Runnymede-UKREN EU Links

More information at   http://www.runnymedetrust.org.uk/

UKREN
The UK Race and Europe Network (UKREN) forms a key component of Runnymede's
work at European level. We were one of a small core of organisations
responsible for establishing UKREN in late 1996. Since then, by unanimous
decision of the other participating agencies, Runnymede has held the Chair
and maintained the Secretariat.

UKREN has an important role to play in shaping European legislation and on
the development and co-ordination of a pan-European voice of influential
NGOs. Runnymede will continue to play a leading role in UKREN through 2000
and beyond.

AIMS
 to raise awareness of the implications of the UK's membership of the
European Union in black and ethnic minority communities and identifying
their concerns;

 to build awareness of the influence of the European Union on race and
immigration issues in the UK amongst politicians and the public;

 to identify points of consensus between British NGOs and effectively
co-ordinating and channelling these views;

 to bridge the gap between ethnic minority communities an policy makers;

 to encourage public debate about European issues affecting ethnic
minorities;

 to maintain a formal association with the European Network Against Racism
(ENAR).

ACHIEVEMENTS
 UKREN has grown from a Core Working Group of six organisations in 1996/7 to
200 organisations in 2000, with an associated network of 400 across the UK;

 In 1997, three major seminar events were held, attended by close to 200
participants and complemented by three key-issue briefing papers;

 During 1997, the European Year Against Racism, UKREN campaigned
successfully for the introduction of an anti-discrimination clause (Article
13) in the Amsterdam Treaty;

 In 1998 and 1999, UKREN held national consultations culminating in two
national roundtables, with the active participation of almost 400
organisations;

 UKREN played a leading role in the establishment of the European Network
Against Racism (ENAR) formally constituted in October 1998;

 The major achievement of 2000 thus far on the European policy scene was the
unanimous political agreement reached in adopting the Race Directive, the
first piece of legislation to come out of Article 13.
                      
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