European Year against Racism 1997

The Council heard a statement by Mr Jean KAHN, President of the Consultative Commission on Racism and Xenophobia, on the progress of the proceedings of that Commission and in particular its proposal for the establishment of a European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia. The Council asked the Consultative Commission to conclude its proceedings within the scheduled period so that the European Council in Cannes could define an overall strategy on this question. At the initiative of the Austrian delegation and as part of the campaign to combat racism and xenophobia, the Council agreed to look at the issue of the protection of national minorities. It instructed the Political Committee to present a report on this issue at its next meeting.