Brussels, 05/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 5 May, the European Commission took Poland to the European Court of Justice for incorrect transposition of the EU law banning racial or ethnic discrimination. This decision was made because transposition into Polish law of the legislation approved at European level has been incomplete. The two directives involved are the directive on racial equality (2000/43/EC) and the one for establishing a general framework on equal opportunities in employment, work and vocational training (2000/78/EC).
In its investigation involving Poland, the Commission explained in a press release that: 1) Warsaw had not transposed the directive outside the employment field. Polish legislation does not in fact contain specific provisions banning racial or ethnic discrimination, in relation to social protection, welfare benefits, access to goods and services, particularly accommodation, union affiliation, employers organisations and professional associations, as well as access to education; 2) Polish provisions on protection against discrimination only cover employment and fail to include the other areas included in the field of application.
The Commission points out that the deadlines imposed on member states to implement these two directives were 19 January and 2 December 2003 respectively. The 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004 had a transposition deadline that expired on 1 May 2004. (G.B.)