STRASBOURG, May 20, 2008  –  The European Parliament has today adopted a report by Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne which calls on the European Commission to honour its commitment to bring forward a comprehensive directive to outlaw discrimination in access to goods and services covering all areas presently excluded, including disability, age, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

MEPs voted at lunchtime 363 in favour, 262 against – with 56 abstentions.

The resolution calls for the European Commission to reconsider its recent decision to drop such grounds as religion/belief and sexual orientation from a Directive, possibly leaving just disability as a ground.

In the original work plan for 2008, the Commission included gays and lesbians in its plans for its anti-discrimination directive.  But this, and other aspects, were dropped following objections from several Member States.

Speaking in the debate before the vote, Ms. Lynne, vice president of the Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee and who also recently launched a public petition in support of a new directive, said:

“One of the reasons I have called for comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in my report is because we must get away from the piecemeal approach. There can be no hierarchy of discrimination.

“A new directive must cover discrimination in access to goods and services on all grounds that have not yet been covered under Article 13 legislation.  It should cover disability, age, religion or belief and sexual orientation.  Race and gender are already covered, as is employment.

“I regret that although the Commissioner made a commitment to a comprehensive directive in its work programme for 2008, there appears to be some backtracking on this and the Commission might only bring forward legislation on disability and nothing else.

“This is not acceptable; hence my amendment,” she told Parliament.

“I have campaigned for years for Article 13 legislation on the grounds of disability and age and I am now convinced that we mustn’t leave anyone behind. Anti-discrimination and human rights are the basis on which the European Union was founded; every EU citizen must be treated equally.

“We must give a signal to the Commission and Member States that we are committed to ending discrimination once and for all and put and end to the ridiculous idea that it is alright to discriminate against one section of society.”

During the debate, Sophia in’t Veld (Netherlands) pointed out that the current European Commission got the “green light” from Parliament in 2004 on solemn promise that it would be the champion of fundamental rights.

“But paying lip‑service to equality is not good enough,” she said.

“EU citizens must get the legal instruments to defend their rights in court.  Now, the European Commission is frantically looking for excuses to avoid a general ban on discrimination, such as that more study is needed – as if we cannot all see that there is discrimination all around – or that there is no consensus in the Council – well, that never stopped the European Commission from pushing its proposals in other areas such as energy policy.

“And let us not forget that discrimination is already forbidden on the basis of the Treaties, but if we do not legislate the courts will do it for us.

“So I expect the European Commission to take its own responsibility and stand for the rights of European citizens, because if the horizontal directive must fail, then let it fail in Council and not in the Commission.”

Jean Lambert, the Green Party MEP from London, welcomed the vote.

“The European Commission must get tough with Member States to protect all the citizens of Europe,” she said this afternoon.

“If some governments oppose new anti-discrimination legislation they should explain to us all why they condone discrimination against particular groups in their society.

“An anti-discrimination framework would offer the hope of equality for many currently disadvantaged groups across Europe.  If we do not succeed in developing a comprehensive directive we will have missed a great chance and will have failed all those who face oppression and unfair treatment.

“Many people do not suffer from discrimination on one ground alone, so to create legislation covering only one area would be misguided.

“It would also perpetuate the hierarchy of discrimination, with some groups being better protected than others.  Along with my colleagues who fought for this directive in the first place, I will continue to demand that a directive covering all types of discrimination is developed as soon as possible.”

Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights also welcomed the European Parliament's vote on the Lynne Report.

“This is a clear signal that the Parliament is sending out, which it called for, back in 2004,", said Michael Cashman, president of the Intergroup.

“Protection of human rights and non-discrimination are political priorities.  This strengthens the message I personally gave to President Barroso today that he must deliver on his promise for a Horizontal Directive.

“We must end this hierarchy of discrimination which currently exists in EU legislation,” he added.

The European Network Against Racism (ENAR), the European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA-Europe) and the Amnesty International EU Office (AIEU) all welcomed the clear and strong message issued by the European Parliament today to put “an end to the hierarchy of protection against different grounds of discrimination”.

Martin K.I. Christensen, co-chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, said it was “very positive and encouraging” news

“We are thankful to the Parliament for standing up for non-negotiable equality and ending a current embarrassing hierarchy of rights and protections.  The people of Europe spoke today through their representatives to say that Europe should no longer tolerate the situation where some groups are left unprotected and without redress from discrimination.

“Now it is all up to the Commission to deliver on its promise and propose one directive covering all grounds of discrimination in all areas of life,” he added.

Dr Nicolas Beger, director of AIEU, pointed out that discrimination was still widespread in Europe.

“The Commission must fight it with measures that leave no one behind,” he insisted.

Mohammed Aziz, president of ENAR, said that he was happy that the European Parliament “has shown once again that it is a consistent supporter of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation”.

“The Commission cannot ignore this strong call for legislation covering all discrimination grounds.

“There is clear evidence of the need to fight religious discrimination in Europe.  It is only by fighting for comprehensive protection against all grounds of discrimination that we will achieve equal opportunities for all in jobs, accommodation, schools.”