Decision No 771/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of  17 May 2006  establishing the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All (2007) — towards a just society   (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2006-05-17
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: European social policy, anti-discriminatory measure, equal treatment, gender equality, public awareness campaign

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I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

DECISION No 771/2006/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 17 May 2006

establishing the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All (2007) — towards a just society

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity, and in particular Article 13(2) thereof,

services, and social protection, Directive 2000/78/EC of
27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for
equal treatment in employment and occupation (5), which
prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion or
belief, disability, age and sexual orientation and Directive
2004/113/EC of 13 December 2004 implementing the
principle of equal treatment between women and men in
the access to and supply of goods and services (6).

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (1),

Having regard to the opinion of
Regions (2),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251
of the Treaty (3),

Whereas:

(1) Non-discrimination is a fundamental principle of

the
European Union. That principle should be taken into
account in all the European Union's policies.

(2) On the basis of Article 13 of the Treaty, the Council has
adopted Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 imple-
menting the principle of equal treatment between persons
irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (4)
inter alia,
training, education, goods and
employment, vocational

in,

(1)
(2)

(3)

(4)

OJ C 65, 17.3.2006, p. 70.
Opinion of 16 November 2005 (not yet published in the Official
Journal).
Opinion of the European Parliament of 13 December 2005 (not
yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of
28 April 2006.
OJ L 180, 19.7.2000, p. 22.

(3) Article 2 of the Treaty provides that the promotion of
equality between men and women is one of the essential
tasks of the Community. Likewise, Article 3(2) of the Treaty
requires that the Community aim to eliminate inequalities,
and to promote equality, between men and women in all its
activities.

(4) Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
European Union sets out a prohibition on discrimination
on a variety of grounds, whereas Article 23 thereof sets out
the requirement that equality between men and women be
ensured in all areas.

(5)

European legislation on equal treatment and non-discrimi-
nation covers all persons in the European Union.

(6)

The Social Agenda 2005 to 2010, which complements and
supports the Lisbon Strategy, has a key role in promoting
the social dimension of economic growth. One of the
priorities of
the Social Agenda 2005 to 2010 is the
promotion of equal opportunities for all as a means of
achieving a more socially inclusive society.

(7)

The year 2007 marks the 10th anniversary of the European
Year against Racism, which has enabled considerable
progress to be made towards the elimination of racial
discrimination.

(5)
(6)

OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.
OJ L 373, 21.12.2004, p. 37.

(8)

(9)

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European legislation has significantly raised the level of
guaranteed equality and protection against inequalities and
discrimination across the European Union and acted as a
catalyst for the development of a more coherent, rights-
based approach to equality and non-discrimination. Despite
this fact, people in the European Union still encounter
discrimination and unequal treatment in their daily lives.

(15) The varying levels of progress made at national level call for
urgent action to be taken at European and national level in
the field of equality and non-discrimination; in accordance
with the principle of subsidiarity, the bulk of actions of the
European Year is to be decentralised at national level.

The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All (here-
inafter referred to as the European Year) should lend fresh
impetus to supporting Member States efforts to implement
Community legislation on equal
treatment and non-
discrimination.

(10)

It is essential that actions in relation to racial or ethnic
origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation
take full account of gender differences.

(11) The consultation process organised by the Commission
through the Green Paper entitled ‘Equality and non-
discrimination in an enlarged European Union’, which
was presented on 28 May 2004, shows that, in the opinion
of most of the persons questioned, the Union should step
up its efforts to combat discrimination on grounds of sex,
racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or
sexual orientation.

(12)

In its Resolution of 28 April 2005 on the situation of the
Roma in the European Union (1), the European Parliament
draws attention to the prevalence of anti-gypsyism and its
discriminatory effect on the opportunities in terms of
employment,
the
European Union's most disadvantaged ethnic-minority
group.

education and social

services

for

(13) Key elements in the successful impact of the Community
non-discrimination legislative framework are the extent to
which it enjoys broad popular support and the existence of
genuine political will for change. In that context, the social
partners, local and regional authorities and NGOs have a
vital role to play. The European Year should act as a catalyst
in raising awareness and building momentum. It should
help to focus political attention in all the Member States
and mobilise everyone concerned in order to drive forward
the European Union's new non-discrimination and equal
opportunities framework strategy, including after 2007.

(14) The European Year will also seek to address issues of
multiple discrimination, that is discrimination on two or
more of the grounds listed in Article 13 of the Treaty. It will
also seek to promote a balanced treatment of all
the
grounds listed therein.

