Festivities mark the launch of Union’s ‘Year against racism’

Date: 23/01/1997

By Mark Turner

CELEBRITIES from the world of music, sport and culture are expected to join EU leaders for the launch of the Union's 'Year against racism and xenophobia' at a two-day opening ceremony next week.

The festivities, which will take place in The Hague, will be attended by Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, European Commission President Jacques Santer and former Portuguese President Mário Soares.

But organisers stress that beyond the razzmatazz lies one of Europe's most pressing issues.

The second day of the opening ceremony, which begins next Thursday (30 January), will be given over to four workshops discussing some of the most serious and persistent problems facing Europe's ethnic minorities.

National experts and non-governmental organisations will draft recommendations on employment practices, anti-racism laws and their implementation, the role of the media in opinion-forming, and 'everyday racism', such as access to services, housing and politics.

“These recommendations will go to a plenary session for adoption, after which we will begin work on them straight away,” said a Brussels official.

The Hague launch will set the wheels in motion for similar national events in each Union member state. A national co-ordinating committee in every country will oversee activities and fund-raising throughout the year.

Among the events already planned are a 'Youth versus intolerance' fun run in Belgium, a poster competition in Denmark, judicial training courses in Austria and a 'Rock against racism' pop festival in the UK.

The European football association UEFA will stage a 'Kick racism out of football' match on 29 January between two all-star African and European teams .

A March meeting of the EU's social partners (employers and unions) will look at ways to eliminate racism in the workplace.

It is still unclear, however, when or where a European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia will be set up, despite ministerial agreement to do so last year. The Dutch have established an ad hoc working group which will begin to examine the question this month.