WRITTEN QUESTION P-0028/04 by Philip Bushill-Matthews (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Age discrimination.
Date: 2004-01-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: age discrimination, employment policy, equal treatment, seniority

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/917

(2004/C 78 E/0969)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0028/04

by Philip Bushill-Matthews (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 January 2004)

Subject: Age discrimination

Could the Commission confirm whether it intended the Age Discrimination Directive (Council Directive
2000/78/EC (1) of 27 November 2000) to outlaw the giving of long-service awards or celebratory parties
for employees of say 25 years’ service?

Has the Commission had any queries from any Member State in this regard?

Given that some employers in the UK are concerned that younger workers might regard such rewards as
discriminatory and could sue, would the Commission agree that official clarification would be helpful to
avoid such an eventuality?

(1) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(13 February 2004)

Council’s Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 puts in place a framework for equal treatment in
employment and occupation, and prohibits discrimination on grounds of age, disability, religion or belief
or sexual orientation. The Directive covers access to employment, pay, working conditions, dismissal,
training, etc. and both direct and indirect discrimination are covered. The Member States had to transpose
the Directive by 2 December 2003, and once it is transposed people must take their case before the
national courts under national law.

The Commission considers that the giving of long-service medals or other methods of celebrating long
service would not be considered as discriminatory as they are awarded on the basis of seniority rather than
age as such.

(2004/C 78 E/0970)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0029/04

by Heinz Kindermann (PSE) to the Commission

(9 January 2004)

Subject: Closure of veterinary border control point at Pomellen, Germany

According to a Commission consultation document, the veterinary border control point at Pomellen in
Germany is one of those to be taken off the list of authorised EU veterinary border control points when
enlargement occurs (i.e.
in principle on 1 May 2004). Four months before enlargement, however, the
Commission has yet to provide any official information concerning the future of veterinary control points
at the borders with the accession countries. However, the operating authorities (cid:1) in this case the
administrative district of Uecker-Randow (cid:1) require definite information in order to put an end to the
uncertainty affecting their planning.

The EU has granted the 10 accession countries wide-ranging transitional arrangements in the veterinary
and food sector (slaughterhouses, milk producers, etc.) on condition that their non-EU-compliant products
are marketed only in the relevant accession country and do not therefore enter the internal market.

Can the Commission say definitely when the veterinary border control point at Pomellen will lose its

1.
EU authorisation and thereby its responsibility for veterinary checks at the border?