Luxembourg, 06/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - In record-breaking speed for social Europe, the Council has reached unanimous political agreement on the directive banning discrimination on grounds of race or ethnic origin, barely six months after presentation of the Commission's anti-discrimination package, announced Social Affairs Council President Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues and Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou. This directive is the first legal text approved under Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, one year after its entry into force. It will be adopted formally at a subsequent Council. This text is a decisive step in the establishment of a comprehensive framework for implementation of the principle of equality of treatment in economic and social life in all the Member States. The States will have three years from the date of the directive's entry into force to transpose it into their legislation. "We reached agreement thanks to Mrs Diamantopoulou's energy. The accord enables us to send out to all our fellow citizens a very strong message on the EU's commitment to democracy, freedom and fundamental rights", commented President Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues at the final press conference.
Anna Diamantoupoulou observed that this decision "shows that we are capable of making positive changes in citizens' daily lives. The expression of political will is being followed by acts". The Commissioner called on the Council and European Parliament to act so that the other sections of the "anti-discrimination" package are adopted before the end of the year. The spokesman for the French delegation, which will take over the chairmanship on 1 July, pointed out that the French Presidency will do everything in its power for the two other directives to be adopted under its presidency. Furthermore, the European Commission will adopt, on Wednesday, a draft directive aimed at strengthening provisions against sexual harassment in the work place (76/207/EC), a project which will bring the European legislation into line with various decisions of the Court of Justice.
Furthermore, the ministers adopted conclusions proposed by the Presidency on follow-up to Lisbon, including on the subject of participation of the Employment and Social Policy Council in the preparation of the "spring summit", and the development of "broad economic policy guidelines". On the subject of employment, the Council recalls that the overall objective is to increase the average present rate of employment, 61%, to around 70% by 2010 and to ensure that, for women, this rate (currently an average of 51%) exceeds 60%.
Ministers discussed at length a report by the High Level Group on social protection. They mainly considered it was necessary to find common indicators concerning the fight against social exclusion and were all in agreement that there is increased coordination concerning viability and the sustainability of pension systems. Italian Secretary of State Mr Morese noted that the best system for fighting against social exclusion is the possibility of integrating young people into the working world and to keep the older ones there, as older people may make a contribution to social activities. On the subject of pensions, the Italian secretary of state noted that the High Level Group not only saw things from an accounting view but also from the point of view of citizen protection against social risks. Furthermore, the ministers noted a political agreement on the constitution of the new "social protection committee" to replace the High Level Group.
Ministers noted the Presidency report on the state of progress of work on the coordination of social security schemes for migrant workers. They will pursue examination of a new regulation, which should simplify the previous regulation (1408/71) and declared that, as a majority, they were in favour of extending the scope of the regulation to the members of the migrant worker and to retired workers (former migrant workers), mainly concerning maternity allowances, sick benefits, professional illnesses and accidents at work.
The Council adopted a joint resolution (Council and Labour and Social Affairs Ministers) on the balanced participation of men and women in family and professional life. During the working lunch, Martine Aubry, French Labour Minister and future President of the Council, presented the priorities of the upcoming French Presidency in social matters.