EU equal treatment law: time for Member States to act
Brussels, 5 December 2014 – As EU Member States’ representatives prepare for 11 December’s EPSCO Council, organisations1 representing millions of EU citizens at risk of discrimination, including women, persons with disabilities, younger and older people, LGBTI persons, members of ethnic, religion and belief communities as well as persons with a migration background, call on them to show clear commitment on the proposed Horizontal Directive on equal treatment.
Six years after the Commission’s proposal for new legislation on equal treatment, the Horizontal Directive is still stuck in negotiations at the Member State level, due to strong resistance from a few countries. This is unacceptable, as fundamental rights are not up for negotiation or cherry picking. The Lisbon Treaty clearly provides the basis for this directive, indispensable to respect the fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Charter. The equality and non-discrimination networks signing this letter, welcome the renewed commitment by the European Commission to unblock this proposal. We moreover welcome the achievements of the Italian Presidency, which revived the negotiations on the Directive and put a new consolidated text on the table. Over the past few weeks, several Member States lifted their outstanding reservations. In the aftermath of the fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the Charter of Fundamental rights, all Member States should show their commitment to the fight against discrimination. The time is now ripe for having a constructive discussion in the EPSCO Council of 11 December on the remaining issues and for making a clear step towards the adoption of the directive as soon as possible.
The Directive is needed as discrimination is still affecting the everyday life and rights of EU citizens. For instance:
1 AGE Platform Europe; European Disability Forum (EDF); European Network Against Racism (ENAR); European Youth Forum; ILGA- Europe – the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association; Social Platform; European Women’s Lobby; International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO); European Network on Religion and Belief (ENORB); Eurochild.
View or download the statement here: EU Equal Treatment Law Joint Statement
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