Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-10-05-Speech-4-071"
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"en.20001005.5.4-071"2
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"During the Treaty of Amsterdam negotiations we were delighted with the inclusion of Article 13 on discrimination on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation. That kind of provision bears witness to the Community’s commitment to promote a more just, more egalitarian society, and above all, it has opened the way to appropriate Community action aimed at contributing to the fight against discrimination in general. It means the efforts made by the Community to promote gender equality can be completed by attacking new grounds for discrimination. It gives new and significant impetus to Community action in an area where a certain legislative
and fruitful cooperation with civil society exist.
I am also very pleased that harassment will in future be regarded as a form of discrimination and that there is recognition that discrimination must be prevented, not just combated.
It was important to reaffirm the need to associate the candidate countries with this programme. Everyone is well aware of the problems faced by certain minorities in those countries. My final comment relates to the budget for this programme, EUR 98.4 million. That figure is obviously inadequate given the actions envisaged.
In conclusion, I support the spirit of these proposals and I have voted for most of them, the exception being where they are in contradiction with my secularism.
That is the basis on which measures to combat discrimination have been adopted. The proposals consist of two draft directives, covering discrimination in employment and discrimination based on race and ethnic origin, and an action programme intended to support the efforts of the Member States.
As regards the parallel directive on equal treatment irrespective of race or ethnic origin, the Council succeeded in reaching political agreement after the European Parliament revised its opinion on the issue.
We have therefore had to vote on the directive on equal treatment in employment and the 2001/2006 Action Programme.
To explain my votes, I would first say that the right to equal treatment and protection against discrimination is a fundamental human right. But while this right has been recognised, it is very far from being converted into reality, hence the advantage of adopting determined and coordinated measures at European level.
As regards the Mann report on equal treatment in employment, I shall limit myself to emphasising my satisfaction that the grounds for derogation have been successfully reduced to the minimum. Otherwise the door would be opened to abuses contrary to the aim of this directive.
Certain possibilities remain and I have to admit I am unhappy about them. These are the grounds for derogation in matters of religion. The provision for derogation on religious grounds on the basis of the notion of essential and direct occupational requirements carries the risk of broad interpretation. As a confirmed secularist, I cannot associate myself with that.
Similarly, I am concerned about the derogations authorised on the basis of age, as older people are particularly at risk of discrimination in relation to employment.
As regards the action programme to fight discrimination, the European Commission’s proposal was broadly satisfactory. There were some deplorable gaps and inaccuracies which have been corrected, with my support. I felt it was essential to broaden the scope of the programme in order to ensure the implementation of Article 13 of the Treaty."@en1
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