X-NUPop-Charset: English Date: Wed, 1 Nov 1995 15:23:14 -0600 (CST) From: "Alan Spector" Sender: spector@calumet.purdue.edu Reply-To: spector@calumet.purdue.edu To: revs@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Fw: EU on Racism & Xenophobia Note from REVS Editor: The following message was posted on the anti-racism-eur-l network. It has information that may be of interest to REVS listmembers. (Alan Spector) Forwarded message follows: ------------------------------ From: DEBRA@OLN.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman) Date: Wed, 01 Nov 1995 17:58:00 +0100 To: antiracism-eur-l@sonne.comlink.apc.org Subject: EU on Racism & Xenophobia ## author : Bebecee@aol.com ## date : 26.10.95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SESSION NEWS PRESS RELEASE DOCUMENT DATE: OCTOBER 25, 1995 + Racism and xenophobia (B4-1201/95, B4-1202/95) + Wednesday, 25 October - Introducing questions from the civil liberties committee Arie Oostlander (Nl, EPP) said it was necessary to establish rules to develop an EU strategy against racism and xenophobia, which could include a ban on racist publications and common sanctions. A change in the Treaty to include the fight against racism was another priority, thought Mr Oostlander. He also urged the Council to bring the Consultative Committee on Racism and Xenophobia under EU competence. Concerned at the continued expansion of extreme right wing parties in Austria and other EU countries, Glyn Ford (Greater Manchester East, PES) reiterated the demand for a Treaty change. He said this was absolutely essential if the EU was going to make gains in the fight against racism. Another priority for Mr Ford was a race relations directive. He was disappointed that the final report of the Consultative Committee on Racism and Xenophobia had been left on the table at the Cannes Summit. Replying for the Council, Carlos Westendorp, told MEPs that the possibility of a European observatory was being considered, with a report due to go to the Madrid Summit. Otherwise, EU justice ministers would be considering a proposal for joint action on criminal sanctions against racism. The Social Affairs Ministers had also adopted a resolution on the fight against racism, while Education Ministers had agreed a resolution on the role of the education system. Mr Westendorp also informed MEPs that a great majority of the IGC Reflections Group which, he chairs, favoured a clear reference in the new Treaty in the shape of an article against racism. For Commissioner Padraig Flynn racism was an evil that had no place in civilised society. He believed there was a need for clear action at EU level, recalling the separate resolutions against discrimination adopted by the Social Affairs Council in October and at the recent Florence Social Summit. He promised that the Commission would shortly be producing a communication on the fight against racism, including an action plan. His announcement that the Commission would also be proposing 1997 as the European Year against Racism was warmly welcomed by MEPs. Finally, he said that the Commission would continue to press for specific powers to combat discrimination, including a directive on racism. He wanted to see this matter included in the Treaty at the next IGC. The speakers for the main groups backed the need for positive action against racism, including a Treaty change and sufficient appropriations in the EU budget. Jan Wiebenga (Nl, ELDR) warned that the time-bomb of racism continued to tick, while Claudia Roth (D, Greens) called for full citizenship for all people living in the EU as a way of fighting racism. Allan Macartney (North East Scotland, ERA) thanked Padraig Flynn, in Gaelic, for his intention to designate 1997 as the European year against racism. Warning of fears about the EU turning into a 'white Europe', Mr Macartney felt the EU Treaty should guarantee the freedom of all people regardless of origin or colour. A different line was taken by Karel Dillen (B, Ind) who, while condemning racism as an evil, said Europeans had the right to prevent the colonisation of Europe by Asians and Africans. Repatriation, he saw, as the solution. Michael Elliott (London West, PES) felt it was appropriate for the EU to take positive action against racism as racist groups were now organising themselves at a European level. He backed the need for EU race relations legislation. Turning then to a report in today's Guardian newspaper which claims that the UK Government is planning further controls on asylum seekers from countries such as Nigeria and Algeria, Mr Elliott described the proposal as 'innately racist'. Winding up the debate, Padraig Flynn welcomed MEPs' support for his plan to include a reference to non-discrimination in the Treaty. When pressed by Glyn Ford, he said he would prefer this to fall under the EU's competence in the first 'Pillar', although others may take a different view, he added. Vote on Thursday at 10 a.m.