European Year against Racism 1997

The Committee supports the Commission's Communication and the proposal to declare 1997 European Year against Racism. The Committee supports and allies itself with those forces which consider that the Treaty should include a non-discrimination clause and calls for a comprehensive strategy to counter racism and xenophobia both within the Community and on an intercontinental level. The Committee therefore agrees with the Commission's view on the inclusion of a non-discrimination clause in the Treaty and specific powers to combat racial discrimination. The Committee calls for the aim of prohibiting the distribution of racist material via the Internet to be set down as a Community action in the decision designating 1997 as European Year against Racism. To achieve this objective, the Commission is urged to establish a dialogue with the Council of Europe and other international institutions working on a basis of cooperation at all levels. The Committee agrees in principle with the proposal for a decision to designate 1997 as European Year against Racism, but would make the following points: - it considers the proposal's aims to be ambitious in comparison with the resources provided; - it supports the proposals concerning the promotion of supranational programmes against racism; - it calls for the following clause "Whereas restriction of the rights of free movement of third country nationals living in the EU contributes to racist and xenophobic attitudes" to be added; - it places particular emphasis on the use of education to cultivate and develop an anti-racist awareness, and on the use of the mass media to combat racism and for the exchange of information and best practice.