BRUSSELS: European Commission (EU) President Ursula Von der Leyen on Friday urged the 27 member states of the European Union to implement the bloc's new action plan against racism.
Leyen emphasized at the virtual meeting that "anti-racism is a founding principle of the Union", and that the Commission will not hesitate to "resort to justice when necessary" to alert countries that violate the directive.
At the opening of the first European Summit Against Racism, she said that the plan recognizes that structural racism exists in all areas and that the member States must act, reports Xinhua news agency.
She said that "a European anti-racism coordinator will be appointed soon" who will have the mission of "bringing the voices of racialized people to the heart of the European institutions".
The European Commission President recalled that this plan against racism was motivated by the "many Europeans who took to the streets" to support the "Black Lives Matter" movement, created after the killing of African-American man George Floyd under police custody.
According to her, this is "the beginning of a common path of constant dialogue and commitment" to "continue to speak about racism, listen to people and associations" and recognize that "knowledge is the basis for change".
EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell also said the EU has an "unwavering commitment to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including its contemporary forms".
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