RESOLUTION A3-0127/93

Resolution on the resurgence of racism and xenophobia in Europe and the danger of right-wing extremist violence

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the Joint Declarations of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 5 April 1977 and 11 June 1986,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on this subject, especially those of 17 May 1990, 14 June 1990, 10 October 1990, 22 November 1990, 10 October 1991, 12 March 1992, 17 September 1992 and 30 October 1992,

-having regard to the conclusions reached by the two committees of inquiry into this subject set up by the European Parliament in 1985 and 1989,

-having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

-having regard to the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination of 20 November 1963 and the International Convention of 21 December 1965,

-having regard to Council of Europe recommendations Nos. 453, 583, 963, 968 and 982 and resolutions Nos. 68(30), 72(22) and 743,

-having regard to its resolution of 14 October 1987 on discrimination against immigrant women and female migrant workers in legislation and regulations in the Community,

-having regard to the Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights,

-having regard to the European Council resolution of 29 May 1990,

-having regard to the European Council's declaration on racism and xenophobia issued at Maastricht in December 1991 and its declaration on the principles governing external aspects of migration policy issued at Edinburgh in December 1992,

-having regard to the Commission communications of 11 October 1991 on immigration and 18 October 1991 on the right of asylum,

-having regard to its resolutions of 18 November 1992 on European immigration policy and on the harmonization within the European Community of asylum law and policies,

-having regard to its resolution of 11 February 1993 on European and international protection for Nazi concentration camp sites as historical monuments,

-having regard to its resolution of 11 March 1993 on respect for human rights in the European Community (annual report of the European Parliament),

-having regard to Articles 7 and 8a of the EEC Treaty, Articles 8a to 8e of the EC Treaty, and Article F of the Treaty on European Union,

-having regard to the motions for resolutions by Mr Newman on allegations of racism in Spanish frontier controls and customs procedures (B3-0461/92), Mr Ramírez Heredia on European Racial Harmony Year (B3-0722/92), Mrs Bindi on the recrudescence of right-wing movements in Europe (B3-0723/92), Mr Kostopoulos on the recent racial disturbances in Rostock (B3-1279/92), Mr Sapena Granell on racist attacks (B3-1535/92), Mrs Muscardini on the institution of an anti-racism day (B3-1656/92), and Mr Robles Piquer on the Conference on Hatred (B3-1560/92), and to Petition No. 463/92 on the revival of fascism and racism in Europe,

-having regard to Rule 121 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs (A3-0127/93),

A.noting with grave concern the growth and spread of xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, and other forms of religious intolerance in the Community Member States and Europe in general,

B.whereas recently in the Member States refugees, asylum-seekers and immigrants have been subjected to many acts of violence (arson, acts of desecration, etc.) including murder, committed by racist and extreme right-wing groups,

C.drawing attention to the proliferation in the Member States of extreme right-wing groups, parties and movements - some of which are organized and maintain links with each other - which have in common an 'ideology' based on racist and anti-Semitic attitudes, leading them to commit acts of violence, vandalism of every kind and crimes against Community and non-Community citizens, refugees, asylum-seekers, nomads, gypsies, Jews and other minority groups and exploit a situation of social discontent and disarray to incite others - particularly young people - to racial hatred by blaming 'foreigners' for current economic problems and the rise in unemployment,

D.believing that these practices pose a grave threat to those democratic values which form the basis of the common heritage of the Member States,

E.pointing out that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, whose young, still fragile democracies are particularly susceptible to the dangers of an authoritarian backlash, have also witnessed the emergence of extreme right-wing organizations and are experiencing a marked increase in racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic tendencies,

F.emphasizing the insidious nature of revisionist theories, some of which go so far as to claim that the Holocaust did not take place,

G.convinced that the growing wave of migration from poorer countries into the Member States calls for a re-examination of North-South and East-West relations in order to enable the Community to make a positive response to the pressures of the new multi-ethnic, intercultural social models,

