53 Amendments of Anja WEISGERBER related to 2008/0140(CNS)
Amendment 23 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the fundamental principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Article 10 of the Charter recognises the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; Article 21 prohibits discrimination, including on grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation; and Article 26 acknowledges the right of persons with disabilities to benefit from measures designed to ensure their independence.
Amendment 24 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
Amendment 25 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The Community has adopted three legal instruments12 on the basis of aArticle 13(1) of the EC Treaty to prevent and combat discrimination on grounds of sex, racial and ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation. These instruments have demonstrated the value of legislation in the fight against discrimination. In particular, Directive 2000/78/EC establishes a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation. However, variations remain between Member States on the degree and the form of protection from discrimination on these grounds beyond the areas of employment. ________________ 1 Directive 2000/43/EC, Directive 2000/78/EC and Directive 2004/113/EC 2 Directive 2000/43/EC, Directive 2000/78/EC and Directive 2004/113/EC
Amendment 27 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Therefore, legislation should prohibit discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in a range of areas outside the labour market, including social protection, education and access to and supply of goods and services, including housing. It should provide for measures to ensure the equal access of persons with disabilities to the areas covered.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In implementing the principle of equal treatment irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, the Community should, in accordance with Article 3(2) of the EC Treaty, aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality between men and women, especially since women are often the victims of multiple discrimination.
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 a (new)
Article 4 a (new)
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Actuarial and risk factors related to disability and to age are used in the provision of insurance, banking and other financial services. These should not be regarded as constituting discrimination where the factors arcan be shown to be key factors for the assessment of risk.
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) All individuals enjoy the freedom to contract, including the freedom to choose a contractual partner for a transaction. This Directive should not apply to economic transactions undertaken by individuals for whom these transactions do not constitute their professional or commercial activity.
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) While prohibiting discrimination, it is important to respect other fundamental rights and freedoms, including the protection of private and family life and transactions carried out in that context, the freedom of religion, and the freedom of association. This Directive is without prejudice to national laws con marital or family status, including on reproductive rightscerning the family and marriage and the value thereof. It is also without prejudice to the secular nature of the State, state institutions or bodies, or education.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) In its accompanying communication ‘Non-discrimination and equal opportunities: A renewed commitment’ of 2 July 2008 (COM(2008)0420 final), the Commission affirmed that the European Union already has one of the most advanced non-discrimination legal frameworks in the world.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Member States are responsible for the organisation and content of education. The Commission Communication on Competences for the 21st Century: An Agenda for European Cooperation on Schools draws attention to the need for special attention to be paid to disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs. In particular national law may provide for differences in access to educational institutions based on religion or belief. Member States may also allow or prohibit the wearing or display of religious symbols at school.
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The prohibition of discrimination should be without prejudice to the maintenance or adoption by Member States of measures intended to prevent or compensate for disadvantages suffered by a group of persons of a particular religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Such measures may permit organisations of persons of a particular religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation where their main object is the promotion of the special needs of those persons.
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Persons who have been subject to discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation should have adequate means of legal protection. To provide a more effective level of protection, associations, organisations and other legal entities should be empowered to engage in proceedings, including on behalf of or in support of any victim, without prejudice to national rules of procedure concerning representation and defence before the courts.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
Therefore, legislation should prohibit discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in a range of areas outside the labour market, including social protection, education and access to and supply of goods and services, including housing. It should provide for measures to ensure the equal access of persons with disabilities to the areas covered.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) The rules on the burden of proof must be adapted when there is a prima facie case of discrimination and, for the principle of equal treatment to be applied effectively, the burden of proof must shift back to the respondent when evidence of such discrimination is brought. However, it is not for the respondent to prove that the plaintiff adheres to a particular religion or belief, has a particular disability, is of a particular age or has a particular sexual orientation.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1
Article 1
This Directive lays down a framework for combating discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation, with a view to putting into effect in the Member States the principle of equal treatment other than in the field of employment and occupation.
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 - paragraph 2 - point b
Article 2 - paragraph 2 - point b
(b) indirect discrimination shall be taken to occur where an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice would put persons of a particular religion or belief, a particular disability, a particular age, or a particular sexual orientation at a particular disadvantage compared with other persons, unless that provision, criterion or practice is objectively justified by a legitimate aim and the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) Owing to the excessive burden on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), they should be afforded special protection, following the model of the US Civil Rights Act.
