Earlier this week, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) published a report entitled “Being Black in the EU – Experiences of people of African descent”. The aim of the publication is to provide the reader with an overview of the situation around discrimination based on race (ethnic origin) and skin colour across the EU. 

As its name indicates, FRA’s study focuses mainly on the phenomenon of racial discrimination, violence, and harassment against people of African descent on the European continent. The report analyses the experiences of nearly 6,800 people of African descent in thirteen EU member states. 

“FRA’s […] survey on immigrants and the descendants of immigrants offers crucial insights into experiences of discrimination and racism […] FRA’s findings support developing a better understanding of the experiences of people of African descent in the EU and promote action on equality and inclusion” – we read on the agency’s official website. 

FAR’s director Michael O’Flaherty, referred to the results of the survey by stating that he finds it “shocking” to see no improvement since the last similar survey carried out back in 2016. “Instead, people of African descent face ever more discrimination just because of the colour of their skin” – he explained. He also emphasised that racism and discrimination “should have no place in our societies”.

The data provided as a conclusion to the report are particularly interesting. It turns out that of all the surveyed countries, Poland is by far the one with the most encouraging statistics when it comes to the lack of the various forms of racial discrimination mentioned above (only 20%). The podium was completed by Sweden (25%) and Portugal (26%).

The three countries with the highest percentage of racial discrimination are Germany (76%), Austria (72%), and Finland (63), while the average of the thirteen surveyed countries is at the level of 45%. 

Image: Cezary Krysztopa

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen