Europarl Calls for ‘Reparations’ to Fight ‘Structural Racism’ Against Africans in EU

The European Parliament has demanded bloc-wide action including “reparations” to fight “structural racism” which manifests in people of African descent in Europe getting lower school grades and increased police scrutiny, according to Brussels.

In what was described as a “landmark” resolution passed on Tuesday with 535 in favour to 80 votes against, and 44 abstentions, EU member states were ordered “to develop anti-racism policies and stop discrimination in the fields of education, housing, health, criminal justice, political participation and migration”.

“In light of increasing afrophobic attacks, MEPs call on the European Commission and EU member states to acknowledge the racist, discriminatory and xenophobic suffering of Afro-Europeans, and offer proper protection against these inequalities to ensure that hate crimes are suitably investigated, prosecuted and sanctioned,” EU Parliament said in a statement.

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Calling on Brussels to establish a dedicated team of officials focused on combating ‘Afrophobia’, and to adopt “a workforce diversity and inclusion strategy” to boost the proportion of staff with an African background in its workforce, the resolution also orders the Commission to raise spending on taxpayer-funded programmes dedicated to helping EU residents with African origins.

In addition, it demands reparations, and that countries across Europe ensure every child receives “comprehensive” schooling on slavery and colonialism, in the context of Africa.

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“MEPs suggest carrying out reparations, such as apologising publicly and return stolen artefacts to their countries of origin. Parliament also calls on EU countries to declassify their colonial archives, as well as to present a comprehensive perspective on colonialism and slavery in the educational curricula.”

It adds: “Approximately 15 million people of African descent currently live in Europe. They face persistent discrimination and are subject to deeply rooted negative stereotyping.

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The resolution was drawn up by Congolese-born MEP and pro-mass migration activist, Cécile Kyenge, who last year argued that racism in Europe must be combated by “assisting” native EU citizens to come to terms with “the change of population” she claimed would be an inevitable part of globalisation.

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