Brussels, 25/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - "The European Union bases its very existence on the idea that all men and women are born free and equal and constitute a sole human family", said Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March. Expressing concern about the rise in hostility towards migrants and ethnic minorities and calling upon the international community and the Member States to set up the fight against racism and xenophobia and to implement the commitments made at the World Conference Against Racism in Durban last year, Ms Diamantopoulou paid tribute to the efforts of Belgium, which will soon be adopting national legislation transposing the two EU anti-discrimination directives and encouraged other Member States to follow Belgium's example. She said the Commission would be intensifying contact with the candidate countries to support their efforts to combat racism and discrimination.
Bob Purkiss, President of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) and EUMC Director Beate Winkler said that cultural plurality had to be recognised in all European countries' legislation and across society in general, and fundamental rights such as equal opportunities had to be binding on all. On the occasion of the International Day, they called for all barriers to be eliminated that prevent people from different origins from leaving equally in peace and in respect for their diversity.