| Series Title | European Voice |
|---|---|
| Series Details | Vol.9, No.26, 10.7.03, p6 |
| Publication Date | 10/07/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
|
Date: 10/07/03 MOST member states and all accession states have so far failed to introduce anti-racism laws, in what members of the European Parliament see as a "betrayal" of the EU's drive towards ending racial-discrimination. The deadline to transpose the measures into national laws, to provide protection against race discrimination in employment and access to services, will expire on 19 July. But a report published on 8 July reveals failure by 12 of the 15 member states and all ten accession countries to implement the Race Equality Directive by next week's deadline. Five states - Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Germany and Spain - have not even taken the first steps towards transposing the law. Only Sweden, the UK and Belgium are on track to transpose it. The European Commission is now being urged to take action against the offending states. The situation is even worse in accession states where, according to the report, the level of racial harassment and physical assault is "particularly severe". Hungary and the Slovak and Czech Republics have come under fire for their "shameful" discrimination against their gypsy minorities. The report cites "racially-biased" policing and the excessively high number of Roma in prisons in Hungary. In Slovakia, discrimination is reflected in unemployment figures - 10% for the non-Roma population compared with 70% for the Roma. In the Czech Republic, Roma have been assaulted by "gangs of skinheads". UK Socialist deputy Claude Moraes deplored the "betrayal of one of the most progressive and essential steps forward in anti-discrimination" taken by the EU. Governments show they only pay "lip service to their obligation to protect millions of their citizens from racism," he added. Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou said the Commission will not hesitate to take action against offending states. The deadline to implement the Race Equality Directive by 19 July 2003 will be missed by 12 Member States and all 10 accession countries. |
|
| Subject Categories | Values and Beliefs |