H.concerned at the insecurity frequently affecting the 8 million non-Community immigrants in the Community and the various forms of discrimination they encounter with respect to housing, employment, freedom of movement, and political, economic, social and cultural rights,

I.noting the positive response of the public to this worrying situation and its widespread participation in the demonstrations against racism and xenophobia held recently in various European cities,

J.reaffirming the duty of the Community authorities to ensure that democratic values are fully respected and to combat any group or movement liable to pose a threat to democracy and basic human rights which, as the Court of Justice first ruled in 1969, fall within the general principles of Community law,

K.noting that, despite the repeated demands and recommendations it has made, Community policy since 1986 on measures against racism and anti-Semitism is still unsatisfactory,

L.firmly convinced that the adoption of Community measures against racism and xenophobia is in line with a proper application of the principle of subsidiarity and would contribute towards the achievement of the objectives laid down in Articles 8a to 8e of the EC Treaty,

M.pointing out that the defence of democracy is one of the Community's duties, as stated in the preamble to the Single Act, and that a clear commitment to democracy is a fundamental requirement for countries wishing to accede to or remain members of the Community,

1.Condemns firmly any form of incitement to extremist violence, racism, anti-Semitism, or religious intolerance involving objectives and behaviour directed against 'the system' and seeking to undermine the principles of democracy, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the constitutional traditions common to all Member States;

2.Rejects vigorously and categorically all notions of an ethnocentric Europe based on unacceptable nationalist ideologies, while upholding the principle of the 'national identities' of the Member States in accordance with the provisions of Article F of the Treaty on European Union;

3.Draws attention to the factors which provide fertile ground for the activities of violent movements and are open to exploitation, such as

-the seriousness of the economic situation and the resulting widespread unemployment,

-anarchic urbanization, the deterioration of living conditions and the spread of crime,

-a feeling of insecurity and discontent among the public, particularly among young people worried that they may be unable to find a place in an increasingly complex and competitive society,

-trivialization of violence by the media,

-the shortcomings of educational systems and the lack of understanding of different cultures,

-the increasing stream of propaganda by political parties and organizations in the Member States seeking to persuade the public that the Community's richness is being jeopardized by immigration from Third World and Eastern European countries and calling for this richness to be 'protected';

4.Considers that these factors contribute substantially to the spread of xenophobic attitudes and a psychotic state of fear of anything foreign or simply 'different' and may lead sections of the public to condone acts of violence and anti-democratic behaviour;

5.Deplores the failure to take action on many of the recommendations made on the subject by its committees of inquiry, particularly those regarding

-the Community becoming a signatory to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

-the Community becoming a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination;

6.Calls once again on the Commission to come up with appropriate proposals and measures in response to recommendations Nos. 14, 16, 20, 24, 25, 31, 33, 34 and 36 made by the Committee of Inquiry into Racism and Xenophobia;

7.Considers that, in line with the provisions on citizenship of the Union laid down in Article 8 of the EC Treaty, racism and xenophobia should be considered to be matters of 'common interest' to the Member States and thus to require Community action in support of that of the Member States;

8.Calls on the Council, the Commission and the Member States to cease discriminating against the citizens of third countries compared with the EC citizens, by offering voting rights in local elections to those who have been legally resident in a Member State for a period of five years or more;

9.Instructs its committee responsible to draw up a report as soon as possible on the conditions of access to citizenship for non-EC nationals;

10.Calls on the Commission to draw up a proposal on this issue which is of importance for the future of the Community, and calls on the Council to state its position on the matter at the next meeting of the European Council;

11.Calls on the Member States to bestow national citizenship on the children of immigrants and refugees born in the Union;

12.Considers, therefore, the following legal and institutional measures to be essential:

-the agreement by the Council of a directive under Article 235 of the EEC Treaty for the introduction of national legislation designed to combat racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism on the basis of the most stringent measures existing in the Member States; such legislation must acknowledge that racist acts are in fact criminal offences; the directive and the Member States' legislation must be effective as regards groups and associations which incite racial, religious or ethnic hatred;

