Directive (EU) 2024/1500 on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation, and amending Directives 2006/54/EC and 2010/41/EU

Summary:

Directive (EU) 2024/1500 - adopted by the co-legislators on 14 May 2024 - concerning standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation. It amends Directive 2006/54/EC and Directive 2010/41/EU.

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 2006/54/EC and Directive 2010/41/EU. Those two Acts address the principle of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation.

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. The plenary of the European Parliament endorsed a negotiating position on 23 November. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for this file was reached on 12 December. This was formally endorsed by the Parliament on 10 April 2024 and by the Council on 7 May. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 14 May 2024 and published in the Official Journal on 29 May 2024.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

Social Europe, 10/07/2023: Equality bodies: how things stand on EU standards https://www.socialeurope.eu/equality-bodies-how-things-stand-on-eu-standards

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 26/09/2023: Standards for equality bodies: Equal treatment between women and men in employment (ordinary legislative procedure) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)747881

Social Europe, 31/01/2024: Standards for equality bodies — nearly done https://www.socialeurope.eu/standards-for-equality-bodies-nearly-done

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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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)688: Proposal for a Directive on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation, and deleting Article 20 of Directive 2006/54/EC and Article 11 of Directive 2010/41/EU https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:688: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

Publications Office of the EU: EU Law Tracker: Proposal for a Directive on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation, and deleting Article 20 of Directive 2006/54/EC and Article 11 of Directive 2010/41/EU https://law-tracker.europa.eu/procedure/2022_400?lang=en

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Union of equality: standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation (2022/0400(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2022/0400(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Strengthening the role and independence of equality bodies concerned with gender equality https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-new-push-for-european-democracy/file-strengthening-the-role-of-equality-bodies-1

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/

European Parliament: Press Release, 07/11/2023: Fight against discrimination: new rules to boost national equality bodies https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20231031IPR08704/

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 07/11/2023: Big step towards truly independent equality watchdogs in the EU https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/big-step-towards-truly-independent-equality-watchdogs-eu

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 12/12/2023: Standards for equality bodies: Council strikes deal with Parliament https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/12/standards-for-equality-bodies-council-strikes-deal-with-parliament/

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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