THE MAASTRICHT TREATY - EXACERBATING RACISM IN EUROPE

Ethnic discrimination is widespread in the European Community [EC] and is particularly practised against visible minorities. It operates at national borders and with member states and ranges from racist immigration legislation, through institutionalized discrimination, to physical assaults and murders. The completion of the single internal market in January 1993 stressed financial and trade factors at the expense of human rights. This encouraged the development of policies that impact adversely on people of ethnic minority status, particularly those who are black, whether EC citizens or third-country nationals. The Maastricht Treaty of December 1991 on economic and monetary union [EMU] establishes deflation as a continent-wide project. This will result in diminished growth and high unemployment, as well as in significant cuts in social welfare provision. Under the terms of the Maastricht Treaty, individual member states are prohibited from implementing policies that could counter the adverse effects of deflation. This could result in a level of voter dissatisfaction, leading to support for extreme-right political parties proposing more radical measures than mainstream parties. This article analyses the relationship between EC electoral support for such parties and high unemployment and discusses the potential exacerbation of racism that could result from the economic consequences of the Maastricht Treaty.