Headlines
EU Anti-Racism Chief Says Discrimination Deeply Embedded Across Europe
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 21, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 21, 2026
Quick Summary
EU anti‑racism coordinator Michaela Moua warns that structural racism remains pervasive across Europe, with nearly half of people of African descent reporting discrimination, and urges institutions to address colonial legacies and improve equality data.
EU anti-racism chief says discrimination deeply embedded across Europe
Structural Racism and Institutional Challenges in Europe
(Fixes typo in Michaela in paragraph 1)
By Charlotte Van Campenhout
Persistent Discrimination and Barriers
AMSTERDAM, March 21 (Reuters) - Structural racism remains deeply embedded across Europe and institutions need to confront its colonial legacy, the European Union's anti-racism coordinator Michaela Moua said on Saturday.
Data on Discrimination
Moua said data from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights showed that nearly half of people of African descent in the bloc said they had experienced discrimination, while many face barriers to work, despite holding university degrees.
Impact on Democracy
Dismantling entrenched inequalities was essential for democracy, she told a symposium on racism in Amsterdam.
Urgency and the Need for Data
"Racism is not a relic of the past. It's a living structure. It's very tangible for many of us. We feel and we sense the urgency, especially in these political times," Moua said, adding that better equality data was crucial, as EU member states still diverge widely in collecting information on race and ethnicity.
EU Anti-Racism Strategy and Criticism
Key Elements of the Strategy
Moua said the bloc's new anti-racism strategy aims to tighten enforcement of existing laws, strengthen national action plans and tackle racism in public administration.
NGO Response and Calls for Reparatory Justice
The strategy, which was adopted in January, has drawn criticism from NGOs. The European Network Against Racism said it failed to offer a genuine commitment to reparatory justice or redress for the ongoing consequences of Europe's history.
(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Alexander Smith)
Key Takeaways
- •Nearly half (about 45‑47%) of people of African descent in the EU experienced racial discrimination in the past five years, with particularly high rates in Germany and Austria (>70%) (fra.europa.eu).
- •Only about 9% of discrimination incidents are reported, and many face over‑qualification, unstable jobs, poverty and housing struggles despite education (fra.europa.eu).
- •Michaela Moua stresses racism is a ‘living structure’ rooted in colonialism, emphasizing the need for better EU equality data, enforcement of laws, national action plans, and addressing NGOs’ call for reparatory justice (theguardian.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about EU anti-racism chief says discrimination deeply embedded across Europe
1What does the EU anti-racism coordinator say about structural racism in Europe?
Micheala Moua states that structural racism remains deeply embedded across Europe and that institutions must confront their colonial legacy.
2What data supports claims of racial discrimination in the EU?
EU Agency for Fundamental Rights found that nearly half of people of African descent in the EU have experienced discrimination.
3What actions does the EU's new anti-racism strategy propose?
The strategy aims to tighten enforcement of laws, strengthen national action plans, and address racism in public administration.
4Why do NGOs criticize the EU anti-racism strategy?
NGOs argue it lacks genuine commitment to reparatory justice or redress for the ongoing consequences of Europe's history.
