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brap has urged the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, to support a new directive outlawing discrimination on a cross-equality basis.
Currently, there is EU legislation covering discrimination on the basis of race and gender in the provision of goods and services. The European Commission had planned to introduce a law covering discrimination on the grounds of disability, age, sexual orientation, and religion or belief as well, but earlier this year announced that a directive covering only discrimination on the grounds of disability would be put forward.
This would mean that EU citizens would not be protected in their access to goods and services if they were discriminated against on the grounds of religion or belief, age or sexual orientation.
In her letter to the President of the European Commission, brap CEO Joy Warmington reminded him that there is no hierarchy of discrimination. Senor Barroso had previously questioned whether it was better to tackle discrimination using legislation aimed at particular groups – such as disabled or LGBT people – or whether it was better to use legislation that outlawed discrimination on a cross-equality or ‘horizontal’ basis. Ms Warmington said:
“brap strongly believes that the most effective way to tackle discrimination is through a horizontal approach and that there is a clear and strong evidence base to support this. Tackling the issue problem by problem undermines the message of equal opportunities for all.”
In writing to Senor Barroso, and the West Midlands’ MEPs, brap was joining forces with UK Race and Europe Network, a coalition of 177 community based non-governmental organisations involved in race relations and in working to eliminate racism at local, national or European level.
If you would like to sign a petition calling on the European Commission to make the new directive cover all forms of discrimination click here.
To read a copy of the letter click here.
Below is a copy of the letter sent to Senor Barroso.
Dear President Barroso
Commitment to Strengthen and Combat Discrimination on Grounds of Age, Sexual Orientation, Disability and Religion or Belief
brap is a member of the UK Race and Europe Network. The UKREN Network is made up of 177 community based non-governmental organisations involved in race relations and in working to eliminate racism at local, national or European level. UKREN is also the official UK coordinator for the European Network Against Racism, a network of over 600 anti-racism organisations from across Europe with representation from all 27 EU Member States. In the UK we have played an important role in ensuring adequate transposition and implementation of the existing EU anti-discrimination framework.
It is in this context that we are writing to ask you to express your support for comprehensive legislation on the grounds of age, disability, sexual orientation and religion and belief that is due to be issued by the European Commission in June this year. Recently you indicated that
this debate is not about whether to combat discrimination; it is about how to do so most effectively. Is it more effective to tackle discrimination problem by problem? Or is a horizontal approach needed? We need to deepen our analysis before coming to any decisions on this.
brap strongly believes that the most effective way to tackle discrimination is through a horizontal approach and that there is a clear and strong evidence base to support this. Tackling the issue problem by problem undermines the message of equal opportunities for all, so ably promoted by the European Commission during 2007 and creates the potential for hierarchies of protection.
This is an area where the competence of the EU to act is clearly established, as is the need for the EU to act. Article 13 EC gives explicit powers to enact legislation to tackle discrimination across the EU and the European Commission has been provided with significant evidence of discrimination on all grounds and of the justifying the exercise of those powers. In addressing the European Parliament at the very start of your term as the President of the European Commission you rightly identified the need for decisive political action by the European Union in the fight against all forms of discrimination and the vital role that you, as President of the European Commission, guardian of the Treaties, have in ensuring that this happens. A key commitment that was made was to initiate work on new legislation on the basis of Article 13 of the EC Treaty to enlarge protection to all forms of discrimination.
There is a real opportunity to ‘complete the circle’ from commitment to reality and achieve effective protection for Europe’s numerous and multi-faceted victims of discrimination as a core part of the legacy of your time as President of the European Commission. It is essential that the European Commission has the courage of its convictions and does not cave to pressure from a small number of Member States before a proposal is even issued. We therefore call on you to express your support for a multi-ground Directive and secure your legacy.
Yours sincerely
Joy Warmington CEO
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