The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) on Wednesday published a survey showing a significant increase in racial discrimination racism towards first- and second-generation Black immigrants across 13 European Union countries, with Austria, Germany and Finland topping the list for the highest rates of discrimination and harassment.

The survey, titled “Being Black in the EU,” examined the experiences of 6,752 individuals born in sub-Saharan African countries or with at least one parent born there, residing in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. The survey showed that over six years, the percentage of respondents who reported experiencing racial discrimination in the past 12 months increased by 10 points, reaching 34 percent. Nearly half of respondents felt discriminated against in at least one aspect of their life in the five years preceding the survey, with more than a third experiencing discrimination in the year prior. To combat this rising issue, the FRA urged EU countries to enforce anti-discrimination legislation more effectively and impose dissuasive sanctions. Additionally, the FRA encouraged the identification and documentation of hate crimes and focused on bias motivation when determining penalties.

According to Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, any discrimination based on sex, race, color, ethnicity or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation shall be prohibited.

FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty expressed concern over the trend, stating:

It is shocking to see no improvement since our last survey in 2016. Instead, people of African descent face ever more discrimination just because of the color of their skin. Racism and discrimination should have no place in our societies. The EU and its Member States should use these findings to better target their efforts and ensure people of African descent too can enjoy their rights freely without racism and discrimination.