(1)

OJ C 45 E, 23.2.2006, p. 129.

the European Economic Area Agreement,

(16) Participation in the European Year should be open to
the candidate
the acceding countries,
Member States,
countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, EFTA/
EEA States, in accordance with the conditions established
under
the
countries of
in line with the
conditions laid down pursuant to their respective agree-
ments, and the countries covered by the European
Neighbourhood Policy, in accordance with the provisions
of the May 2004 Strategy Paper and the Country Action
Plans.

the western Balkans,

(17) Consistency and complementarity with other Community
in particular, with action to combat
action is needed,
discrimination and social exclusion, and to promote
fundamental rights, education and training, culture and
intercultural dialogue, youth, citizenship, immigration and
asylum and gender equality.

(18) This Decision lays down, for the entire duration of the
programme, a financial framework constituting the prime
reference, within the meaning of point 33 of
the
Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the
European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on
budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary
procedure (2), for the budgetary authority during the annual
budgetary procedure.

(19) The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
procedures
implementing powers
the exercise of
conferred on the Commission (3).

for

(20) Since the objectives of this Decision cannot be sufficiently
achieved by the Member States, owing to the need, inter alia,
for multilateral partnerships, the transnational exchange of
information and Community-wide dissemination of good
practice, and can therefore, by reason of the scale of action,
be better achieved at Community level, the Community
may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of
subsidiarity as set out
In
accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out
in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is
necessary to achieve those objectives,

in Article 5 of

the Treaty.

(2)

(3)

OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Interinstitutional Agreement as amended
by Decision 2003/429/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 19 May 2003 on the adjustment of the financial
perspective for enlargement (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25).
OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

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HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

(b)

information, promotional and educational campaigns;

Article 1

(c) Community or nationwide surveys and studies.

The European Year

2. Details of the actions referred to in paragraph 1 are set out
in the Annex.

The year 2007 shall be designated as the ‘European Year of Equal
Opportunities for All’.

Article 2

Objectives

The objectives of the European Year shall be as follows:

(a) Rights — Raising awareness of the right to equality and
the problem of multiple
non-discrimination and of
discrimination. The European Year will highlight
the
message that all people are entitled to equal treatment,
irrespective of their sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or
belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The European
Year will make groups that are at risk of discrimination
their rights and of existing European
more aware of
legislation in the field of non-discrimination.

(b) Representation — Stimulating debate on ways to increase
the participation in society of groups that are victims of
discrimination and a balanced participation of men and
women. The European Year will encourage reflection and
discussion on the need to promote their greater participa-
tion in society, and their involvement in actions designed to
combat discrimination, in all sectors and at all levels.

(c) Recognition — Facilitating and celebrating diversity and
equality. The European Year will highlight the positive
contribution that people, irrespective of their sex, racial or
ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual
orientation, can make to society as a whole, in particular by
accentuating the benefits of diversity.

(d) Respect — Promoting a more cohesive society. The
European Year will raise awareness of the importance of
eliminating stereotypes, prejudice and violence, promoting
good relations between all in society, and, in particular,
among young people, and promoting and disseminating
the values underlying the fight against discrimination.

Article 3

Content of actions

1. The actions designed to meet the objectives set out in
Article 2 may entail the development of, or the provision of
support for, in particular:

(a) meetings and events;

Article 4

Gender mainstreaming

The European Year shall take into account the different ways in
which women and men experience discrimination on the
grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability,
age or sexual orientation.

Article 5

Cooperation and implementation at Community level

The Commission shall ensure that Community actions covered
by this Decision are implemented in conformity with the Annex,
in particular by making sure that all the forms of discrimination
referred to in Article 13 of the Treaty and in Article 2 of this
Decision are addressed and dealt with fairly.

In particular,
the Commission shall make the necessary
arrangements to ensure the consistency and complementarity
of the Community action and initiatives referred to in Article 10
so as to help meet the objectives set out in Article 2.

representing the groups

It shall conduct a regular exchange of views with stakeholders,
that are victims of
the NGOs
discrimination and civil society, particularly at European level,
on the design, implementation, follow-up and assessment of the
European Year. To that end, the Commission shall make the
relevant
to such stakeholders. The
Commission shall inform the Committee, established pursuant
to Article 7(1), of their opinion.

information available

Article 6

Cooperation and implementation at national level

1.
Each Member State shall establish or designate a national
implementing body to organise its participation in the European
Year. By 17 June 2006, each Member State shall
inform the
Commission of its choice. That national
implementing body
shall be responsible for defining the national strategy and
priorities for the European Year and for selecting the individual
actions to be proposed for Community funding. The national
strategy and priorities for the European Year shall be set out in
accordance with the objectives listed in Article 2 and shall seek
the grounds of
to ensure a balanced treatment of all
discrimination referred to in Article 2.

