21/02/2014 RACISM is on the rise across Europe – and the EU can play a key role in combating it, a conference organised by the Greens in Brussels has heard.

The conference, entitled ‘Afrophobia in the EU’ was organised by the Greens / EFA Group in the European Parliament, along with the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).

The conference was co-hosted by London MEP Jean Lambert, a vice-President of the European Parliament’s cross-party Intergroup on Diversity and Anti-Racism, and Jean-Jacob Bicep of the French Greens.

The London Green MEP said the answers included forging better relations between the EU and Africa, using laws already on the statute books in the EU which will mean challenges to the police and public prosecutors when victims of racism go unsupported, and an increased electoral turn-out by supporters of anti-racist candidates.

“Racism is on the rise across Europe – and there is a real risk that we will see a rise in the number of xenophobic and racist politicians elected to the next European Parliament in May,” she said.

“To make sure this doesn’t happen we need everyone – and their families and friends – to go out and vote in the European parliamentary election in May, voting for progressive candidates to reduce the political space for those that don’t believe in equality.”

She added: “We need the EU to act – and if that’s going to happen we must make sure there are as many progressive voices elected as we can.

“The EU must establish better dialogue and joint working with countries throughout Africa and the Caribbean: for example, by having a formal Delegation for Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.

“We also need to act to control European companies operating in Africa to ensure they don’t pollute the environment, they treat workers decently and keep most of their profits in-country for the benefit of the people.”