Council Directive (EU) 2024/1499 on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, equal treatment in matters of employment and occupation between persons irrespective of their religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, equal treatment between women and men in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and services, and amending Directives 2000/43/EC and 2004/113/EC

Summary:

Directive (EU) 2024/1499 - adopted by the Council of the European Union on 7 May 2024 - concerning standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, equal treatment in matters of employment and occupation between persons irrespective of their religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, equal treatment between women and men in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and services. It amends Directive 2000/43/EC and Directive 2004/113/EC.

Further information:

Equality bodies are independent organisations assisting victims of discrimination, monitoring and reporting on discrimination issues, and promoting equality throughout the European Union (EU). This Directive lays down minimum requirements for the functioning of equality bodies, seeking to improve their effectiveness and guarantee their independence in order to strengthen the principle of equal treatment as derived from Directive 79/7/EEC, Directive 2000/43/EC, Directive 2000/78/EC and Directive 2004/113/EC. These Acts address the principle of equal treatment in matters of social security, employment and occupation, as well as access to and supply of goods and services, between men and women and irrespective of racial or ethnic origin.

The draft law was adopted by the European Commission on 8 December 2022. The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach to the text on 12 June 2023. A political agreement within the Council on the final text of the draft law was reached on 20 February 2024. The plenary of the European Parliament adopted a Resolution providing its consent to the draft Council Directive on 10 April 2024. The final endorsement by the Council was adopted on 7 May 2024, when the Act was signed. It was published in the Official Journal on 29 May 2024.

Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)689: Proposal for a Council Directive on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, equal treatment in the field of employment and occupation between persons irrespective of their religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, equal treatment between women and men in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and services, and deleting Article 13 of Directive 2000/43/EC and Article 12 of Directive 2004/113/EC https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:689:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)386: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Analytical Document https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:386:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)387: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Subsidiarity Grid https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:387:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Union of equality: standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons, in the field of employment, in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and services (2022/0401(APP)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2022/0401(APP)

European Commission: Policies: Combatting Discrimination: Equality bodies https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/tackling-discrimination/equality-bodies_en

European Commission: Press Release, 07/12/2022: Equality Package: Commission proposes to strengthen equality bodies to fight discrimination https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7507

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 12/06/2023: Standards for equality bodies: Council agrees its positions https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/12/standards-for-equality-bodies-council-agrees-its-positions/

Council of the European Union: Press Release 20/02/2024: Equality bodies: Council agrees on final text to strengthen their role across the EU https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/02/20/equality-bodies-council-agrees-on-final-text-to-strengthen-their-role-across-the-eu/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 07/05/2024: Strengthening the role of equality bodies across the EU: Council adopts two directives https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/05/07/strengthening-the-role-of-equality-bodies-across-the-eu-council-adopts-two-directives/

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Commentary and Analysis

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 11/07/2023: Standards for equality bodies: Discrimination under Article 19 TFEU grounds https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)751414

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 08/04/2024: New EU standards for equality bodies https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2024)760397

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