WRITTEN QUESTION P-1910/01 by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Discrimination.
Date: 2001-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: age discrimination, employment policy, equal treatment, job access, national implementing measure

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/221

it wishes to apply for EU membership. EU-
The Russian Federation has given no indication that
Russia relations are based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which entered into force on
1 December 1997. One of
its objectives is to provide an appropriate framework for the gradual
integration of Russia and a wider area of cooperation in Europe.

The Treaties do not envisage the possibility of EU membership for regions forming part of sovereign third
countries. For that reason, the Commission does not intend carrying out a study into this possibility.

(2001/C 364 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1910/01

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 June 2001)

Subject: Discrimination

Is the Commission willing to abolish all age limits on Union territory which constitute discrimination on
the grounds of age and are contrary to Article 13 of the EC Treaty?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2001)

that

The Commission recalls
the Council adopted on 27 November 2000 Directive 2000/78/EC
establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (1). This Directive
prohibits discrimination on grounds of, inter alia, age,
including the use of age limits which are not
objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim, including legitimate employment policy, labour
market and vocational training objectives, and if the means of achieving that aim are not appropriate and
necessary.

The Member States have until 2 December 2003 to transpose the requirements of the Directive into
national law. In order to take account of particular conditions, Member States may, if necessary, have an
additional period of three years from 2 December 2003 to implement the provisions of the Directive on
age and disability discrimination. Any Member State which chooses to use this option shall inform the
Commission forthwith and shall report annually to the Commission on the steps it is taking to tackle age
and disability discrimination and on the progress it is making towards implementation.

As regards age limits for competitions for recruitment to the Commission, the Commission would refer the
Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-1512/01 by Mrs Raschhofer (2).

(1) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.
(2) See p. 132.

(2001/C 364 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1913/01

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Joint fisheries undertakings in Tunisian fishing-grounds

(28 June 2001)

Following the meeting in Madrid between the Tunisian ambassador to Spain and the mayor of Algeciras
(Andalusia),
it emerges that Tunisia is willing to consider all proposals for cooperation between
undertakings which will enable Spanish vessels to fish in its waters.

The facilities offered by the Tunisian government to Spanish vessel-owners and fishermen for the creation
of joint undertakings include: full tax exemption for the first ten years of activity; state subsidies going up