21 March marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, yet discrimination continues to affect the lives of many ethnic and religious minorities throughout Europe.

From access to education, employment, housing, goods and services to the way in which minorities are treated by the police and criminal justice system, racism in Europe is still a problem.

This is evident in the European Network Against Racism (ENAR)’s latest Shadow Report on racism in Europe, launched on the occasion of 21 March and based on data collected by anti-racism groups across Europe.

A common trend exposed in ENAR’s 2011-2012 Shadow Report is the de-prioritisation of equality and integration issues across Europe and even a regression in some countries, largely as a result of the economic crisis.

Another worrying conclusion is that the public perception of immigrants, asylum seekers, Roma and other minorities remains very negative in almost all countries.

This has been exacerbated by the economic crisis, as evidenced in reports by Greece, Spain and Portugal, where it has become common to accuse immigrants of stealing job opportunities, working for less pay, benefiting from social services and perpetrating violent crimes.

In addition, a racist public discourse, fuelled by political leaders and the media, undermines anti-discrimination laws and integration policies in many countries.

The report shows that discrimination against racial and ethnic religious minorities in employment and the labour market continues to be problematic.

There is evidence of informal recruitment practices which are indirectly discriminatory in nature.

For example, in Ireland, a study was conducted whereby fictitious CVs were sent to recruiters, half with recognisably Irish names and the other half with African, Asian and German names.

It found that candidates with Irish names were twice as likely to be invited to interviews as non-Irish candidates with comparable levels of skills and qualifications.

In Latvia, the majority of the 48 complaints of discrimination to the State Labour Inspectorate were related to job advertisements.

Ethnic minorities throughout the EU also continue to face disproportionately high rates of unemployment, a phenomenon that has increased as a consequence of the economic crisis.

For instance, in Spain, the unemployment rate for minority groups, especially migrants and Roma, in the first quarter of 2012 was 37 per cent, which is attributed to the fact that these groups are more likely to work in sectors which are traditionally susceptible to economic recession, such as the construction industry.

The position of migrant workers remains gloomy. Migrant workers tend to work in low paid, manual jobs. They also face other problems such as unpaid wages, long hours and irregular working patterns.

In addition, they can be in jobs for which they are over-qualified, which is partly due to the lack of recognition of qualifications obtained outside the EU. A particular concern raised is the restrictions placed on workers holding work permits. In a number of countries, work permits are tied to employment, which limits the worker’s opportunities to change jobs freely and exposes them to exploitation and abuse by employers.

Moreover, the Shadow Report highlights the particular vulnerability of Muslim communities to discrimination in employment, and especially Muslim women wearing the headscarf.

In the Netherlands for instance, some employers have banned the veil in the workplace, arguing that the ban is justified under equality and human rights laws and similarly in France, some private companies refused work to women wearing the headscarf on the basis of a governmental recommendation on religious expression.

Despite some positive measures taken in some countries to tackle high unemployment rates among ethnic minority groups and to promote awareness of rights and obligations under equality legislation, the situation remains dire and needs to be addressed urgently.

A strong anti-discrimination legal framework alone is not enough to combat discrimination. It needs to be accompanied by monitoring and enforcement, as well as a strong political commitment to invest in action to curb racism and to ensure equality and protection of human rights for all in Europe.

Today more than ever, it is vital that we move towards a Europe that respects and promotes equality, diversity and fundamental rights, and which recognises the benefits of a racism-free Europe for a vibrant European society and economy.

Politicians must show leadership and convey the message that equal access to jobs, accommodation and schooling are crucial to build a dynamic and cohesive society.

They should also promote the benefits of migration and diversity for European social, political, cultural and economic prosperity and prevent the formation of reservoirs of “wasted talents” of migrants and ethnic and religious minorities in Europe.