BRUSSELS, July 2, 2008  –  The European Commission has today adopted a proposal for a directive which provides for protection from discrimination on a number of grounds, including sexual orientation.

Also included in the proposed directive are age, disability and religion or belief .

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.

Eurobarometer surveys show that a large majority of Europeans support such legislation: 77% back measures to protect people from discrimination in education and 68% in access to goods and services.

“The right to equal treatment is fundamental, but millions of people in the EU continue to face discrimination in their everyday lives,” said Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.

“At present, there is an inequality in Community legislation itself because people are protected from discrimination outside the workplace only on grounds of gender and race or ethnic origin.

“We must ensure equal treatment for all grounds,” he continued.

“The measures we propose are proportionate and reasonable; they give legal certainty to businesses and to users of goods and services while respecting the specific requirements of various sectors as well as national traditions.”

The law will prohibit direct and indirect discrimination as well as harassment and victimisation.

According to an EU survey published today, Europeans think that discrimination remains rife, particularly when it comes to sexual orientation (51%), disability (45%), age and religion (42% each).

Around one in three Europeans report witnessing discrimination or harassment in the past year, and 48% think that not enough is being done to fight this scourge.

An earlier survey conducted in February 2008 highlighted that a large majority of EU citizens (between 68% and 77%) see a need for specific legislation to protect people from discrimination in areas beyond the labour market.

Meanwhile, a new Commission report on the EU rules on equal treatment in employment has found that they have now been successfully implemented in most EU countries.