-the adoption by the Member States of appropriate legislation condemning any denial of the genocide perpetrated during the Second World War and any justification and attempt at rehabilitation of the regimes and institutions which were responsible for and parties to it,

-the setting up of a European Parliament working party to draw up the necessary amendments to Title VI of the Treaty on European Union in preparation for its revision scheduled for 1996,

-the fight against racial discrimination and xenophobia being made part of the responsibilities of a Commissioner,

-the adoption of a Resident's Statute for 'non-nationals',

-the possibility for the legal persons and organizations concerned to initiate proceedings against perpetrators of racist acts and to claim damages;

13.Considers that the Community's role in monitoring respect for democracy and human rights also extends to its relations with third countries; therefore calls for the inclusion in all association agreements of specific clauses to protect against the infringement of fundamental rights and racial discrimination;

14.With regard to educational and social measures, calls on

the governments of the Member States

-to include in the school curriculum, from the beginning of primary school onwards, courses in civics and history from a European viewpoint to give young people a specific grounding in the principles on which a democratic society is based and teach them respect for other cultures and for the principle that European culture is based on the toleration of diversity,

the Commission

-to submit before the end of 1993 a four-year action programme providing for (a) practical measures to combat racial prejudice, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of religious intolerance, (b) measures to strengthen the legal instruments existing in this field in the Member States and (c) campaigns to raise awareness throughout Europe,

-to encourage and promote the work of non-governmental organizations to enhance their role in providing information, studies and direct experience,

-to promote the coordination of, and the pooling of experience gained from, initiatives in the Community directed against racism and anti-Semitism and in favour of the equal treatment of male and female immigrants,

-to make use of the contribution which the social partners can make with regard to initiatives aimed at integrating people who are at risk or have been subjected to acts of violence,

-to set up a data bank and a system for monitoring activities in the field of racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia, in order to keep the Community institutions, including Parliament, fully informed on developments. Such a system to draw on the expertise which exists in those independent organizations already operating in this area and in particular to support and encourage initiatives, such as a European information network of NGOs, which regularly provide factual information on current events and issues related to migration, refugees and asylum-seekers and minorities of immigrant origin in the various European states as well as on the relevant areas and activities of the European institutions, notably Parliament, the Commission and the Council, so as to promote a greater and permanent awareness among the public and decision-makers of the extent and scope of the problems of racism and xenophobia throughout Europe, in particular in the European Community;

-to submit before the end of 1993 a new Eurobarometer survey on racism and xenophobia, showing the current state of relations between the various communities, with particular attention being paid to those areas in which the most dramatic rise in episodes of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism has been recorded,

-to submit to it, starting in 1995, an annual report on the implementation of the action programme;

15.Reiterates, with regard to integration policies, the views expressed in its aforementioned resolution of 18 November 1992 on immigration policy;

16.Reaffirms, therefore, the fundamental importance of education at all levels and of vocational training which, in addition to providing a vehicle to highlight the positive role which immigrants play in the economic growth of a country, must be used to prepare people for working in places in which there are a large number of immigrants;

17.Instructs its competent committee to draw up a report on citizenship of the Union, covering also the rights of citizens of third countries, and examining the possibility of immigrants from third countries established in the Community being granted equal social and economic rights and full civil, cultural and political rights under a system guaranteeing non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all European residents;

18.Is convinced of the fundamental role which the mass media can play in combating racial prejudice and therefore calls on the Member States to draw up codes of conduct for the media to ensure that freedom of expression and freedom of the press are complete, but are used responsibly;

19.Suggests that the European conference against racial discrimination proposed by the Economic and Social Committee be held no later than the first quarter of 1994;

20.Calls for 1995 to be declared 'European Year of Harmony among Peoples';

21.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the governments of the countries which have applied for Community membership and the CSCE.