A day after the European Commission published its new anti-racism strategy (2026-2030) (see EUROPE 13790/8) on Tuesday 20 January, the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) condemned the text as inadequate.
In a press release published on Wednesday 21 January, the network of organisations considers the strategy limited to old approaches, without responding to the “scale, urgency and structural nature of racism”.
Although ENAR describes the initiative as “commendable”, it points the finger at the Commission’s definition of structural racism, which reduces the phenomenon to an accumulation of individual acts, neglecting a systemic analysis rooted in institutions, laws and public policies.
The organisation also condemns the lack of effective commitments on restorative justice and the silence on the role of EU migration, security and policing policies.
These remarks echo those of Mélissa Camara MEP (Greens/EFA, French), co-chair of European Parliament’s anti-racism intergroup, who described the strategy as “disappointing”.
The MEP criticised the European Commission for “failing to deliver” and called for the adoption of legally binding texts backed up by effective sanctions, mentioning the anti-discrimination directive (see EUROPE 13753/26), currently on hold in the EU Council.
In contrast, on X, Lukas Mandl (EPP, Austrian) supported a strategy which, he said, “stands up to racism, protects human dignity and upholds Rule of law for all”.
On the same network, the European Economic and Social Committee also welcomed the text, and stated that it wanted to make its implementation one of its top priorities. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)