Remedies and Sanctions in EC non-discrimination law

“Effective, proportionate and dissuasive national sanctions and remedies, with particular reference to upper limits on compensation to victims of discrimination”

The most important as well as the most specific requirements under EC law regarding remedies were first developed in the case law of the European Court of Justice concerning sex discrimination. Due to their general nature and due to parallels between sex discrimination law and other areas of Community law, the requirements resulting from sex equality case law are not limited to sex equality law but are also relevant in other contexts, such as the Race Equality Directive and the Employment Equality Directive.

Thematic Study on Policy Measures concerning Disadvantaged Youth

Employment in Europe 2006

Compared to 2004, economic growth in the EU decelerated in 2005, mainly due to the impact of the sharp rise in oil prices. GDP growth averaged 1.6% for the year as a whole, down from 2.4% in 2004. However, this appears to be only a temporary deceleration.

Despite the deceleration in economic growth, employment growth in the EU continued to recover gradually from the low in 2003, but remains well down on the levels observed in the late 1990s and 2000. Employment growth averaged 0.9% for the year as a whole, up on the previous year’s level of 0.5%. Reflecting the moderate improvement in labour market conditions, the employment rate in the EU increased to 63.8% in 2005 (from 63.3% in 2004), while the unemployment rate declined to 8.7%, down from 9.1% the year before. However, although moderate, there was a generalised decline in labour productivity growth in 2005, and the EU continues to underperform relative to the US, both in terms of employment and productivity growth.

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Equality and non-discrimination. Annual report 2006

November 2006

Part I of this report summarises these developments in anti-discrimination legislation and presents the state of play in each of the 25 Member States. It takes a look at how the individual’s rights to equal treatment laid down in EU law can be protected and enforced. This part also explains several of the legislation's key concepts and includes case studies revealing how they are applied in practice. Part II sets out the main objectives of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, explains what will happen and when, and asks several key stakeholders in the fight against discrimination about their hopes and expectations for the Year – as well as how they plan to get involved.

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European Anti-Discrimination Law Review IV

Combating Discrimination - A Training Manual

This training tool was developed as part of the EU-funded project ‘Capacity Building of Civil Society dealing with Anti-Discrimination’ with the aim of providing training on European and national anti-discrimination law and policy to non-governmental organisations in the 10 Member States which joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 as well as in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

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Equal Rights in Practice 2006

Autumn 2006

The first annual European Equality Summit will be hosted in Germany in January next year. This will provide an invaluable opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved across the European Union in promoting equality on the grounds of age, disability, gender, racial and ethnic origin, religion and sexual orientation.

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Putting Equality Into Practice

Community Action Programme to combat discrimination

Since 1999, the European Community has been tasked by its Member States to tackle discrimination in Europe – on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The legislation introduced as a result – the two landmark Directives on Racial Equality and Employment Equality in 2000 – have given people in the EU a uniform level of protection against discrimination. Together, they represent some of the most comprehensive and far-reaching anti-discrimination laws to be found anywhere in the world.

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European Anti-Discrimination Law Review III

April 2006

In this issue:

Articles on The Racial Equality Directive and Roma, the Council of Europe´s Collective Complaints Procedure and situation testing / ECJ and ECHR Case Law Updates / National Legal Developments / European Policy Updates

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Equal Rights in Practice 2006

March 2006

Europe is facing a difficult situation. Globalisation, immigration and EU enlargement have created fears amongst people. Last year’s referenda in France and the Netherlands showed the lack of trust in the EU. The EU is an open project, integration is therefore a necessity. In order to successfully achieve more integration, the focus must be on overcoming obstacles to growth and job creation.

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European Employment Observatory - Review: Spring 2006

This executive summary from the European Employment Observatory provides an overview of innovative labour market practices and policies across the 29 European countries covered by the Observatory (25 European Union (EU) Member States plus Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Norway). It is based on articles written by the SYSDEM network of national experts from each country.