Problem the initiative aims to tackle
In order to ensure the effective application of the EU’s equal treatment legislation in practice, the Racial Equality Directive (2000/43/EC) and the Gender Equality Directives (2006/54/EC, 2004/113/EC and 2010/41/EU) require that Member States set up equality bodies. Their competences must include (i) providing independent assistance to victims of discrimination in pursuing complaints, (ii) conducting independent surveys, and (iii) publishing independent reports and making recommendations.
The text of the Directives leaves discretion to Member States as to the structure and functioning of equality bodies. This has resulted in significant differences between the bodies established in the Member States, in terms of mandate, competences, structures and resources. In recent years, a number of equality bodies have faced significant reductions in their budgets, and several cases of external pressure and undue interference have been reported. The functioning of a number of equality bodies has been severely hampered, as is evidenced by the increase in complaints about their independence and effectiveness. Studies conducted on equality bodies in the EU (among others, a 2010 ‘Study on Equality Bodies set up under Directives 2000/43/EC, 2004/113/EC, and 2006/54/EC’ and a 2012 Equinet report on ‘Equality bodies – current challenges’) report problems in the setting up of functioning equality bodies in a number of Member States. In particular, they observe that unequal and sometimes insufficient access to protection has been set up for citizens depending on their Member State, and that only an EU-level action can help ensure that equality bodies function efficiently and in an equivalent way across the Union.
The present initiative aims at tackling these issues and helping equality bodies reach their full potential, by setting up recommendations in relation to their mandate, independence, effectiveness and institutional architecture.
What does the initiative aim to achieve and how?
The adoption of EU-level standards for equality bodies will (i) provide practical assistance to Member States in the setting up of these bodies, (ii) provide practical assistance to equality bodies in realising their full potential, and (iii) contribute to close the gap in standards between equality bodies across Europe. The strengthening of equality bodies will itself help achieve a comprehensive and consistent enforcement of EU equality legislation, promote social change towards a more equal and inclusive society, and protect citizens against discrimination in practice.
The proposed initiative will put forward recommendations for equality bodies in relation to the following elements:
- Mandate of the bodies: to ensure consistency as to the grounds of discrimination and the scope of the activities covered by equality bodies.
- Independence: to ensure that equality bodies are free from external pressure and undue interference, and have the ability to work independently.
- Effectiveness: to ensure that equality bodies be provided with sufficient resources and appropriate powers.
- Institutional architecture: to ensure linkages with other equality institutions and a coherent application of the principle of equality.
The choice of Recommendation as an instrument will allow to be highly focused while leaving the detail to the Member States, so that suitable targeted actions are then taken at national level.
Consultation of citizens and stakeholders
A targeted consultation on this initiative is running from 26 March 2018 – 23 April 2018. The aim of the targeted consultation is to obtain first-hand and up-to-date evidence from key stakeholders, concerning the issues which should be prioritised at EU level. This will enable the Commission to follow an evidence-based approach when establishing the priority areas to be tackled in the Recommendation.
The key stakeholders targeted include equality bodies from EU Member States, the European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet), the Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions and the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR), and civil society organisations.
The questionnaire is available in English, and it is possible to reply in any of the 24 official EU languages. The consultation is accessible via the DG JUST website until 23 April. Equality bodies are warmly encouraged to reply to the consultation.
Commissioner meets with Equinet Delegation
As part of the consultation process, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Věra Jourová met with Equinet Chair Tena Šimonović Einwalter and a small delegation of Equinet members, Board members and the Secretariat to discuss the Roadmap and the Equinet Working Paper on Developing Standards for Equality Bodies.
Read more about Equinet’s work on standards for equality bodies here.
Evidence Base and Data Collection
Extensive evidence is already available and additional studies are foreseen in order to gather the most up-to-date evidence. Available evidence includes, among others, a 2010 Study on Equality Bodies set up under Directives 2000/43/EC, 2004/113/EC and 2006/54/EC, a 2012 Equinet report, a 2016 Equinet Working Paper, a 2018 Council of Europe seminar organised by the Council of Europe in 2017.
Evidence was also recorded in several EU reports, notably in the 2014 Joint Report on the application of Council Directive 2000/43/EC and of Council Directive 2000/78/EC (COM 2014 02 final) and in the 2015 Report on the application of Council Directive 2004/113/EC (COM (2015)0190 final). In addition, the 2017 FRA Fundamental Rights Report, the Midterm review of the EU framework for national Roma integration strategies COM (2015) 0190 as well as the Report on the implementation of Commission Recommendation on strengthening the principle of equal pay between men and women through transparency, COM(2017) 671 final, 20.11.2017 also analysed the situation of equality bodies and pointed out to their needs for standards.
An impact assessment is not deemed necessary, as no significant economic, social and environmental impact is expected. These were also the conclusions already reached in the Impact Assessment accompanying the 2008 Commission proposal for Equal Treatment Directive, which explored among other options that of a Commission Recommendation covering notably the issue of equality bodies.
Roadmaps
Roadmaps aim to inform citizens and stakeholders about the Commission’s work to allow them to provide feedback and to participate effectively in future consultation activities. Citizens and stakeholders are in particular invited to provide views on the Commission’s understanding of the problem and possible solutions and to share any relevant information that they may have.
This Roadmap is provided for information purposes only. It does not prejudge the final decision of the Commission on whether this initiative will be pursued or on its final content. All elements of the initiative described by the Roadmap are subject to change.
The Roadmap and Consultation are available on the European Commission website.