EU rules to tackle discrimination

A new report from the European Commission has found that European Union rules to tackle discrimination on grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation have now been implemented by all Member States in national law.

The Employment Equality Directive and Race Equality Directive, both adopted in 2000, were designed to combat discrimination.

However, the report highlights that further efforts are needed to apply them in practice and national authorities still need to make sure they provide effective protection to victims of discrimination on the ground. Key challenges include a lack of public awareness of rights and underreporting of discrimination cases.

"The principle of non-discrimination is one of the core principles of our European Union. Everyone is equal before the law and everyone has the right to live their life free from discrimination," said Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner.

"It's thanks to the EU’s anti-discrimination rules and the Commission's enforcement action that citizens can rely on these rights in all 28 Member States. The challenge is to make sure those affected by discrimination can apply their rights in practice – that they know where to go for help and have access to justice."

 

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