Brussels, 18/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 17 March, the European Parliament's civil liberties committee adopted (by 34 votes to 7 and 4 abstentions) the consultative report by Kathalijne Buitenweg (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) on the proposal for a directive on anti-discrimination protection. The text, which was put forward by the European Commission on 2 July 2008, aims to combat discrimination based on religion or belief, age, sex or sexual leaning (EUROPE 9753 and 9693). The report will be put to the vote during the plenary session on 1 and 2 April in Brussels. The directive is to apply to social protection and healthcare, social benefits, education and access to goods and services, including housing. “For too long there has been no legal provision at European level to ban discrimination on grounds of age, disability, sexual orientation and religion/belief beyond the world of work”, Ms Buitenweg deplored after the vote. “Adoption of the new directive is an essential stage in extending legal protection against discrimination in Europe”, she said. During the vote, MEPs expressed their wish that the directive would encompass other areas such as access to transport and healthcare also. In their view, the text must also cover multiple discrimination, that is when there is discrimination on two or more grounds, as well as discrimination by association. They also pointed out that the directive should not affect national law on marriage, family or health, and that national laws on the secular nature of the state are not affected. Although harassment is considered a form of discrimination, MEPs stated that the concept of harassment must be defined in accordance with national law and the practices of member states. The directive bans discrimination on grounds of disability but MEPs also want an effort at “reasonable accommodation” of the needs of people with disabilities (e.g. wheelchair access to buildings). Finally, they affirmed that some difference of treatment must be tolerated if legitimate, for example discrimination on grounds of age for the sale of alcohol, weapons or the granting of driving licences, as well as access to education dispensed by religious institutions, risk factors related to disability and age used in the insurance and banking industries, as well as preferential tariffs for young persons or persons with disabilities (public transport, access to museums or to sport). (B.C./transl.jl)