Labour MEPs congratulate the Commission for taking the right decision, which will provide all European citizens with equal protection. Labour MEPs have long fought for a new directive that will prohibit all forms of discrimination, including direct and indirect discrimination, in all areas. Areas affected include education, lifelong learning, social protection and social security, housing and healthcare, images of discriminated groups in the media and advertising, physical access for people with disabilities to information, telecommunication, electronic communications, transport modes and public spaces, social advantages and access to and supply of publicly available goods and services.
"We thank all those who have been involved in the campaign for an all-inclusive non-discrimination Directive", said Michael Cashman, President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights. "We congratulate the Commission and in particular Commissioner Spidla and President Barroso on doing the right thing. As ever, the details of the proposal will be keenly awaited and scrutinised. And we will work with the Council and Commission to achieve our goal of making Europe a brighter, fairer, equal place to work and to live".
Labour's Richard Howitt MEP, who is President of the European Parliament's Disability Rights Group of MEPs, said: "I am proud that we collected 1.3 million signatures for disability legislation but on behalf of the Disability Rights Group, I place on record my support for a comprehensive directive." Richard Howitt MEP underlined that there should not be a hierarchy between different forms of discrimination: "We cannot outlaw discrimination in one area whilst allowing it in another. I will not support legislation which will divide and rule."
Claude Moraes MEP, President of the Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup and Co-President of the Ageing Intergroup, commented: "We stand firm on the need for age discrimination legislation and for religion and belief not to be excluded or treated as inferior forms of discrimination in the hierarchy imposed by the European Commission."
For more information please call the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.
European Parliamentary Labour Party, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz, 1047 BRUSSELS, Belgium