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 - paragraph 7
Article 2 - paragraph 7
7. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, in the provision of financial services Member States may permit proportionate differences in treatment may be permitted where, for the product in question, the use of age or disability is a key factor in the assessment of risk based on relevant and accurate actuarial or statistical databased on an appropriate risk calculation using relevant mathematical or statistical data or principles and medical experience.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In implementing the principle of equal treatment irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, the Community should, in accordance with Article 3(2) of the EC Treaty, aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality between men and women, especially since women are often the victims of multiple discrimination.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 - paragraph 1 - point d - subparagraph 2
Article 3 - paragraph 1 - point d - subparagraph 2
(d) Subparagraph (d) shall apply to individuals only in so far as they are performing a professional or commercial activity.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 - paragraph 2
Article 3 - paragraph 2
2. This Directive is without prejudice to national laws con marital or family status and reproductive rightscerning the family and marriage and the value thereof.
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Actuarial and risk factors related to disability and to age are used in the provision of insurance, banking and other financial services. These should not be regarded as constituting discrimination where the factors arcan be shown to be key factors for the assessment of risk.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 - paragraph 3
Article 3 - paragraph 3
3. This Directive is without prejudice to the responsibilities of Member States for the content of teaching, activities and the organisation of their educational systems, including the provision of special needs education. Member States may provide for differences in treatment in access to educational institutions based on religion or belief.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) All individuals enjoy the freedom to contract, including the freedom to choose a contractual partner for a transaction. This Directive should not apply to economic transactions undertaken by individuals for whom these transactions do not constitute their professional or commercial activity.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5
Article 5
With a view to ensuring full equality in practice, the principle of equal treatment shall not prevent any Member State from maintaining or adopting specific measures to prevent or compensate for disadvantages linked to religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation.
Amendment 98 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) While prohibiting discrimination, it is important to respect other fundamental rights and freedoms, including the protection of private and family life and transactions carried out in that context, the freedom of religion, and the freedom of association. This Directive is without prejudice to national laws on marital or family status and the value thereof, including on reproductive and adoption rights. It is also without prejudice to the secular nature of the State, state institutions or bodies, or education.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 - paragraph 1
Article 12 - paragraph 1
1. Member States shall designate a body or bodies for the promotion of equal treatment of all persons irrespective of their religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation. These bodies may form part of agencies charged at national level with the defence of human rights or the safeguard of individuals' rights, including rights under other Community acts including Directives 2000/43/EC and 2004/113/EC.
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The European Union in its Declaration No 11 on the status of churches and non- confessional organisations, annexed to the Final Act of the Amsterdam Treaty, has explicitly recognised that it respects and does not prejudice the status under national law of churches and religious associations or communities in the Member States and that it equally respects the status of philosophical and non-confessional organisations. This Directive therefore respects national legislation guaranteeing their status and activities and shall not apply thereto. Measures to enable persons with disabilities to have effective non- discriminatory access to the areas covered by this Directive play an important part in ensuring full equality in practice. Furthermore, individual measures of reasonable accommodation may be required in some cases to ensure such access. In neither case are measures required that would impose a disproportionate burden. In assessing whether the burden is disproportionate, account should be taken of a number of factors including the size, resources and nature of the organisation. The principle of reasonable accommodation and disproportionate burden are established in Directive 2000/78/EC and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The prohibition of discrimination should be without prejudice to the maintenance or adoption by Member States of measures intended to prevent or compensate for disadvantages suffered by a group of persons of a particular religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Such measures may permit organisations of persons of a particular religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation where their main object is the promotion of the special needs of those persons.
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Persons who have been subject to discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation should have adequate means of legal protection. To provide a more effective level of protection, associations, organisations and other legal entities should be empowered to engage in proceedings, including on behalf of or in support of any victim, without prejudice to national rules of procedure concerning representation and defence before the courts.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1
Article 1
This Directive lays down a framework for combating discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation, with a view to putting into effect in the Member States the principle of equal treatment other than in the field of employment and occupation.
