Mr President, discrimination, in any of its guises, deeply offends our sense of co-existence and undermines one of the guiding principles of the Union, that of equality of treatment. This principle, as well as the prohibition of all types of discrimination, have also been included in the draft Charter of Fundamental Rights. I shall now comment on the fight against discrimination which we are examining today along with the proposal for a directive. The programme, despite being modest financially, can play a significant role in strengthening the mechanisms for combating discrimination and will achieve its aims if there is coordination, at both a Community level and within the Member States, with other programmes and initiatives in the same field. It is the Member States who are most directly responsible for the eradication of discriminatory practices and it is therefore essential that we incorporate all our accumulated experience and acquis in this field, and that this Parliament ensures that it is effectively monitored. We must support the social partners, the NGOs and other institutions which are pursuing the same objective, and we must also demand rigour in the selection of the actions and organisations which we are to support financially. Ladies and gentlemen, we are all aware of the budgetary pressures that exist within category 3 expenditure, which includes this and other programmes. Although the present legal basis releases appropriations for new preparatory actions, their funding within this category could lead to a reduction in appropriations for other policies. I would like to point out that, despite the commitment from the Commission, there is no express mention in the programme of technical assistance costs which are nevertheless envisaged in the financial statement. For this reason, the sum total of the appropriations must be allocated to financing operating expenditure. The citizens expect us to implement concrete measures. The fight against discrimination is something which concerns us all. In my view, this programme operates within a very general scope. Without prejudicing its objectives, we should support actions which are more in touch with the realities of discrimination. With regard to the proposal for a directive, I would like firstly to congratulate Mr Thomas Mann on the excellent work he has done. Balance, moderation and legal expertise were required and I believe that his report reflects those qualities. The common objective of eradicating discrimination in the field of employment can and must be pursued from many angles, but it is clear that the role to be played makes it essential to establish a minimal legal framework which must be consistent with all the measures to combat discrimination and, in particular, with the directive on race. The Member States already have a legal framework, both in the constitutional field and in ordinary legislation, and experience of the measures adopted in the fight against discrimination, which must be taken into account. Therefore, the concepts of framework directive and minimal directive are the key to interpreting the present proposal for a directive. However, the establishment of a perfect legal architecture which prohibits discrimination and protects the victims of it, does not guarantee its eradication in practice nor the elimination of its causes. It is therefore essential, amongst other things, to encourage and promote the culture of dialogue. The system of penalties laid down in the directive must guarantee that it acts as a deterrent and that it is effective in the eradication of discriminatory practices. However, as well as the penalties, the declaration of invalidity of activities is also important in the case of serious violations of the principles laid down in the directive. The exception of a difference in treatment which may be made on ideological or religious grounds or for reasons of age must bring together the law which protects certain public and private organisations with scrupulous respect for the principle of equal treatment. Ladies and gentlemen, this proposal for a framework directive is necessary but not sufficient, and we will have the opportunity to improve its mechanisms once the implementation period is over. The fight against discrimination will be a long one and we must therefore be attentive to the results of the measures we are debating today. (Applause)

Political group: PPE-DE