2008-0140-Discrimination-ST15575.EN09

REPORT

I.       INTRODUCTION

On 2 July 2008, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council Directive aiming to extend the protection against discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation to areas outside employment. Complementing existing EC legislation[1] in this area, the proposed Directive would prohibit discrimination on the above-mentioned grounds in the following areas: social protection, including social security and healthcare; social advantages; education; and access to goods and services, including housing.

At the time, a large majority of delegations welcomed the proposal in principle, many endorsing the fact that it aims to complete the existing legal framework by addressing all four grounds of discrimination through a horizontal approach.

Most delegations have affirmed the importance of promoting equal treatment as a shared social value within the EU. In particular, several delegations have underlined the significance of the proposal in the context of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)[2]. However, some delegations would have preferred more ambitious provisions in regard to disability.

While emphasising the importance of the fight against discrimination, certain delegations have put forward the view that more experience with the implementation of existing Community law is needed before further legislation is adopted at the Community level. These delegations have questioned the timeliness of and the need for the Commission’s proposal, which they see as infringing on national competence for certain issues and as conflicting with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.

Certain other delegations have also requested clarifications and expressed concerns relating, in particular, to the lack of legal certainty, the division of competences, and the practical, financial and legal impact of the proposal.

For the time being, all delegations have maintained general scrutiny reservations on the proposal. CZ, DK, FR, MT and UK have maintained parliamentary scrutiny reservations, CY and PL maintaining linguistic scrutiny reservations. The Commission has meanwhile affirmed its original proposal at this stage and has maintained a scrutiny reservation on any changes thereto.

The European Parliament adopted its Opinion under the Consultation Procedure on 2 April 2009[3].

II.      THE COUNCIL’S WORK UNDER THE SWEDISH PRESIDENCY

The EPSCO Council having been informed of the progress achieved on the provisions concerning disability under the Czech Presidency on 8 June 2009[4], the Working Party on Social Questions has continued its examination of the entire proposal under the Swedish Presidency on the basis of a series of Presidency drafting suggestions concerning, in particular, the scope of the Directive, the division of competences between the European Community and the Member States, the disability provisions, and the implementation calendar[5]. These drafting suggestions aimed, inter alia:

–        to clarify the scope by adjusting Article 3, and by providing examples and explanations in the recitals;

–        to clarify the question of the respective competences of the European Community and the Member States by stating that the division of competences is not changed by the Directive (Article 3(2)), and by explicitly listing certain matters to which the Directive does not apply (Article 3(2));

–        to fine-tune the disability provisions, including by aligning them more closely with the UNCRPD and by introducing a clear distinction between the general requirement to improve “accessibility” and the more specific requirement to provide “reasonable accommodation” to ensure “access” in particular cases;

–        to introduce clearer provisions regarding legitimate differences of treatment, including on the grounds of age and disability; and

–        to adjust the ten
tative implementation calendar by providing for separate implementation deadlines for ensuring accessibility in respect of new buildings, facilities and infrastructure, as well as existing buildings, facilities and infrastructure undergoing significant renovation (5 years), and for all other existing buildings, facilities and infrastructure (20 years).

Delegations have broadly welcomed the Presidency’s suggestions as steps in the right direction. However, the discussions have also shown that extensive further work is still needed on many aspects of the proposal.

III.    OUTSTANDING ISSUES

1.           Division of Competences, Scope and Subsidiarity (Article 3)

Further discussion is needed on the scope, including with a view to establishing the intended reach of the disability provisions (see below) and to demarcating the division of competences between the Member States and the European Community even more precisely than hitherto[6]. In particular, more work is needed to elucidate the delicate distinction between access to fields such as education, healthcare and social protection, and the organisation of such fields, the latter being an area of national competence.

2.           The Disability Provisions (Articles 4, 4a and 4b)

Further discussion will be needed on the following issues:

–        the scope of the provisions and the concrete obligations to be created, including with respect to the physical environment (or “the built environment”); new and existing buildings, facilities and infrastructure; different types of building and housing; transport; and the design and manufacture of goods;

–        the method for assessing what constitutes a disproportionate burden, and the notion of a denial of reasonable accommodation.

–        the financial, administrative and practical implications of the provisions and their scope, particularly regarding SMEs and the self-employed; and

–        the exact interrelationship between the draft Directive and more detailed sectoral standards or specifications on the accessibility of particular goods and services, including public transport.

3.           The Implementation Calendar

Delegations have broadly welcomed the increasingly nuanced approach to the implementation calendar, but have also called for clarification concerning the obligations to be created by the Directive before dates are agreed.

4. Legal Certainty in the Directive as a Whole

In underlining the importance of legal certainty, delegations have expressed the wish to avoid further cases having to be brought before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). They have consequently stressed the need for the clearest possible wording throughout, including in the definitions of key terms, and have underlined the importance of ensuring consistency with existing legislation.

5.       Other Issues

A large number of other questions will also require further discussion, including the following:

–        the legal basis, including the cross-border dimension that underlies the Community competences in the fields listed in the scope;

–        the concepts of harassment, discrimination by association and discrimination based on assumptions;

–        legitimate differences of treatment on the grounds of age (especially in respect of minors), and on the grounds of disability as well as age in the provision of financial services (including banking and insurance);

–        the need to find the right balance between protection against discrimination and rights in the private sphere (including freedom of speech and religion); and

–   the issue of gender mainstreaming.

Further information and details of delegations’ positions may be found in docs. 14008/09, 14979/09 + COR 1 and 16063/09[7].

IV.    CONCLUSION

While significant progress has been made under the Swedish Presidency in the attempt to clarify the scope, the division of competences, the disability provisions, and the implementation calendar, there is a clear need for extensive further work on the proposal. The Committee is invited to take note of this Progress Report and to forward it to the EPSCO Council on 30 November 2009.

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