Brussels, 22/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - European Commission for Justice and Home Affairs Franco Frattini has condemned the upsurge in racist attacks in Europe last year. Following a conference in Berlin on 20 February, he said that a study had shown that, in one EU country (which he declined to name), racist attacks had risen by 70% in 2006. “In many member states, the increase was between 25 and 45 per cent,” he said. “I can say in general that France, my own country (Italy), Belgium and the Netherlands are the ones where racism is growing,” he added. He was referring to statistics which the Vienna-based European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) is due to publish in March. While these figures are probably the result of improvements in how data are collected and a greater willingness on the part of victims to report crimes, they put further pressure on the German presidency to reach an agreement on draft European legislation condemning racism and xenophobia, including, for example, the denial of acts of genocide, such as the Holocaust. European Justice Ministers, however, are deeply divided on this issue (see EUROPE 9368). Mr Frattini concluded by saying that he was hopeful that the Council could reach agreement before the end of the German presidency. (bc)