Brussels, 01/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - European Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot confirmed on Tuesday 31 March that Europeans may not take part at the United Nations conference on racism (Durban II) if the values defended by the Union are not upheld. “If necessary, we are ready to call on member states, like the EU, to withdraw from this process if there is any clear violation of the values that are at the heart of the EU either before or during the conference”, he said during a seminar organised by the European Jewish Congress in Brussels. The UN conference against racism is to open in Geneva on 20 April. It is a follow-up to the Durban (South Africa) conference of September 2001, which was marked by anti-Semitic demonstrations. At present, the working group preparing Durban II is working on a new draft final declaration cleaned of its points of discord with a view to rallying the western countries threatening to boycott the meeting. Henceforth, the text no longer contains any allusion to polemic subjects such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or religious defamation. “It is essential to be extremely vigilant and the Union must be willing to take firm action if unacceptable texts are proposed”, Barrot said. “I want to be sure that the acquis communautaire on the fight against racism and xenophobia, including anti-Semitism and discrimination, will not be compromised”, he went on to say, adding that it is out of the question to accept a compromise “at any price”. (B.C./transl.jl)