WUNRN
European
Commission Acts Against Six Countries on Gender Equality Legislation
|
|
27/11/2008 |
|
On 27 November 2008, the Commission sent reasoned opinions to six countries to fully implement EU rules prohibiting discrimination in employment and occupation on the grounds of sex. Austria, Lithuania, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy and Malta have two months to respond. If they fail to reply or if the response is unsatisfactory, the Commission can decide to take them to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) Today, six Member States that have not implemented the Directive correctly received 'reasoned opinions'. This is the second step of the infringement procedure. The main problems include definitions of direct and indirect discrimination; rights of women on maternity leave; and the functioning of equality bodies. At the start of this year the Commission sent letters of formal notice to 22 Member States (Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia and the United Kingdom). The procedures against Cyprus and Greece have already been filed. After analysing the Member States' responses, the Commission found that Austria, Lithuania, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy and Malta have not implemented the Directive correctly. Similar reasoned opinions were sent to Finland and Estonia in June 2008. The analysis is still ongoing for other Member States. The Commission will produce a report on the implementation of the Directive next year, as required by the legislation. |
================================================================
To contact the list administrator, or to leave the list, send an email to: wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com.
Thank you.