The European Parliament adopted a report on Thursday 10 November on racial justice, non-discrimination and anti-racism, with 442 votes in favour, 114 against and 42 abstentions. The report, sponsored by the Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE), denounces structural racism in the EU and calls on the European institutions and Member States to take action (see EUROPE 13040/26).
The report calls on the European Commission to ensure the implementation of the Racial Equality Directive (2000/43) and the Employment Equality Directive (2000/78) as well as the EU Council Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia (2008/913). “The EU needs to ensure that measures to combat racism are implemented effectively”, insisted Seán Kelly (EPP, Irish).
Still few national action plans
MEPs, including Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, Spanish) and Maite Pagazaurtundúa (Renew Europe, Spanish), also said it was regrettable that only 12 Member States have national action plans under the Commission’s 2020-2025 action plan against racism.
Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli, who was present at the debate, renewed her promise to report on this issue in 2023. However, she pointed out that when including those countries that have incorporated their measures “as an integral part of more general national human rights action plans or other instruments and strategies ”, 16 Member States have taken steps to combat racism.
Turbulent adoption
With the exception of the ID and ECR groups, MEPs welcomed the report. “I’m not surprised that the far right are talking against this important report”, said rapporteur Evin Icnir (S&D, Swedish), but described the EU Council’s absence from the debate as “shameful”.
Assita Kanko (ECR, Belgian) also tried to introduce an oral amendment against “woke misconceptions [...] that push people into imagined minorities and majorities”. Her request was met with strong protests in the Chamber and was rejected.
To read the adopted report: https://aeur.eu/f/400 (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)