AGE Welcomes Strong Signal From European Parliament to EU Member States that EU legislation Is Needed to Protect Citizens From Discrimination in Access to Goods and Services 

AGE

April 2, 2009

Europe

Today the European Parliament voted with a significant majority (363 in favour, 226 against and 64 abstention) in favour of the report supporting the introduction of a new EU anti-discrimination directive to ban discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, religion/belief and sexual orientation in areas other than employment.
 
AGE congratulates the MEPs who voted for the report, and especially rapporteur Kathalijne Buitenweg MEP, since this is an important step towards putting an end to the discrimination faced by millions of citizens in the EU in access to some goods and services. The adoption of this report sends a strong signal to the Council of the European Union that discrimination must be banned and that the Commission’s proposal for a new directive is a key factor to achieving that. AGE is particularly pleased that two amendments on which our members lobbied have been carried: amendment 83 on Article 2.7 (with 299 votes in favour, 298 against and 52 abstentions) and amendment 83 on Recital 15 which includes the definition of medical data which AGE suggested to Liz Lynne MEP, who we congratulate warmly.

AGE thanks the European Commission for their ongoing support and their effort in gaining the support of the European Parliament. At the same time, we want to stress that there is still important work to be done by the Council. In order to provide effective legal protection against discrimination, it is essential to amend the proposed directive’s text to limit the number of remaining exceptions, in particular on its material scope and to improve provisions protecting older and disabled people against discrimination.
 
Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Director, commented that ‘AGE is delighted with the result of today’s vote by the European Parliament as we know how difficult and sensitive the negotiations on this report have been. On behalf of our members we send our thanks to those MEPs who, despite difficult political negotiations, did not lose sight of the broader picture and have demonstrated their commitment to the principles of justice and equality for all’.

To access the video recording of yesterday’s discussion on the report, click here:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/wps-europarl-internet/frd/vod/player?currentSei=SEI3&date=20090401&language=en

and then go to subject box and click on: Equal treatment of persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (debate) 01-04-2009.

The voting list results are available in the AGE website (pages 41-79).

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