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Policy developments in Europe

This section of the website is dedicated to main policy developments in Europe in the field of equality and anti-discrimination. You can access information on the activities of the relevant EU institutions and read about particular campaigns, legislation processes and initiatives.

Click on the links below to access specific sections:

Illustration -books   Legislative developments

            - the newly porposed anti-discrimination directive

            - the forum on the implementation of Article 5 of Directive 2004/113/EC

  Policy initiatives

            -  the EU 2020 Strategy

            - 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion

  Directorate General for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities

Presidencies of the European Union

 

Directorate General for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities
 
The Directorate General for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities is the European Commission DG more specifically involved in fighting discrimination and promoting equal opportunities. The DG works towards a more inclusive society, equal opportunities for all, as well as the creation of better jobs and working conditions.

László Andor is the Commissioner responsible for employment, social affairs and inclusion, while Commission vice-president Viviane Reding is in charge of gender equality and anti discrimination policies as part of her justice, fundamental rights and citizenship portfolio.

To get a global view of the latest developments in the policies of the Directorate General, subscribe to the quarterly magazine Social Agenda or/ and visit the website: http://ec.europa.eu/social/home.jsp?langId=en

Presidencies of the European Union

EU Presidencies until 2014:

Trio presidency logo [logo trio.png 1957593563.png]

Spain         January-June 2010
Belgium     July-December 2010
Hungary     January-June 2011
Poland       July-December 2011
Denmark    January-June 2012
Cyprus       July-December  2012
Ireland       January-June  2013
 Lithuania   July-December 2013

Spanish Presidency of the European Union  

On 1 January 2010, Spain took over the presidency of the EU from Sweden. For six months, the main task of the country holding the presidency is to organise and manage the work of the Council of the European Union where Member States are represented.
The Spanish Presidency coincides with the ‘new beginning’ of the Treaty of Lisbon. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spanish Prime Minister is determined to give ‘decisive impetus to the construction of Europe’.
According to Zapatero, Spain is assuming the Presidency at a ‘key moment for the Union, Spain and the world’ given that we are in the process of recovering from the worst economic crisis in decades'.  To achieve this, a more coordinated, social and sustainable model of economic growth is necessary.

To read more about the Spanish Presidency, visit their website: http://www.eu2010.es/en/index.html

Relevant documents

ILGA-Europe’s Memorandum to the Spanish Presidency of the European Union (PDF, 104KB)

Recommendations of the European Information Office (ERIO) to the Spanich EU Presidency (pdf, 52 Kb)