WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1239/97 by Sebastiano MUSUMECI to the Commission. Racist attacks on Italians in Germany
Date: 1997-04-08
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSUMECI
Subjects: EU national, Germany, Italy, antisemitism, crime against individuals, judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the EU, penalty, public awareness campaign, racism, xenophobia













EUR-Lex - 91997E1239 - EN






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91997E1239

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1239/97 by Sebastiano MUSUMECI to the Commission. Racist attacks on Italians in Germany  


Official Journal C 319 , 18/10/1997 P. 0244 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1239/97 by Sebastiano Musumeci (NI) to the Commission (8 April 1997)Subject: Racist attacks on Italians in GermanyIt is horrifying to note that acts of violence, manifestly inspired by xenophobia, are once more being perpetrated against Italian nationals in Germany. Indeed, in the latest case, Antonio Melis, a 37-year-old Sardinian immigrant, was brutally murdered in Caputh, Brandenburg.The judiciary and the local police are attempting to minimize the seriousness of the incidents by playing down or denying their racist character.The renewed upsurge of this kind of crime is blatantly at odds with the unvarying declarations of principle and the related values of solidarity and tolerance, repeatedly invoked in specific Community programmes, from which the Union itself draws inspiration and by which the Member States have promised to abide without reservation.Will the Commission make immediate vigorous representations to the German Government in order to persuade it to safeguard the dignity and the right to life and work of Italian nationals in the Union who are seeking to translate much-vaunted European citizenship into a living reality?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (15 May 1997)Racism goes against everything the Community stands for, because it undermines democracy and the respect for human dignity. The continuing presence of racism in the Community is one of the greatest dangers facing society and the Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern about racist acts or incitement to such acts. Such unwanted behaviour should be firmly countered.1997 is the European year against racism and in the framework of this year partnerships will be formed to intensify the struggle against racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism. All Member States are actively involved in this exercise and a number of awareness raising projects will take place in the Community, including Germany.It is also worth noting that, in the area of justice and home affairs, the Council adopted a joint action concerning action to combat racism and xenophobia on 15 July 1996. The purpose of this joint action is to ensure effective judicial cooperation in respect of offences based on racist behaviour. To that end, the Member States are invited either to take steps to see that such behaviour is punishable as a criminal offence or, failing that, to derogate from the principle of double criminality. The types of behaviour concerned are, for instance, public incitement to discrimination, violence or racial hatred, the public condoning of crimes against humanity and human rights violation, or the participation in the activities of groups which involve discrimination, violence or racial hatred.