The annual report on the situation regarding racism and xenophobia in the Member States of the EU : EUMC 2006

The EUMC Annual Report 2006 looks at racial discrimination and data on racist violence and crime. It also includes an overview of positive initiatives. The EUMC finds that migrants and ethnic minorities remain discriminated against across the EU in employment, education and housing. The EUMC report highlights that most Member States lack the necessary data to monitor potential socio-economic inequalities between different ethnic/national groups. As a result, some groups may experience discrimination without adequate response from the state. In addition, only two of the EU's 25 Member States can be said to have comprehensive data collection systems that can reveal the nature and extent of racist violence. Due to the gaps in official data, it is not possible to compare racist crime rates between different Member States. Victims of racist violence may remain invisible and often without support. The EUMC calls on politicians to lead on measures which actively combat racism, and thus reduce exclusion and marginalisation that currently affect migrants and ethnic minorities. The EUMC Report lists policy initiatives and measures to be taken by governments and EU institutions to promote racial equality in the EU.