Ahead of EU election, rights groups urge equality drive to counter populists

Anticipating a populist surge when Europeans go to the polls in June, anti-discrimination organisations on Monday urged the bloc’s institutions to put equality policies at the top of their agenda once a new parliament is elected.
“The EU is far from being a ‘Union of Equality’ – this is work in progress, and right now, we witness rising backlash, racial injustice, inequality and discrimination,” the nine signatories said in a joint statement. “This needs urgent attention.”
The signatories include large rights associations such as the European Disability Forum, the European Network Against Racism and LGBTI advocacy group ILGA-Europe.
They said there had been advances during the current parliament, such as the appointment of an Equality Commissioner, a directive to combat violence against women, and an action plan against racism.