Europees Hof veroordeelt Oostenrijk voor niet-doorvoering EU-regels tegen discriminatie (en)

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) today ruled that Austria had breached EU law by failing to transpose fully a European Directive prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin (Directive 2000/43/EC). The deadline for EU Member States to transpose this Directive was 19 July 2003 - except for the 10 new Member States, who had to ensure that their legislation complied with the Directives by their accession to the EU on 1 May 2004.

Commenting on the ECJ ruling, European Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Commissioner, Vladimír Špidla, said: "This Directive was agreed unanimously by the Member States and adopted in 2000, and the deadline for implementing it was in 2003. Member States have now had five years to put this EU law into their national legislation. I urge Austria to move quickly to meet their all obligations in this area, which is vital for the protection of fundamental rights in the EU".

The 'Racial Equality Directive' prohibits direct and indirect discrimination in a wide range of areas including employment, vocational training, education, social security and healthcare, access to goods and services and housing. It also requires Member States to designate a body to promote equal treatment and provide practical and independent support to victims of racial discrimination.

Legislation to implement the Directive has been adopted at federal level, but certain aspects fall under the competence of the Länder, and they have not yet all adopted the necessary legislation.

For more information :

www.stop-discrimination.info ;

http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/fundamental_rights/index_en.htm