Member states fail to address discrimination

Immigrants and ethnic minorities are discriminated against across the EU in employment, education and housing - and governments are failing to monitor and address the problem, a report out next week will say.

The lack of data being collected to assess racism and discrimination means the problem is in danger of being underestimated and ignored, according to the annual report by the EU’s European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, which will be presented to the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee on Monday (27 November).

Five EU member states have no official data on racist violence and crime for 2004-05 while only two, the UK and Finland, collect data in a comprehensive way, according to the report.

Unemployment among immigrants and ethnic minorities is significantly higher in six EU states than in the rest of the population, while these groups tend to live in poorer, less-secure housing.

Partial or total segregation exists in schools in parts of Europe and certain ethnic minorities are especially vulnerable to falling behind. The centre calls on member states to implement fully EU laws on discrimination and put in place adequate data-collection systems.

Immigrants and ethnic minorities are discriminated against across the EU in employment, education and housing - and governments are failing to monitor and address the problem, a report out next week will say.

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