Brussels, 14/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 14 May, the European Commission decided to refer Poland to the European Court of Justice for failing to transpose EU legislation prohibiting gender discrimination in access to and supply of goods and services (Directive 2004/113/EC). Poland has not yet adopted the necessary measures to give effect to the legislation in national law, despite a reasoned opinion (second stage warning) sent by the Commission in 2008.
European rules ban sex discrimination outside the workplace and prohibit direct and indirect discrimination based on sex, as well as sexual harassment. The deadline for bringing into effect the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive expired on 21 December 2007.
To date, the Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against 12 member states, of which 6 are still open, as in the case of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Poland and the United Kingdom. In accordance with the procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, the Commission sent, in January 2009, a referral to the Court against Greece and the Czech Republic for failing to notify measures to transpose Directive 2004/113/EC into national law. For the remaining countries, the Commission is finalising its analysis of the responses to the national authorities to the reasoned opinions and deciding on the follow-up to be given. Other decisions will be taken in the coming months. (L.C./transl.jl)