Background
For many years the focus of EU action in the field of non-discrimination was on preventing discrimination on the grounds of race and ethnic origin and sex. From 1999, Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam granted the Community new powers to combat discrimination on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
The Parliament vote also reaffirmed the importance of prohibiting discrimination on grounds of sex, and racial or ethnic origin.
The Racial Equality Directive 2000/43/EC implements the principle of equal treatment between people irrespective of racial or ethnic origin and gives protection against discrimination in employment and training, education, social protection (including social security and healthcare), social advantages, membership and involvement in organisations of workers and employers and access to goods and services, including housing.
Anti-discrimination bill to cover public services
On 2 April 2009, the European Parliament gave its green light to a new anti-discrimination law->http://www.homo.se/upload/homo/pdf_homo/Proposal_for_a_Council_Directive020708.pdf] that provides legal protection in the realm of access to public services, buying products or making use of commercial services.
The directive will apply to social protection and health care, social benefits, education and access to goods and services, including housing. MEPs would like it to apply to access to transport as well. However, they say transactions between private individuals outside professional and commercial activities should be excluded. The European Parliament also strengthened the description of disability in the text of the directive to ensure it is consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This will ensure the wide application of the directive, including to people with HIV across the EU
Next steps
The bill is expected to come before Member States in the second half of this year, with the forthcoming Swedish EU presidency recently saying it plans to prioritise the issue.
The report from the European Parliament is an opinion within the consultation process. The draft directive needs the approval of all 27 governments if it is to come into force in the EU.
