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2026 European Anti-Racism Conference: promises unfulfilled
- Communication NWC
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
Eszti Galantai, Communications Officer, New Women Connectors
Having a seat at the table
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed on the 21st of March each year. Representing New Women Connectors, I attended the 2026 European Anti-Racism Conference, organized by the Commission of the European Union.
Anti-racism is one of the core values of NWC, and we work closely with the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), whose core focus is racial justice. We have worked together on several initiatives, such as a storytelling event in 2023 for Europe’s first pan-european anti-racist festival in 2023, a movie about refugee perspectives in Europe, produced by NWC’s Advocacy Officer and the Current Interim Chair of ENAR’s Board, Sandra Alloush, and most recently have collaborated on the International Day of Migration, in December 2025, receiving ENAR Staff and Board in Amsterdam. NWC’s Founder and Managing Director, Anila Noor is also a member of Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice. These collaborations have become even more crucial, as many countries in Europe have been descending on a path of right-wing ideology, which largely sits on pillars of anti-migration statements. In the face of looming new regulations and pacts, threatening the very existence of racialized people and migrants, the work of these organizations is essential. Perhaps that is why some of them are struggling to survive.
As a small organization, led by women of refugee and migrant backgrounds, we are used to feeling a certain way when invited to high-level events. As a woman, and especially one with a migration background, one is taught to be grateful. To be appreciative just for being thought about, to have been deemed important enough to be invited for an event that boasts speakers who are National Coordinators, Members of Parliament, and Directors of various organizations. As though just being in this room was enough. And certainly, this was a high-level event. My train tickets were booked on first class between Amsterdam and Brussels, and upon arrival at the train station, a driver was waiting to pick us up and drive us all the 15 minutes to the hotel, where the event was taking place the next day.
Racism is a crime against humanity
The panels were organized around specific themes, such as tackling racism through action, National Action Plans Against Racism (NAPAR), and a closing session with speeches from Commissioners, Rapporteurs and the Deputy-Director General of the DG JUST of the European Commission. I also attended the breakout session on the external dimension of racism and its intersection with migration.
Due to the diversity of the people involved, there were important takeaways from the panels. Racism was almost always discussed in the context of structural racism, shedding light on how it permeates all aspects of life for racialized people. Robin Baldewsigh, the National Coordinator Against Discrimination and Racism, Netherlands called racism “a crime against humanity”, and talked about how racism shows up in bureaucratic practices in The Netherlands (i.e.: the infamous child benefit scandal (1) that prompted PM Mark Rutte’s resignation in 2021 (2)). Toyin Agbetu, 2nd Vice Chair of ENAR pointed out that the structures we are living in today “are based on the very skeletons of slavery.” To actually mitigate the everyday harms and hold these structures accountable, we need to look at civil society organizations as equal partners and actual stakeholders. The importance of NAPARs was highlighted, as well as the fact that politicians ‘need to do their job’, and enforce the strategies and laws that are in place to counter racism and discrimination.
The breakout session on migration was likewise not devoid of crucial insights, however, the most important takeaways came from the audience. The session’s speakers included Michele Levoy, Director of Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), Sara Hamood, Chief of the Anti-Racial Discrimination Section, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR Geneva), Andria Neocleous, Executive Director,“Hope for Children”, Cyprus, and Hans Schoemaker, Deputy Head of Division, European External Action Service (EEAS).
