe of groups and movements that openly endorse violent forms of racial intolerance.

What urgent action does the Commission intend to take to prevent outrageous attacks of this kind on European citizens of Jewish descent or members of any other minority?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 2000)

The Commission is extremely concerned about the series of anti-semitic attacks in Italy. It deplores such acts and extends its sympathy to the victims and their families. Such violence is intolerable in the Union, which is based on the principles of liberty, democracy and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

The Treaty of Amsterdam reinforced the Union's legal instruments to deal with racism and xenophobia in Europe. The provisions of the Treaty on European Union on police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters expressly state that the Union will take steps to prevent and combat racism and xenophobia. The new Article 29 of the EC Treaty cites the prevention and combating of racism and xenophobia as one of the prime objectives of efforts to achieve an area of freedom, security and justice.

On the basis of former Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, the Council adopted on 15 July 1996 a Joint Action concerning action to combat racism and xenophobia(1). The main objective was to facilitate effective judicial co-operation between the Member States to deal with the problem, by preventing perpetrators from taking advantage of differences in legislation within the Union in order to escape justice. A second report on the implementation of the Joint Action is due for the end of the year 2000. On the basis of the results of this report, the Commission will assess the need for other measures in this field which could cover, for example, the spread of this type of crime on the Internet.

On the basis of Article 13 of the EC Treaty, the Council has taken action to combat discrimination, including discrimination based on race or ethnic origin (Council Directive of 29 June 2000, 2000/43/EC implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin(2)). The Council and the Parliament are continuing to work on the proposal for a directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation(3). A Commission proposal for a Council decision establishing a Community action programme to combat discrimination is also pending before the Council and the Parliament(4). In addition, the Commission will promote awareness raising campaigns to combat racism and xenophobia, especially in the education field.

The European Monitoring Centre on racism and xenophobia in Vienna monitors the situation in the Union and collects information about the prevalence of racism and the effectiveness of means to prevent and fight it. Its prime objective is to provide the Community and its Member States with objective, reliable and comparable data on the phenomena of racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism, in order to help them when they take action or determine measures within their respective spheres of competence. The Centre can also formulate conclusions and opinions for the Community and its Member States. National authorities are responsible for dealing with specific incidents and for putting in place measures to prevent racism, using support from Community programmes and, where it is useful, from the Monitoring Centre.

(1) OJ L 185, 24.7.1996.

(2) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000.

(3) COM(1999) 565 final.

(4) COM(1999) 567 final.