Europe Struggles to Achieve Anti-Racism Goals

The European Commission has released a new anti-racism strategy, but its effectiveness is being questioned given existing EU policies and Europe’s historical context. While the EU publicly commits to equality, critics argue that policies are simultaneously increasing border militarization, defense spending, and diminishing social protections, disproportionately impacting marginalized and racialized communities.

Rising Concerns and Targeted Groups

Far-right political gains are contributing to a climate where Black people face increased policing, Muslim communities experience heightened surveillance, Roma families struggle to access basic needs, Jewish communities are confronting rising violence, and indigenous populations face exploitation of their territories. These issues require urgent attention within the EU agenda to dismantle systemic racism and achieve racial justice. Concerns exist that adopting the strategy without substantive action could inadvertently legitimize narratives that scapegoat migrants, refugees, LGBTQI+ individuals, and those facing economic hardship.

Structural Racism and Economic Models

Racism is not viewed as isolated incidents but as a systemic issue operating through Europe’s economic model. This includes migration systems built on deterrence and exclusion, defense and security infrastructures reliant on surveillance and racial profiling at borders, and failures to acknowledge atrocities committed outside of Europe. A 2025 EU consultation revealed that 56 percent of respondents advocated for mainstreaming anti-racism in migration policies, while 71 percent emphasized the need to acknowledge the historical roots of racism. Despite the strategy’s language of inclusion and equality, critics contend it avoids confronting structural, institutional, and intersectional violence.

Shrinking Civic Space and Increased Scrutiny

Organizations led by racialized people and those supporting migrants are facing increased defunding, threats, and criminalization. This trend, mirroring a political climate where solidarity is met with suspicion, is not addressed within the strategy. Even ENAR, a leading pan-European anti-racism network, is experiencing increased scrutiny. The EU’s claim to leadership on anti-racism is challenged by the simultaneous marginalization of those experiencing racism daily.

A Test for EU Democracy

The EU’s ability to combat racism is questioned while it simultaneously retreats from solidarity, social protections, and civic freedoms. To ensure the strategy’s relevance, racial justice must influence core policy areas, and civil society actors must be actively protected. Failure to do so risks confirming perceptions that equality is primarily rhetorical while exclusion is enforced in practice. The future of the EU hinges on its commitment to safety, protection, and care for all, rather than security and repression.