EU penalties for racism and xenophobia

Last month, the Council of EU Justice Ministers has reached a political agreement on a Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia. With the growing racial tension in Europe it has become imperative that the EU step in. The focus of the framework is the prohibition of public incitement to violence and hatred against persons of a different race, colour, religion, or national or ethnic descent. It includes the criminalisation of the public approval, denial or gross trivialisation of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes if the crime is directed against a group of persons because of their race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin and where it simultaneously amounts to racist or xenophobic agitation. The Council will assess the European Parliament’s observations before formally adopting the Framework Decision but these will not reply directly; rather Member States must implement them into their national law. The maximum penalty for those who would engage in such conduct would be at least one to three years.
Diversity expert, Michael Stuber, agrees that a groundwork of safety, tolerance, acceptance and respect must be established before society can begin to tap the great potential a diverse Europe embodies. If society can quell discrimination at its roots and protect future generations from its acrid tongue, the possibilities are endless.