Brussels, 15/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - After Poland adopted a new anti-discrimination law, the European Commission has closed three separate equality infringement procedures against it.
Two of the cases had reached the Court of Justice: (1) the first related to Polish legislation's non-conformity with EU rules prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of race and ethnic origin - the Commission pointed out that the Polish legislation covered the principle of anti-discrimination only in the field of employment. The prohibition of victimisation was also limited to the field of employment. The new Polish legislation satisfactorily solves those questions, the Commission decided; (2) the second case related to non-communication of national legislation transposing the EU rules on gender discrimination in the access to goods and services. The new Act fully transposes the directive, the Commission considered.
The third case, which had not reached the judicial stage, related to non-communication of national legislation transposing EU rules on gender equality in employment. The Commission had issued a reasoned opinion - the second stage in the infringement process - against Poland. Since the new Act fully transposes the Directive, the Commission closed the case. (G.B./transl.rt)