Directive 2024/1499 - Standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, equal treatment in matters of employment and occupation between persons irrespective of their religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, equal treatment between women and men in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and services - Main contents

Official Journal

of the European Union

EN

L series

2024/1499

29.5.2024

Equality and non-discrimination are recognised as essential values of the Union in Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). Articles 8 and 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provide, respectively, that the Union is to promote equality between men and women and combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in all its activities. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union protects the right to non-discrimination, the right to equality between women and men and the integration of persons with disabilities in Articles 21, 23 and 26, respectively. The Union has already adopted several Directives to combat discrimination.

The purpose of this Directive is to lay down minimum requirements for the functioning of bodies for the promotion of equal treatment (‘equality bodies’) to improve their effectiveness and guarantee their independence in order to strengthen the application of the principle of equal treatment as derived from Council Directives 79/7/EEC (3), 2000/43/EC (4), 2000/78/EC (5) and 2004/113/EC (6).

Directive 79/7/EEC aims to combat discrimination based on sex, in matters of social security.

Directive 2000/43/EC lays down a framework for combating discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin.

Directive 2000/78/EC lays down a framework for combating discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation as regards employment, occupation and vocational training.

Directive 2004/113/EC lays down a framework for combating discrimination based on sex in access to and supply of goods and services.

The Court of Justice has held that the scope of the principle of equal treatment for men and women cannot be confined to the prohibition of discrimination based on the fact that a person is of one or other sex. In view of its purpose and the nature of the rights which it seeks to safeguard, it also applies to discrimination arising from gender reassignment (7).

Directives 2000/43/EC and 2004/113/EC require Member States to designate one or more bodies for the promotion of equal treatment, including the analysis, monitoring and support of equal treatment of all persons without discrimination on the grounds covered by the respective Directive. Those Directives require Member States to ensure that the competences of such bodies include providing independent assistance to victims, conducting independent surveys concerning discrimination, publishing independent reports and making recommendations on any issue relating to...