Policy Work

Racism & anti-racism in the EU

Racism in the EU

Racism today is a complex and multi-faceted phenomenon. The face of racism has evolved over the last decades and has taken many different forms, including through ethnic and religious discrimination. “Directly” racist discourse appears to be slowly disappearing (due to the impact of legislation and the evolution of prevailing attitudes) and this discourse tends to be restricted to the language of extremist groups. However new subtle and insidious forms of discrimination are widespread throughout society. From being a prejudice based on the belief that race is the primary factor defining human traits and abilities, racism has evolved to include less overt prejudicial behaviour, which can be more difficult to recognise, yet is often more severe due to its pervasive and persistent nature.

Anti-racism in the EU

Despite the fact that the European Union has for many years focused on preventing discrimination on the grounds of nationality and sex, it only began to take the fight against racism seriously relatively recently. Europe has a responsibility both to the people living within its borders, as well as internationally to take a leading role in promoting fundamental rights and a Europe free from racism.

© Horus (Xtracms)