'European Year of Equal Opportunities for all' gets green light

The European Commission welcomed on 1^st of June the decision by the Council and Parliament to designate 2007 as 'European Year of Equal Opportunities for All'.

The year will aim to make Europeans aware of their right not to be discriminated against, to promote equal opportunities in areas from work to healthcare, and to show how diversity makes the EU stronger. The year will have four themes: rights, representation, recognition and respect, with a total budget of €15million for the 12 months' activities.

'Europeans have a right to enjoy equal treatment and a life free of discrimination. The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All in 2007 aims to ensure they all know this,' said Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.' 'For a whole year, we will be putting the spotlight on equal opportunities and the benefits for Europe of a diverse society. Too many talents in Europe are poorly utilized and we can't afford it'

The 2007 European year will focus on discrimination linked to gender, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. These are all discrimination grounds that can be addressed within EU law.

The year's budget will be spent on, inter alia, an EU-wide information campaign, new Eurobarometer surveys on discrimination and attitudes towards it, as well as hundreds of national initiatives such writing competitions for schools on the theme of respect and tolerance or prizes for companies with the most effective diversity training. There will also be the first ever Equality Summit gathering together ministers, equality bodies, civil society and social partners.

Most activities will be co-ordinated nationally to ensure that they take place as locally as possible. The €7.6 million dedicated to national, local and regional activities will be matched by co-financing from national public and private sources.

This initiative comes exactly a decade after the European Year Against Racism and the introduction into the EC Treaty of Article 13 - allowing the EU to combat discrimination.

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