Commission sends ‘reasoned opinions’ to 11 member states that have not implemented the Employment Equality Directive
The Commission has sent requests to 11 member states to fully implement EU rules prohibiting discrimination in employment and occupation. This is the second step of the infringement procedure.
The countries concerned are: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, France, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Finland and Sweden.
The states have two months to respond, failing which the Commission can decide to take them to the European Court of Justice.
“In some cases legislation still needs to be improved if those rights are to be put into practice.
Vladimr Spidla, EU Commissioner for Employment
The Employment Equality Directive (2000/78/EC) was agreed in 2000 with a deadline for implementation into national law of December 2003.
Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, said: "A lot has already been done by member states to ensure that people have a right to be treated equally in employment. But in some cases legislation still needs to be improved if those rights are to be put into practice. Equal treatment in employment is crucial for people to have a fair chance of contributing to the economy and participating in social life. But the EU Directives cannot reach their full potential if they are not fully and correctly transposed into national laws."
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