Diversity & Non-discrimination

Article 13, introduced in the Amsterdam Treaty (entered into force in 1999) gives the Community specific powers to take action to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. 

On that basis, the European Community enacted two laws (or in EC terminology, Directives) that prevent people in the European Union from being discriminated against on grounds of race and ethnic origin (in short: Racial Equality Directive), and on grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (in short: Employment Framework Directive). The two Directives define a set of principles that offer everyone in the EU a common minimum level of legal protection against discrimination. 

Although legislation prohibiting discrimination is an absolute prerequisite, on its own it cannot achieve the goal of creating a society which is free from discrimination. Deep-rooted disadvantages faced by people because of their personal characteristic impede them to fully participate and contribute at all levels of society.

That is why the Commission has the following objectives:

• To improve knowledge of discrimination
• To raise awareness  amongst the population of their rights, but also of the benefits of diversity.
• To support intermediary actors such as NGOs, social partners and equality bodies to improve their capacity to combat discrimination.
• To support the development of equality policies at national level and encourage exchange of good practices between Member States.
• To push for business-oriented diversity management as part of strategic response to a more diversified society, customer base, market structure and workforce. 

Going beyond discrimination, the Commission also developed a European Disability Action Plan for the period 2003 – 2010 aiming at mainstreaming disability matters in all relevant EC policies and improving accessibility to the built environment, transport and ICT. 

Finally, considering that the ca. 10 million Roma in the EU are disproportionally affected by discrimination, violence, unemployment, poverty, bad housing and health standards, the Council has called upon the Commission and Member States to promote effective inclusion policies. While competence in this area is mostly with Member States, the Community has instruments which can be used to this end (Directive 2000/43/EC, the Structural Funds and the Open Methods of Coordination i.a. on employment and social inclusion).