EU Warns Far-Right Prejudice Is Becoming ‘Normalised’ Across Europe
Far-right rhetoric is no longer confined to extremist fringes. It is increasingly part of mainstream political debate, warns Michaela Moua, the European Commission’s anti-racism coordinator.
Moua, who has held the role since 2020 under the Commission’s anti-racism action plan, says Europe is living through a period in which “us-and-them” language has become widely accepted. Vulnerable groups including racialised communities, migrants, Roma, LGBTQI+ people and religious minorities are often portrayed as scapegoats for unemployment, economic crisis or insecurity.
According to Moua, such narratives are amplified by social media and disinformation. The danger is not only offensive speech, but repetition. When hostile language is normalised in political discourse, she says, it can lead to real-world harm. “Words have consequences,” she stresses, pointing to past cases where hate speech preceded violence.
Recent data from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) supports her concern. Surveys show rising discrimination against Black and Muslim communities, with around half of Muslims in the EU reporting discrimination in daily life. Yet Moua notes that underreporting remains widespread, meaning the true scale of racism is likely higher.
The European Commission has adopted anti-racism strategies in 2020 and again in 2026. These plans aim to guide member states, improve data collection and address structural racism, patterns of disadvantage in housing, education, healthcare and employment. However, the Commission has limited powers in these areas, which largely remain national competences.
Moua also acknowledges that EU institutions themselves do not yet reflect Europe’s diversity. While some progress has been made through outreach and recruitment efforts, racial diversity targets comparable to gender quotas do not exist. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” she says, underlining the importance of representation.
For Moua, the fight against racism cannot rest on Brussels alone. Implementation by national governments, political commitment and broader public awareness will determine whether Europe can reverse what she calls the worrying normalisation of prejudice.
Source:
Far-right prejudice now ‘normalised’ across Europe, warns EU anti-racism chief – EUobserver