Joint Conference on European Anti-Discrimination Legislation

On October 11 and 12, 2007, the European Parliament and the European Commission organized a joint conference at the European Parliament premises in Brussels. The aim of this event was to discuss European anti-discrimination legislation. While the European Union has long been a pioneer in combating discrimination and promoting equal opportunities – in fact, its anti-discrimination legislation is one of the most extensive in the world – there are still gaps in protection beyond the labor market, such as in healthcare, education, and housing. The European Commission has already announced its intention to launch new initiatives to prevent and combat discrimination beyond the labor market based on gender, religion, beliefs, disability, age, or sexual orientation. The Commission has also launched an online consultation on combating discrimination in Member States and at EU level, which will help the Commission design these new measures. The “European Parliament of Equal Opportunities for All” in October provided an opportunity for Members of the European Parliament, representatives of Equality Bodies, social partners, NGOs, academics, and other stakeholders to exchange views on discrimination in access to goods, services, education, and social protection. Participants also drew lessons on the implementation of the existing legal framework based on Article 13 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.