Equality in the EU

In its drive to ban discriminatory behavior, the European Commission has adopted sweeping measures to end prejudice based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. But even though the EU directive has been transformed into the national legislation of all of the 27 EU member states, the new rights are rarely used.

According to a Eurobarometer survey published earlier this year, most Europeans believe that discrimination is rife in the EU. But when it comes to doing something about it, there's a distinct lack of public interest. Poland is a typical example, according to trade union activist Danuta Woidat.

"I feel sorry that there was not a public debate because as a result very few people know about the law and know how to use that law," she said. "Also state institutions are not ready to do something about it."

The European Union's executive commission, however, is seeking to change that, and 2007 has been declared the European Year of Equal Opportunity. With the congress in Berlin and a series of EU-funded events in its member states, the EU wants to highlight its recent anti-discrimination drive.

Confusing laws?

An EU directive seeks to ban discrimination based on gender, ethnic or racial origin, disability, religion or belief, and has meanwhile become part of the national laws of the Union's 27 members. In some countries, however, the new laws have led to considerable confusion.

"The government has ignored color and nationality, which were excluded from the law," said Patrick Hue, who is of Chinese origin and a member of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities. "So now we have a much more difficult law in terms of application, and it confuses the people, including the employers and the ethnic minorities."

The EU Commission believes that discrimination is also a major impediment to the integration of minorities into society. This applies especially to Europe's Muslim communities, which frequently find themselves viewed with suspicion.

But Taraffa Barajahi, a member of the Austrian Muslim Council, said going to the courts about discrimination is a tricky issue.

"Our main concept concerning especially Islamophobia is a social discussion with the general society," she said. "That means that in Austria we chose not to go to the courts because we have learned from the bad experiences made by Muslims in Germany."

Protests in Germany

In Germany Muslims launched a series of high profile court cases aimed at enforcing, for example, the right of Muslim teachers to wear headscarves in the classroom. But those who sued the state lost their case -- in spite of the fact that Germany boasts the most-sweeping anti-discrimination legislation.

Prejudice based on sexual orientation and age is also banned in Germany, despite protests from employers who said the law would become a major obstacle for job creation.

But Peter Moore, a British member of the EU Committee of the Regions, said employers all over Europe should see anti-discrimination as an opportunity rather than a burden.

"I think the clear message that needs to go to the employers is if your workforce represents the people who are your customers then there's a great chance that you'll be more successful in your business," he said. "So I would say rather than worrying about the possible consequences of lawsuits -- which are likely to be very small -- if you get the thing right in the first place it will be a benefit to you."