Yet Europe really matters, and the people who are at the negotiating table, or who have their fingers on the voting buttons, will have a huge impact on our lives for decades to come. The EU is far from perfect, but it can be a force for good, and that’s something to be built on, not destroyed. Many big decisions will be taken over the next few years – on issues from energy policy to food safety to free movement. The decisions will affect our rights, our public services, our jobs – and the protection of the land, sea and air that we share. So it’s crucial that everyone who has a vote makes sure they use it.

Perhaps one of the most positive influences of the European Parliament has been on human rights. Our shared parliament has been at the forefront of the battle for a fairer society for all, both within Europe and around the globe. The European Union was built on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy and equality. But these values are at stake in this election.

After years of austerity, we have seen some politicians trying to scapegoat immigrants and non UK citizens for the deepening poverty and inequality the country faces. This is not the fault of our international communities, but caused by corporate greed, reckless bankers, and damaging policy decisions which are designed to protect the privileged few. The xenophobic rhetoric which was once the reserve of the far right is becoming almost mainstream, and this is deeply worrying. London is a mega diverse city at the centre of Europe, and I’m proud of this fact. We must celebrate our many cultures, not create more division.

There is a real danger that we will see far-right parties gain ground across Europe. These are politicians who pretend to speak for everyday people, but who do not work for the common good. They see workers’ rights and fair pay as a luxury to be dismantled in the interests of corporate power. They deny the reality of climate change, and would destroy our planet for short term profit. They would remove our right to free movement – something enjoyed by the 1.5 million UK citizens living elsewhere in Europe, as well as the many citizens from other nations who choose to live here. Their rhetoric stirs up distrust and racism, closes borders and cuts choices – we will all lose out if they gain.

Make no mistake – these elections will decide the future direction of the EU. The far right are motivated and if they gain power it will damage the fabric of our society. All progressive voices, no matter which party you support, no matter where you come from, are needed to help ensure the MEPs who return to Brussels are people who will defend diversity, build sustainable jobs for the future, and protect decent standards of welfare, housing and human rights for all.

So these elections are incredibly important for us all, and everyone who can get involved should do so. We must make sure we don’t sleepwalk into a situation where the far right gain in strength. We need to back a positive vision for the future of Europe, with respect and dignity at its heart.

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Speaking ahead of International Roma Day, which is marked around the world tomorrow, April 8th, the London Green MEP said Roma people remain Europe’s most discriminated minority.

“We need to get serious about promoting the human rights of all – and stamping out racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism- if we are to realise full equality for Europe’s Roma minority,” she said.

“The EU has made significant efforts to do just this – but they haven’t really taken root yet.

“It remains acceptable for politicians to make racist remarks about Roma, and this in turn leads to an increase in state-sponsored discrimination, mistrust and even violence.

“The French government, for example, continues to force Roma families into homelessness and even deportation after evicting them from ‘illegal’ settlements, while children with blue eyes were forcibly taken from their Roma guardians, amid false claims of child abduction, in Ireland and Greece last year.

“And the anti-Roma rhetoric and intimidation is getting worse in some places: just this week the racist Jobbik party polled 21% in a national election in Hungary.

“All EU governments must adopt specific policies to promote the welfare of all their Roma citizens and put the necessary resources into making this happen.”

For more information on International Roma Day, click here .

Hungary’s national election took place on Sunday: it saw Fidesz leader and PM Viktor Orban re-elected with 45% of the vote, the left-win alliance Unity poll 25%, Jobbik score 21% – and the green LMP returned to parliament with 6% of the vote.

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Ms Lambert, who is speaking as Vice President of the European Parliament’s Anti-Racism Intergroup, will say racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism are on the rise across Europe – and urged voters to back progressive candidates in May’s European election to combat right-wing extremism.

Ms Lambert will speak at the rally alongside other politicians, as well as musicians and comedians – allspeaking out for diversity and against the politics of hate.

“Racism is on the rise across Europe – and we need to embrace an international approach to solving economic, social and environmental problems and stop scapegoating immigrants if we are to reverse this trend.

“But there is a real risk that we will see exactly the opposite, with a rise in the number of xenophobic and racist politicians elected to the next European Parliament in May,” she said.

“To make sure this doesn’t happen we need everyone – and their families and friends – to go out and vote for progressive candidates to reduce the political space for those that don’t believe in equality. Your vote counts.”

The rally, which is entitled ‘Stand Up to Racism and Fascism’, will start at the statue of Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square at 11am before marching to Trafalgar Square for speeches.

Ms Lambert added: “We need all governments, and EU institutions, to make clear their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion if we are to see much-needed progress on reducing hate-based behaviour, whether directed at people because of their faith, race – or just hatred of ‘the other’.

“But here in the UK we are seeing exactly the opposite to what is needed: barely a day goes by without this government saying it will deny health-care, or welfare benefits, or even the right to free movement or a private family life, to citizens of some nationality or another.

“The Government has to stop dealing in numbers and start seeing people.”

