Brussels, 23/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and that on Citizens' Rights and Freedom, Justice and Home Affairs are organising, together, on Tuesday and Wednesday 23 and 24 May, in Brussels, a public hearing on the theme the "Fight against Discrimination: new prospects under Article 13". The aim of this hearing, which is jointly chaired by Graham Watson (Chair of the Committee on Citizens' Rights) and by Michel Rocard (Chair of the Committee on Employment) is to determine how one can fight against all forms of discrimination, with regard in particular to the "anti-discrimination" package presented in November last by Anna Diamantopoulou. Among the speakers, there was Odile Quintin, Deputy Director General at the European Commission (DGV-Employment), Françoise Tulkens, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights, Beate Winkler, Director at the European Observatory against Racism and Xenophobia, MEP Thomas Mann (EPP, Germany), and the President of European Disability Forum Yannis Vardakastanis.
The participants will examine discrimination based on ethnic origin, race, religion and sex, and will also discuss the legal framework for future EC action in this connection. A round table on the priorities for EU action will close the work, for which conclusions will be summarised by Michel Rocard.