Cash fears for Year against Racism

Date: 24/10/1996

By Mark Turner

THE EU's 1997 Year against Racism promises to be 'innovative and energetic', but fears remain that inadequate financing will soften its impact.

Meetings between national experts and European Commission officials are already under way to shape ideas and agree on a logo for the year, with the first concrete proposals due to emerge at the end of this month.

Although final decisions have yet to be taken, it is clear that action at EU level will concentrate on two key themes.

The first will focus on spreading anti-racist messages throughout the Union, while the second will promote greater exchange of experience and information between key professionals.

With plans so far including a launch ceremony in the Netherlands to be attended by royalty and top-level politicians, a 'Rock against Racism' concert, and high-profile anti-racism sports competitions, the year is shaping up to make a colourful splash.

But scores of less ambitious money-making and awareness-raising activities will also take place.

Among the initiatives being prepared are 15 national seminars (one in each member state) which aim to cover topics such as policing, teaching and non-discriminatory health care. A number of local and regional conferences along similar lines will also be promoted.

All these events will be symbolised by a 'Year against Racism' logo and slogan. The logo will probably take the form of a stylised man and woman's torso side by side. One will be white on black, the other black on white.

The slogan has caused more difficulty. “Language is especially sensitive in this case. What sounds right in one language can be quite offensive in another,” explained an official.

But such semantic difficulties are not expected to cause too many headaches. Of more concern is a potential lack of finance, amid fears that the year could be over-subscribed and under-funded.

The budget currently stands at 6 million ecu, with 1.3 million ecu coming from 1996 finances and 4.7 million ecu from the 1997 budget.

Commission officials say member states will be encouraged to make up any shortfall in funding. They will also need to set up a network of national coordinating committees, and instigate their own domestic events.

While progress is now being made, by all accounts there is a long way to go.

“We have a lot of work to do between now and the end of the year,” said one national official.