Council agrees on final text to strengthen their role across the EU

The Council agreed on the final shape of a directive to strengthen the role of equality bodies across the EU in combatting discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

The European Parliament will now be asked to give its consent.

Equality bodies have been established across the EU to promote equal treatment, combat discrimination and offer assistance to victims. It improves the effectiveness of equality bodies and guarantees their independence by laying down minimum standards for their functioning.

This Directive will significantly strengthen the role of equality bodies as protectors of European citizens' rights, EU values and anti-discrimination principles enshrined in the Treaties. Today's agreement is an important step towards a Union of Equality.

Marie-Colline Leroy, State Secretary for Gender Equality, Equal Opportunities and Diversity

Equality bodies can only fulfil their role effectively if they are able to act with complete independence. For that purpose, member states will take measures to ensure that equality bodies are independent and free from external influence and do not take instructions from the government or any other entity.

Equality bodies should have sufficient staff and resources. Their tasks, according to the directive, should include data collection on equality as well as awareness raising activities, including on the existence of equality bodies and their services. Equality bodies can also issue opinions and decisions, conduct inquiries, and assist victims of discrimination, including before courts.

Background and next steps

On 7 December 2022, the Commission (Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli) published a proposal for a directive on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, equal treatment in the field 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.

This proposal was submitted together with a parallel proposal on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation.

The Council reached a general approach on 12 June 2023. Meanwhile, on 12 December 2023, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the parallel proposal, which has been confirmed by EU member states’ representatives.

With the aim of ensuring maximum consistency between the two directives, the Council decided to adjust the text of its original general approach in order to align it with the parallel proposal.

The text of the directive agreed today will now be sent to the European Parliament, together with a request to give its consent. Both directives are expected to be adopted in May 2024. Member states will have one year to adapt their national legislation.