Are we making progress on ending discrimination in the EU?

In the EU, discrimination based on any grounds is prohibited by law. Yet for many people this is still a daily reality. To tackle this, the Commission has since 2020 put forward novel initiatives against racism, antisemitism, but also for LGBTIQ people and Roma communities. Progress reports on all four have recently been published.

The first progress report on the 2021-2030 EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life was published yesterday and notes that most Member States have taken action against antisemitism since 2021, including with 23 national strategies against antisemitism.

Despite this, there has been a rise in antisemitic incidents, particularly since October 2023. That is why the Commission has accelerated the implementation of the EU strategy, made funding available for security of Jewish premises, is developing a dedicated network of organisations specialised in combatting online antisemitism, and is supporting the establishment of a ‘Network of places where the Holocaust happened’.

This is the fourth report in line of progress reports on anti-discrimination that the Commission published since September 2024. They looked at the progress being made on the key EU strategies of setting up national anti-racism action plans, strengthening support for Roma communities and in decreasing in LGBTIQ discrimination. They conclude that racism and hatred towards LGBTIQ people has increased over the last years.

EU countries are consequently being encouraged to

• adopt and deliver better on national strategies and action plans
• step up their collection of data
• set ambitious targets to measure their progress on Roma inclusion

Combatting all forms of hate and discrimination will remain a priority for the years to come. For the next 5 years, President von der Leyen is proposing to present a renewed LGBTIQ equality strategy for post-2025, a new Anti-Racism Strategy, and spearheading the implementation of the EU Strategic Framework for Roma Equality.

For more information: European Commission