For more information on the rally, click here . For more information on the work of the Anti-racism Intergroup, click here .

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Sir,

As the European and local elections approach in May the political agenda is becoming increasingly dominated by attempts to appeal to voters by drumming up racism and xenophobia. This vying by mainstream parties to be the most trenchant on immigration has even led the government to suppress the facts about the impact of immigration on unemployment.

Leaving this discussion unchallenged is deeply dangerous. The scapegoating of immigrants for economic and social problems may be convenient but it is both false and leads to real discrimination and abuse of minority communities. For mainstream parties to get caught up in the slipstream of this destructive agenda will not raise their votes but instead plays into the hands of the more extreme exponents of this racist and xenophobic politics, whether the authoritarian, far-right variants like the BNP or the populist version of UKIP, which calls for an end to all immigration – whatever the economic and social cost – while promoting ‘Little Englander’ , isolationist policies across the board.

Alongside the campaign against potential Bulgarian and Romanian migrants that dominated the tabloid media at the beginning of the year, hostility to Muslims also remains a constant feature.

Very few voices have been raised against this dialogue of hate and prejudice. This is creating a dangerous slippage where anti-immigrant, xenophobic, anti-traveller and racist views become normalised within the mainstream political debate. We have therefore decided to take the occasion of the annual UN Anti-racism Day to organise a counter-blast and celebrate our diversity and the contribution of all. The scapegoating of migrants and Muslims is a blight on society. We hope that everyone who agrees with us will join us in Parliament Square, London, at 11am on Saturday 22 March.

Yours etc

An abridged version of the letter appeared here .

More information about Saturday’s rally can be found here .

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The conference, entitled ‘Afrophobia in the EU’ was organised by the Greens / EFA Group in the European Parliament, along with the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).

The conference was co-hosted by London MEP Jean Lambert, a vice-President of the European Parliament’s cross-party Intergroup on Diversity and Anti-Racism, and Jean-Jacob Bicep of the French Greens.

The London Green MEP said the answers included forging better relations between the EU and Africa, using laws already on the statute books in the EU which will mean challenges to the police and public prosecutors when victims of racism go unsupported, and an increased electoral turn-out by supporters of anti-racist candidates.

“Racism is on the rise across Europe – and there is a real risk that we will see a rise in the number of xenophobic and racist politicians elected to the next European Parliament in May,” she said.

“To make sure this doesn’t happen we need everyone – and their families and friends – to go out and vote in the European parliamentary election in May, voting for progressive candidates to reduce the political space for those that don’t believe in equality.”

She added: “We need the EU to act – and if that’s going to happen we must make sure there are as many progressive voices elected as we can.

“The EU must establish better dialogue and joint working with countries throughout Africa and the Caribbean: for example, by having a formal Delegation for Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.

“We also need to act to control European companies operating in Africa to ensure they don’t pollute the environment, they treat workers decently and keep most of their profits in-country for the benefit of the people.”

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She made her comments at the launch of a European Network Against Racism (ENAR ) report at the European Parliament today.

“Islamaphobia, which often affects Muslim women and girls most, is visible and on the rise in many parts of Europe, as this latest data shows,” said Ms Lambert.

“We need all governments, and EU institutions, to make clear their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion if we are to see much-needed progress on reducing racist violence and xenophobia  and hate-based behaviour.
“But here in the UK we are seeing exactly the opposite: barely a day goes by without this government saying it will deny healthcare, or welfare benefits, or even the right to free movement or a private family life, to citizens of some nationality or another.”

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They said: “UK Green MEPs want a diverse and peaceful Europe. We stand together with MEPs from across the European Parliament in support of this initiative to make sure public money is never be used to support fascist organisations such as the BNP and their racist friends in The Alliance of European National Movements.”

In just two weeks’ time the European Parliament will be allocating money to pan-European political parties and their associated think-tanks to assist them with their work. The Alliance of European National Movements (AENM), made up of fascist and racist MEPs from the UK, France, Hungary and Bulgaria, is asking for money.

The EU’s Secretary General is recommending that they get at much as €400,000 – more than £300,000.

But parliamentary rules mean that EU funding only be given where parties observe the values of the European Union, “namely respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities”.

“The AENM is clearly in breach of these rules – and the idea that taxpayers’ cash be used to fund campaigns which make a mockery of the human rights of minorities and specific ethnic groups is abhorrent,” the MEPs added.

“That’s why we have joined together with more moderate MEPs from across the political spectrum to demand this funding is blocked and doesn’t happen.”

Nick Lowles, co-ordinator of anti-fascist organisation ‘Hope Not Hate’, which has organised the campaign, said: “‘Thanks to Green Party MEPs for supporting our campaign to prevent organised fascists and racists in the European Parliament from getting more than £300,000 in EU funding. ”

Jean and Keith have long been committed to stamping out racism and discrimination in British politics: most recently, for example, Jean was involved in two large anti-BNP demonstrations in East London.

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