Brussels, 07/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission published the result of independent research into candidate country legislation on discrimination based on race or ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, disability, age or sexual orientation, on Friday 3 October. This study, entitled "Equality, Diversity and Enlargement", points to progress in the candidate countries, especially on protection against racial discrimination in employment. However, these countries have still some way to go to bring themselves into line with the directives by 1 May 2004. More remains to be done, note the authors of the study, to fight racial and ethnic discrimination outside the workplace, for example, in teaching, social protection, housing and access to goods and services. Various legal notions, such as the burden of proof, indirect discrimination and harassment also seem to have caused problems, according to the authors.
Commenting on this study, Anna Diamantopoulou called upon "the current and future members of the EU to send out a clear signal on the defence of fundamental human rights" and hopes that "the monitoring reports on fighting discrimination, due out this autumn, will show continued progress on these issues within candidate countries".
This report is based on research carried out for the European Commission by a team of independent experts, led by MEDE European Consultancy together with the Migration Policy Group, said Antonia Mochan, Ms Diamantopoulou's spokesperson, in a press release. Info: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/fundamental_rights/prog/studies_en.htm