EUROPEAN MONITORING CENTRE ON RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA (EUMC)

The primary objective of the Vienna-based European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) is to provide the Community and its Member States with objective, reliable and comparable information and data on racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in the EU in order to help the EU and its Member States undertake measures or formulate courses of action against racism and xenophobia.

The EUMC studies the extent and development of racism and xenophobia, and analyses their causes, consequences and effects. It also works out strategies to combat racism and xenophobia and highlights and disseminates examples of good practice in tackling the issues.

The EUMC operates a European information network on racism and xenophobia (RAXEN) which collects information at national level. Raxen consists of 25 national focal points, one in each EU Member State. The information from the national focal points is published in the form of comparative reports or national reports. The EUMC works in cooperation with the EU institutions, intergovernmental organisations and Member State governments. It also cooperates with civil society through round table meetings at national and European levels. The EUMC undertakes a limited number of projects.

The EUMC publishes an annual report in two parts, the first part provides information on the EUMC’s activities and the second part provides information on the situation of racism and xenophobia in the European Union.

The EUMC was established by Council Regulation (EC) No 1035/97 of 2 June 1997 ( OJ L 151, 10.6.1997) and commenced its activities in 1998. In December 2003, Heads of Government decided to extend the EUMC’s mandate to become a Human Rights Agency.