EU elections: Where do parties stand on anti-discrimination policies?

Surveys on racism in the EU show the problem is becoming more acute.

Transcript

00:00 The European Union is set to implement a new pact on migration and asylum applications.

00:07 However, experts have raised the alarm it could lead to an increase in hate speech and

00:11 discrimination. In response, rapporteur Alice Kunke told Euronews that some are arguing

00:17 for the adoption of the EU anti-discrimination directive.

00:22 We know for a fact that black people within the EU, but also LGBTQI persons and persons

00:31 with a Roma background are some of them that faces discrimination in their everyday life.

00:38 And the tragic is that this is not a down-going trend, it's a rising trend.

00:45 I am afraid that the migration pact and several parts of it will not help us in fighting racism

00:59 and discrimination, rather the opposite.

01:02 The European Commission first attempted to create a comprehensive law on fighting all

01:06 kinds of discrimination in 2008.

01:11 The Parliament adopted several resolutions, holding a plenary debate on the topic in October

01:17 2019 and approved their last position in November 2022.

01:24 Different political parties in the European Union express varying views on the legislation.

01:31 Only the Socialists and the Left clearly promised to push for the directive's adoption.

01:39 Other three moderate groups make references to the need for fighting against all forms

01:43 of discrimination, racism and exclusion.

01:49 The European Network Against Racism has elaborated on a pledge of commitments to combat the problem

01:54 and asked candidates to sign it.

01:56 It also called for the EU anti-racism action plan to be prolonged beyond 2025 and to revise

02:02 part of the directive that is currently blocked.

02:05 So we believe also it's maybe an opportunity to assess the text and adopt a renewed framework,

02:13 non-discrimination legal framework that can cover all forms of discrimination because

02:18 there are gaps in the current text of the equality treatment directive.

02:22 There are things that have been left unaddressed, the racialization of migration policies, the

02:28 exploitative economic system, the anti-Muslim narrative.

02:32 The EU Council, which brings together Europe's 27 member states, has blocked the directive,

02:38 with some governments arguing that it violates national competence and others claiming it

02:43 would be too costly to implement.

02:46 But the rapporteur claims that the current political landscape means it is urgently needed.

02:51 (wind blowing)

02:53 [WHOOSH]