The European Commission will in 2013 report on the application of the two anti-discrimination directives (Directive 2000/43/EC on Racial Equality and Directive 2000/78/EC on Employment Equality).
Gay Moon, Special Legal Advisor to the Equality and Diversity Forum, has provided a short briefing note:
The requirement of an implementation report from the Commission every five years is set out in both Directives. The first implementation reports were adopted on in 2006 (Racial Equality Directive) and 2008 (Employment Equality Directive) at a time when there was not yet much experience on their application. Due to the same regulatory approach and identical content of many provisions in the two anti-discrimination directives as well as common transposition in many Member States, the Commission has now opted to report jointly on these two directives.
The consultation of Member States was launched on 28 September and the Member States had 8 weeks from that date to reply to the EC questionnaire. The Commission has invited the Member States also to provide information concerning their national equality bodies and such information will be particularly relevant to the forthcoming report due to the important role of the equality bodies. The Commission says that it trusts that Member States will ensure that their equality bodies are consulted for the reply to the Commission.
The European Commission is holding its annual Equality Summit in Cyprus on 22-23 November 2012 when, no doubt, some of the issues arising out of the reporting process will be discussed.
A report by the Council of the European Union on 16 November 2012 states:
While significant progress has been made under the Cyprus Presidency in the attempt to clarify the scope [of the Equality Directive], particularly as regards access to social protection and access to education, there is a clear need for extensive further work on the proposal.
Further information will be posted on this website as it becomes available.
Click here for link to the Racial Equality Directive
Click here for link to the Employment Equality Directive
Click here for information about the Equality Summit
Click here for report by the Council of the European Union