10/03/2025 (Agence Europe) – At the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on Monday 10 March, France, Belgium, Estonia, Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Sweden, Malta, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal asked for a “miscellaneous item” to be added to the Equal Treatment Directive. Thirteen Member States have spoken out in favour of progress on this issue and twenty-three had already reaffirmed their support for the text at the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU on 5 February (see EUROPE 13574/25), while Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic maintained their reservations. Proposed in 2008, the directive aims to combat discrimination outside the workplace. Despite the progress made under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Commission announced its withdrawal in its 2025 work programme (see EUROPE 13581/20, 13579/21). The directive is supported by the Polish Presidency, which has made it a priority, while the Member States mentioned above are urging the Commission to reconsider its decision or to propose an alternative. (NP)