BRUSSELS, July 2, 2008  –  The International Lesbian and Gay Association-Europe tonight welcomed the European Commission’s proposal for a single EU-wide anti-discrimination directive announced this morning by Vladimír Špidla, the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.

But, ILGA-Europe said it was concerned about various provisions of the proposed directive which might undermine application of the principles of equality and non-discrimination to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the European Union.

The EC’s proposed directive provides for protection from discrimination on grounds of age, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief in areas other than employment, which is already covered.

This new directive would ensure equal treatment in the areas of social protection, including social security and health care, education and access to and supply of goods and services which are commercially available to the public, including housing.

ILGA-Europe has been campaigning for a single anti-discrimination directive and welcomes the Commission’s proposal which, when adopted, will end the hierarchy of rights and protections in the EU.

ILGA-Europe welcomes that fact that the scope of the proposed directive is identical to the scope of the EU directives protecting against discrimination on the grounds of race.

Currently, discrimination on the ground of race enjoys the highest protection in EU legislation compared with other grounds of discrimination, such as gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

ILGA-Europe said it was “particularly pleased” to see that the proposed directive covers such areas as education.

“We also welcome the proposal to introduce Equality Bodies in all EU member states which would have a mandate to work on all grounds of discrimination,” the statement said.

And turning to it’s concerns, the NGO continued: “In particular, we are concerned with the fact that the proposed directive leaves out protection against differential treatment on the basis of marital/family status and in the area of reproductive rights.

“Introducing an exception to the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination on the grounds of marital/family status will result in discrimination for many LGBT families and their children across the EU in accessing social protection, gods and services.

“Discrimination and consequent disadvantages experienced by LGBT families and their children were particularly highlighted as a serious cause for concern in a report published by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency on 30 June 2008,” the statement said.

The other area of concern for ILGA-Europe is that gender will become the ground that is the least protected from discrimination in EU legislation.

Currently, discrimination on the ground of gender is prohibited in such areas as employment and access to goods and services, but not in areas like education.

ILGA-Europe said it hopes that the Commission will propose – and commit to a timeline – to address the remaining inequality of rights and protections in the nearest future.

“We […] also hope that the EU member states will follow the Commission and deliver to people in the EU what they deserve and are entitled to – respect, dignity and equality,” said Deborah Lambillotte, co-chair of ILGA-Europe’s executive board.

“By levelling up the rights and protections from discrimination, the EU will close an important gap in its equality and non-discrimination legislation.

“It will prove that these principles are not just empty words of political correctness inserted into the Treaties, but mean that the EU is serious when it comes to any type of discrimination,” she said.

“We express our concerns and would like to invite all EU institutions to address the remaining flaws to ensure that equality and non-discrimination principles contained in the EU Treaties are translated into meaningful and effective mechanisms for all people in the EU.”

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Posted: 2 July 2008 at 22:00 (UK time)