This morning the Minister for Social Welfare and Family, Neus Munté, took part in the EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) meeting held in Luxembourg to address the issue of discrimination in Europe. During her intervention, the Catalan Minister called on EU institutions to take a step forward in “guaranteeing the rights of all individuals, eradicate situations where discrimination occurs and promote the values of respect, tolerance and equality among all citizens”.

 

Minister Munté, who participated in the event as a representative of Spain’s Autonomous Communities, exposed an agreed position to implement the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of “religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation” in a Council Directive Proposal. The same proposal was adopted by the Commission in 2008 and in 2009 received support in Parliament, however, despite this, the Proposal is still in its negotiation phase. In this regard, Munté highlighted the urgency for the Council to unblock negotiations considering the importance of completing “a European framework in order to protect those at risk of discrimination”.

 

“We hope the reservations held by some Member States can be resolved, especially in terms of social protection and education” asserted the Minister. “In this sense”, she continued, “we ask that once the transposition of the Directive is applied, States prioritize their attention to individuals who are particularly vulnerable and introduce positive measures to protect children, youths and the elderly”.