The EEAS is the diplomatic service of the European Union, and it carries out the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. Migration, or rather, the ‘management’ of migration has been a key priority area for the EU, with tightening regulations and new systems and rules that have been put in place in the last years. While the EU itself and certain member states have been long externalizing their migration management methods (examples include the Italy-Libya Memorandum of Understanding (3), the EU-Turkey Deal (4), the EU-Tunis deal (5)), the EU has been expanding on these efforts in the last few years.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants defines externalization as different methods to shift the responsibility of ‘migration management’ from destination states to other states (6). It is widely acknowledged that externalization measures run the risk of violating obligations under international human rights law (7), as well as the fundamental principles of the EU. Yet, both the Pact on Migration (8), that just entered into effect, as well as the latest Return Regulation (9) (dubbed as Deportation Regulation by CSOs) heavily rely on these methods, using ‘safe third countries’, return hubs, and various methods to prevent people’s departures. The Deportations Regulation has been broadly and collectively opposed by civil society organizations, as it expands detention, enables deportations to countries people have never even set foot in, and fuels racial profiling and surveillance (10). As Stefi Richani, Advocacy Lead, Equinox pointed out, Members of the Parliament were set out to vote on this regulation in a week from the Commission's conference. She also emphasized that this Regulation would bring about ICE-style raids and deportation to Europe.
Far removed from reality
Against this backdrop, members of the audience asked the representative of EEAS for justification on such actions, as well as pointed out the lack of meaningful and intersectional representation for racialized migrants, even within this session. While there was no compelling response to Emmanuel Achiri’s Policy and Advocacy Officer, Migration and Policing, ENAR request for justification, the EEAS representative remarked about Frontex’s (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency) excellent internal guidelines which contribute to procedures being carried out according to human rights standards. This is the same agency that has been consistently found to have failed to take action when faced with human rights allegations in many EU countries, such as Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta (11). As civil society representatives, working on migration and anti-racism, many of the attendees racialized themselves, we are acutely aware of the reality that lies outside of this hotel, outside of this event’s manicured agenda and panels. The reality that endangers communities, separates families, and jeopardizes everything international and EU law is built on.
This is the same reality within which ENAR, the only community-based pan-European anti-racist network, is under mounting pressure as they face a significant funding gap. ENAR, however, is not only an organization, but a movement of 140+ member organizations. Its staff has routinely come under fire and endured attacks from right-wing media, precisely because they are not willing to compromise on core values and are not afraid to call out those who are.
In the face of documentedly shrinking civic space which entails the defunding/discontinuation of funds to organizations working on changing the status quo when it comes to racism, migration, women’s rights (all of which are NWC’s focus areas), and when the whole anti-racism movement is under threat, the Commission’s 2026 European Anti-Racism Conference leaves promises unfulfilled. At the end of the day, while mini-burgers and glasses of wine are passed out, I’m left with a hollow feeling. Whilst organizations that exist to meet the needs of marginalized or racialized communities because governments are unable or unwilling to, are fighting for simple survival every single day, I travelled to Brussels first class. While essential services are discontinued due to lack of funds, a private driver took me to the hotel that was a few kilometres from the train station. Meanwhile the EU prepares to take on a regulation that will mean that people can be deported to places they’ve never been before, endure prison-like conditions and increased surveillance all in the name of ‘protecting Europe’s borders’, we sit and listen to speeches from Commissioners and Deputies and Representatives, that however well-intentioned, do not address any of this. Our questions are either not answered, or worse: we are taken as if we were naive enough to believe that most of this isn’t for show while more and more people die on the borders of Europe every day.
On the 26th of March the European Parliament voted to move forward with the Deportation Regulation, with 389 MEPs in support, 206 against and 32 abstentions (12). On the 1st of June, the Council and the Parliament officially endorsed and reached a deal on what they call the "returns of illegally staying third-country nationals" (13). As of June 12, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum has entered into effect.
This marks a new era: one that is built on punishment, deterrence and detention for those seeking safety in Europe (14).
Being part of the anti-racist movement teaches us that however much we’re conditioned to be feeling grateful just for having a seat at the table, we should never accept anything less than acknowledgement of the structures and state of things we live in, and actual commitment to meaningful, lasting change. Neither of these can be done without involving the very civil society organizations and networks that are currently drowning in the absence of funding.
My takeaway: if the Commission is serious about wanting to tackle structural racism, it needs to walk the talk: words alone will not change anything. Instead of high-level events with extravagant amenities and symbolic speeches, we need actionable promises. The commitment to tackling structural racism through action manifests itself in a clear way: ensure the continued existence of ENAR, and its member organizations working on the ground to dismantle structural racism.
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