Groundbreaking new Race laws are due to come into force across Europe on July 19th 2003. The new rules provide tough new protection against race discrimination in employment and access to services. But as the deadline approaches, new research from European Network Against Racism - the Brussels based umbrella group for Europe's leading anti-racism groups - has revealed a systematic failure by Member States to implement the EU Race Equality Directive. At least 12 of the 15 EU Member States and none of the ten enlargement countries will meet the deadline.

Launching the new research, UK Labour MEP Claude Moraes, former Commissioner for Racial Equality in the UK said "We are witnessing a betrayal of one of the most progressive and essential steps forward in anti-discrimination taken by the European Union in recent years. With this inaction, national governments are sending a clear signal that they will only pay lipservice to their basic obligation to protect millions of their citizens from racism."

"At a time of heightening tension over immigration and the rise of the far right it is vital that a basic level of protection from discrimination on grounds of race and ethnic origin is implemented across the EU," he added. "The Race Directive was voted through the European Parliament with great haste against the backdrop of far right gains in Austria in 2000. That momentum has collapsed with only three out of fifteen member states on track to transpose on time."

The London MEP also said "The European Commission must take enforcement action. Millions of Europeans of ethnic origin deserve better - they should have equal opportunities in employment, access to services and freedom from the racial harassment and race attacks which are on the increase across Europe and particularly severe in the former Eastern European candidate countries. The new legislation, if implemented, would have been a red light for employers wishing to discriminate against the best candidates for employment simply because of their race or colour."

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