Amendment 142 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point (b)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point (b)
(b) indirect discrimination shall be taken to occur where an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice would put persons of a particular religion or belief, a particular disability, a particular age, or a particular sexual orientation at a particular disadvantage compared with other persons, unless that provision, criterion or practice is objectively justified by a legitimate aim and the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary.
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Amendment 147 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. Harassment shall be deemed to be a form of discrimination within the meaning of paragraph 1, when unwanted conduct related to any of the grounds referred to in Article 1 takes place with the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person and of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. In this context, the concepts of harassment and unwanted conduct may be defined in accordance with the national laws and practice of the Member States.
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. Harassment shallmay also be deemed to be a form of discrimination within the meaning of paragraph 1, when unwanted conduct related to any of the grounds referred to in Article 1 takes place with the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person and of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
Amendment 167 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 6
Article 2 – paragraph 6
6. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, Member States may provide that differences of treatment on the grounds of agelaid down in Article 1 shall not constitute discrimination, if, within the context of national law, they are justified by a legitimate aim, and if the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary there is an objective reason for the violation thereof. In particular, this Directive shall not preclude the fixing of a specific age for access to social benefits, education and certain goods or services.
Amendment 176 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 7
Article 2 – paragraph 7
7. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, in the provision of financial services Member States may permit proportionate differences in treatment where, for the product in question, the use of age or disability is a keydetermining factor in the assessment of risk based on relevant and accurate actuarial or statistical datactuarial principles, accurate statistical data or medical knowledge shall not be considered discrimination for the purposes of this Directive.
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Within the limits of the powers conferred upon the Community, the prohibition of discrimination shall apply to all persons, as regards both the public and private sectors, including public bodies, provided they are performing a professional or commercial activity, in relation to:
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 - point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 - point c
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 - point d
Article 3 – paragraph 1 - point d
(d) access to and supply of goods and services which are available to the public, including housing. Subparagraph (d) shall apply to individuals only insofar as they are performing a professional or commercial activity.
Amendment 200 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 - point d
Article 3 – paragraph 1 - point d
(d) Access to and supply of goods and other services which are available to the public, including housing. Subparagraph (d) shall apply to individuals only insofar as they are performing a professional or commercial activity.
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. This Directive is without prejudice to national laws on marital or family statusegislation on marriage, family status and the benefits dependent thereon and reproductive rights.
Amendment 211 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. This Directive is without prejudice to national laws on marital or family status and reproductivetheir importance and reproductive and adoption rights.
Amendment 253 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) No breach of the ban on disadvantaging individuals shall be deemed to have occurred if there is an objective reason justifying a difference in treatment on grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. In particular, this may be the case if the difference in treatment 1. is intended to rule out risks or prevent damage or to serve other, similar purposes, 2. takes account of the requirement to protect privacy or personal safety, 3. offers special advantages and there can be no interest in enforcing equal treatment. In connection with the rental of housing, different treatment with a view to establishing and maintaining socially stable tenancy patterns and balanced settlement structures and balanced economic, social and cultural conditions shall be admissible.
Amendment 266 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. When defining what constitutes a ‘disproportionate burden’ within the meaning of the second sentence of paragraph 1(a) and paragraph 1(b), due account shall be taken of the laws on equal treatment of persons with disabilities in force in each Member State and the interpretation of those laws by national courts.
Amendment 274 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5
Article 5
5. With a view to ensuring full equality in practice, the principle of equal treatment shall not prevent any Member State from maintaining or adopting specific measures to prevent or compensate for disadvantages linked to religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation.
Amendment 278 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Amendment 287 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Member States shall ensure, in accordance with their national judicial systems, that all persons who consider themselves wronged by failure to apply the principle of equal treatment to them can take legal action to assert their rights.
Amendment 289 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 8
Article 8
Amendment 299 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall designate a body or bodies for the promotion of equal treatment of all persons irrespective of their religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation. These bodies may form part of agencies charged at national level with the defence of human rights or the safeguard of individuals' rights, including rights under other Community acts including Directives 2000/43/EC and 2004/113/EC.
Amendment 318 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14
Article 14
Member States shall lay down the rules on sanctions applicable to breaches of the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive, and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are applied. Sanctions may comprise the payment of compensation, which may not be restricted by the fixing of a prior upper limit, and must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
Amendment 321 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Member States shall adopt the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by …. at the latest [twohree years after adoption]. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof and shall communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.