In a joint declaration published on Wednesday 7 June, the outgoing (France, Czech Republic, Sweden) and incoming (Spain, Belgium, Hungary) trio Presidencies of the EU Council have renewed their commitment to the fight against racism and antisemitism (see EUROPE 13139/18).
In particular, the six countries are committed to strengthening coordination and structuring exchanges on these issues within the Council, at both technical and political levels. They also intend to base their work on data, research and expert advice, while drawing on the “experience and expertise” of organisations active in these fields.
At the same time, they are calling on the Member States and the EU institutions to join the fight against all forms of racism and antisemitism. “It should be recognised that many challenges emanating from the prevalence of racism and antisemitism persist in the EU. A strategic and long-term approach is necessary to overcome such challenges”, they emphasise.
Finally, they ask the European Commission to present the progress made in implementing its ‘Anti-Racism Action Plan’ (due by the end of 2023) and its national versions, as well as the ‘EU strategy on combating antisemitism’ (due in 2024) and the ‘EU Roma strategic framework’. (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)