The document "Being black in the EU" also mentions that racial harassment against the black population in the EU remains an everyday occurrence.
"About a quarter of the black population has already been the victim of racial discrimination at work or when looking for work. Young black people are especially vulnerable. In some countries, up to 76% of black people did not work, did not study or attend any training course, compared to 8% of the general population", points out the report.
In the case of racial harassment, 30% of blacks were victims in the last five years and 5% suffered bodily injuries.
The report calls on EU member states to formulate specific measures to combat discrimination, such as workplace diversity audits and public sector recruitment campaigns among the black population.
On the issue of housing, 14% were denied access to renting a house by private sector owners because of the color black, with only 15% having their own home, against 70% of the general population in the EU.
Furthermore, 45% live in overcrowded housing, compared to 17% of the general population.
Discriminatory profiling in police interception is also problematic: 24% of blacks have been intercepted by the police in the last five years. Of these, 41% considered that interception constituted a definition of racial discrimination, which undermines trust in police forces and community relations.
Michael O'Flaherty, the director of the FRA, says it is inexcusable that racial discrimination should have a place in the 21st century.
Sadly, “black people in the EU continue to experience widespread and unacceptable levels of discrimination and harassment simply because of the color of their skin”, laments Michael O'Flaherty, former Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Irish Center for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland.
