The EU anti-racism strategy: Building a union of equality
How European action against racism highlights the value of data, transparency, and inclusion
In 2020, the European Commission adopted the EU anti-racism action plan, setting out measures to combat racial discrimination across the European Union. As part of the broader vision of a Union of Equality, the strategy aimed to improve the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, strengthen action against hate crime and hate speech, and encourage Member States to develop national action plans against racism. This initiative reflected the growing recognition that racism continues to affect many people in Europe and requires coordinated action at all levels.
The action plan has brought together EU institutions, national governments, civil society organisations and local communities. It also led to the appointment of an EU anti-racism coordinator and promoted better monitoring of progress in tackling discrimination. More recently, the European Commission published a report on the implementation of the action plan, highlighting achievements such as increased national anti-racism initiatives, stronger engagement with civil society and improved policy coordination across Member States, while also emphasising the need for better data collection, stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination legislation and continued efforts to address persistent racial inequalities.
Open data plays an important role in understanding and addressing inequality. Reliable and transparent data can help policymakers identify disparities, measure progress and design evidence-based responses. Through platforms such as the European Data Portal, users can access a wide range of datasets that support research on social inclusion, equality and fundamental rights. Better access to data also helps improve public understanding of the challenges linked to discrimination and social exclusion.
To learn more, explore the European Commission's anti-racism policy page and discover how open data can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable Europe.
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