Compromise paves way for centre against racism

Date: 24/04/1997

By Simon Coss

PLANS to set up a European centre to monitor racism and xenophobia look almost certain to get the go-ahead from EU governments following an unexpected British volte-face.

London had objected to European Commission plans to set up the centre using Article 235 of the Treaty of Rome, the so-called 'catch-all' clause which allows the EU to act in areas not specifically covered by the treaty.

But a compromise has now been found which should pave the way for the project to be approved before the summer.

Although ostensibly a technical argument about the legal basis for proposed EU laws, the dispute amounted to an old fashioned turf fight about who did what in the Union.

London felt the Commission was using the centre as an excuse to gain influence over member states' policies regarding ethnic minorities - clearly defined as an area for intergovernmental cooperation under the Maastricht Treaty.

But its opposition to the Commission proposal sparked howls of protest, including accusations that London was effectively supporting Union-wide prejudice and bigotry.

In a bid to shed this embarrassing image, the UK has now agreed that the centre can be set up if two treaty clauses - Articles 235 and 213, which allow for the Commission to perform an information-gathering role - are used as the legal base.

London is half-heartedly attempting to portray its backtracking as a significant shift in the centre's remit. “This means that it will be possible to emphasise the information-gathering task rather than the role of taking direct action,” said one official.

But others see the move as nothing more than diplomatic face-saving. “I do not think it will make any real difference to the way the centre operates,” said one Dutch official.

Social Affairs Commissioner Pádraig Flynn, who has been pushing for the centre to be set up as the centrepiece of the current European Year Against Racism, is delighted at the news of a breakthrough.

“We clearly welcome this change of heart by the UK. As far as the European Commission is concerned, this was always an area for 'first pillar' action,” said a close Flynn aide, referring

to areas which the Maastricht Treaty says should be dealt with at European rather than intergovernmental level.

Some problems remain over just how the centre will operate and the organisation's relationship with the non-EU Council of Europe. Governments also have yet to decide where the anti-racism bureau will be based.

But all sides agree that the main stumbling block has been removed and are confident that the monitoring centre will be agreed before the Netherlands hands over the EU presidency to Luxembourg at the end of June.

“There are a few disagreements of a technical nature, but there are basically no fundamental problems. There is a collective will for this centre to be set up and set up soon,” confirmed one source close to the negotiations.

The issue is likely to be discussed when foreign affairs ministers meet next Tuesday (29 April), with officials hopeful that final approval will be announced at a meeting on 2 June.