Press Release

20/05/2008

Equal opportunities and non-discrimination in the EU: 84 million people waiting for new legislation. Edith Bauer MEP

"Not to be discriminated against is one of the basic values on which the EU is founded. This is why the EPP-ED Group attaches great importance to anti-discrimination policies", said Edith Bauer MEP during the European Parliament's plenary debates on the progress made in equal opportunities and non-discrimination in the EU. "It is necessary that political culture and tolerance is present in the workplace, in public life, communication, from national to local level in our everyday lives", commented Bauer.

The Spokeswoman of the largest Group in the European Parliament has emphasised that the EPP-ED Group is convinced that the Member States' responsibility is indisputable in guaranteeing that none of their citizens is discriminated against, and is also aware that it is impossible to solve everything by law.

Mrs Bauer has noticed that implementing the European anti-discrimination Directives, as practice shows, is not an easy task, and half of Member States have not implemented or properly applied these Directives.

"It is a fact, however, that there is a real gap in European legislation, namely between Article 13 of the Treaty and existing Directives. The EPP-ED Group believes that closing this gap by a comprehensive but less effective Directive which will not be properly implemented, is not the right solution. The Group considers that the most compelling challenge is to first combat the discrimination of the 84 million disabled people living in the EU, representing about 17% of the total population, by a European Directive to ensure equal rights for them throughout the Union", said Bauer.

"We are convinced that this approach is more efficient and can really help people with disabilities. This is why the EPP-ED Group supports the Commission's proposal for a specialised Directive, combating the discrimination of disabled people", concluded Bauer.

For further information:
Edith Bauer MEP, Tel: +33-3-8175673
Atilla Agárdi, EPP-ED Press Service, Tel: +32-475-750272
Živile Didžgalvienė, EPP-ED Press Service, Tel: +32-475-751627

Notes to Editors:
The EPP-ED Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 288 Members from all 27 Member States.