Brussels, 09/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - After three days of xenophobic violence which claimed three victims in El Ejido (Andalusia), the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, issued a declaration in which he expresses his "deep concern at the race-related incidents of violence which have taken place in south-east Spain over the past days". The declaration continues: "the President welcomes the statements and actions of the Spanish authorities which are designed to calm the unrest. The President wishes to condemn in the strongest possible terms any expression of racism or xenophobia. Such behaviour is contrary to the very principles of the European Union". (In Spain, several officials of the main political parties and trade unions were in el Ejido on Wednesday to launch an appeal against intolerance and racism and to affirm their support to the families hit by the racist acts of violence).