The proposal of a comprehensive anti-discrimination directive
 
On 2 July 2008, after years of negotiations, the European Commission proposed a single anti-discrimination directive which covers protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation, age, disability, religion and belief with regard to access to social protection (including social security), goods and services (including housing), health care and education.

The new directive would come on top of four other directives: one on discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin, both within and outside the labour market, one on discrimination on the labour market, one on equal treatment between men and women as regards access to employment and one on equal treatment between men and women as regards access to and supply of goods and services:.

- Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation 
- Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin 

Gender Equality directives establishing equality bodies

- Directive 2002/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 amending Council Directive 76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions 
- Directive 2004/113/EC of 13 December 2004 implementing the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services 

Ms Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg, MEP

The European Commission facilitates an on-going Forum on the implementation of Article 5 of Directive  2004/113/EC regulating access to and supply of insurance and related financial goods and service. The forum brings together all relevant stakeholders including umbrella NGOs, insurance and financial business, representatives of national governments, Equinet and national equality bodies. 

Forum on the implementation of Article 5 of Directive 2004/113/EC

Directive 2004/113 lays down a framework for combating discrimination based on sex in the access to and supply of goods and services. Broadly speaking, the groups protected by the principle of non-discrimination on grounds of sex in this Directive are men, women, pregnant women, women in their maternity and transsexual people. Article 5 of the Directive, however, provides a limited exception in respect of the use of sex as a factor in the calculation of premiums and benefits in insurance and related financial services.

The European Commission facilitates an on-going Forum on the implementation of Article 5 of Directive  2004/113/EC regulating access to and supply of insurance and related financial goods and service. The forum brings together all relevant stakeholders including umbrella NGOs, insurance and financial business, representatives of national governments, Equinet and national equality bodies.

Relevant documents

Overview of Article 5 Questionnaire Results (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Unit G2, Equality, Action against discrimination: Legal Questions) (PowerPoint, 316KB)

Study on the use of age, disability, sex, religion or belief, race or ethnic origin and sexual orientation in financial services, in particular in the insurance and banking sectors (Civic Consulting) (PDF, 49KB) 

Survey on implementation of Directive 2004/113/EEC (Groupe Consultatif Actuariel Européen) (PowerPoint, 244KB)

Impact of Art. 5 of Directive 2004/113/EC on gender equality in insurance products (AGE - European Older People's Platform) (PowerPoint, 939KB)

Presentation from the European Women's Lobby (PowerPoint, 452KB)

Presentation from the Association of British Insurers Presentation for the CEA (PowerPoint, 389KB)

How has Sweden solved the publication requirement in the Artical 5 (2)?  (The Swedish Consumers Insurance Bureau)(PowerPoint, 1,013KB)

Implementation of data publication requirements in the United Kingdom (HM Treasury) (PowerPoint, 732KB)

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

The Future EU 2020 Strategy

On the 24th November 2009, the European Commission published the Commission working document “Consultations on the future “EU2020” Strategy”, setting out the vision for the post-Lisbon strategy 2010–2020. The current proposed strategy include some key priorities for EU 2020, which could be summarised as follows:

• Creating value by basing growth on knowledge;
• Empowering people in inclusive societies; and
• Creating a competitive, connected  and greener economy.

The consultation document issued by the European Commission is available at

 http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/index_en.htm

2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion

The European Commission and Spanish EU Presidency launched the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion under the slogan 'Stop Poverty Now!' in Madrid on 21 January 2010.

Ten years ago, EU leaders pledged to 'make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty' by 2010. Today however, almost 80 million Europeans are at risk of poverty, living on an income below 60% of the average household income in their country. As unemployment continues to rise across the EU, the timing of this particular special year seems opportune.

"The European Year 2010 should act as a catalyst to raise awareness and build momentum for a more inclusive society which is part and parcel of the EU's future 2020 strategy that I have proposed," said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

It is important to point out the close link between discrimination and poverty and social exclusion. Discrimination is one of the causes of poverty and social exclusion. Furthermore, poverty and social exclusion also increase the risk to experience discrimination.

Relevant links

European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010

http://www.2010againstpoverty.eu