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The procedure for awarding Community funding for actions at
national level is set out in part II of the Annex.

Article 10

2.
For the purpose of carrying out its tasks, the national
implementing body shall consult on a regular basis and
cooperate closely with civil society, including with organisations
defending or
those who are
representing the interests of
potentially exposed to discrimination and unequal treatment
and with other relevant stakeholders.

Article 7

Committee

Consistency and complementarity

The Commission together with the Member States shall ensure
that the measures provided for in this Decision are consistent
with other Community, national and regional action and
initiatives.

They shall ensure that the European Year fully complements
other existing Community, national and regional initiatives and
resources, where they can help to attain the objectives of the
European Year.

Article 11

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee, herein-
after referred to as the ‘Committee’.

Participation of non-Member States

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7
of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

3. The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.

4. The Member State's representative on the Committee shall
be designated preferably from the national implementing body as
referred to in Article 6(1).

Article 8

Financial arrangements

1. Community-wide measures, as set out in part I of the Annex,
may be subsidised up to 80 % or give rise to procurement
contracts financed from the general budget of the European
Union.

2.
Local, regional or national measures, as set out in point 6 of
part II of the Annex, may be co-financed from the general budget
of the European Union up to a maximum of 50 % of the total
consolidated costs of the actions implemented at local, regional
or national level, and in accordance with the procedure set out in
part II of the Annex.

Participation in the European Year shall be open to:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

countries with which the European Union has signed a
Treaty of Accession;

candidate
countries benefiting from a pre-accession
strategy, in accordance with the general principles and the
general terms and conditions for the participation of those
countries in Community programmes laid down, respec-
tively, by the Framework Agreement and by decisions of the
Association Councils;

EFTA States that are parties to the EEA Agreement,
accordance with the provisions of that Agreement;

in

the countries of the western Balkans, in accordance with
the arrangements to be established with those countries
under the framework agreements on the general principles
for their participation in Community programmes;

the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) partner coun-
tries,
in accordance with the general principles and the
general terms and conditions for the participation of those
countries in Community programmes laid down in the May
2004 Strategy Paper and the Country Action Plans. Any
Community financial support for actions in ENP partner
countries in this context will be covered by the European
Neighbourhood Policy Instrument, in accordance with the
priorities
established in the overall
cooperation with those countries.

and procedures

Article 9

Application and selection procedure

Article 12

Budget

1. Decisions on the financing of measures pursuant to Article 8
(1) shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with the
procedure referred to in Article 7(2).

2. Requests for financial assistance for measures pursuant to
Article 8(2) shall be submitted to the Commission by the
national implementing bodies in accordance with the procedure
set out in part II of the Annex.

The financial framework for the implementation of the actions
referred to in this Decision for the period 1 January 2006 to
31 December 2007 shall be EUR 15 000 000, of which
EUR 6 000 000 shall be for the period until 31 December
2006. For the period following 31 December 2006, the amount
it
is indicative and shall be deemed to be confirmed if
is
consistent,
financial
framework in force for the period commencing on 1 January
2007.

this phase, with the multi-annual

for

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Article 13

International cooperation

Within the framework of the European Year, the Commission
may cooperate with the relevant international organisations, in
particular the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

Article 14

implementation, results and overall assessment of the actions
provided for in this Decision.

Article 15

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the 20th day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Monitoring and evaluation

Done at Strasbourg, 17 May 2006.

By 31 December 2008, the Commission shall submit a report to
the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the

For the European Parliament
The President
J. BORRELL FONTELLES

For the Council
The President
H. WINKLER

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ANNEX

Details of the actions referred to in Article 3

I.

Community-wide action

1.

Meetings and events

(a) Organisation of meetings at Community level

(b) Organisation of events to raise awareness of the objectives of the European Year, including the conferences to
open and close the European Year, by way of support granted to the Member State holding the Presidency of the
Council at those times and the organisation of the first annual ‘Equality Summit’.

2.

Information and promotional campaigns involving:

(a)

The development of a logo, accessible and available in a variety of formats, and slogans for the European Year,
for use in connection with any action linked to the European Year;

(b) A Community-wide information campaign;

(c)

(d)

Appropriate measures to highlight the results and raise the visibility of Community actions and initiatives
contributing to attaining the objectives of the European Year;

The organisation of European competitions highlighting achievements and experiences in the themes of the
European Year.

3.

Other actions

Community-wide surveys and studies, including a series of questions intended to assess the impact of the European
Year, to be included in a Eurobarometer survey, and an evaluation report on the effectiveness and impact of the
European Year.

4.

Funding may be in the form of:

— the direct purchase of goods and services, in particular in the field of communications, via open and/or

restricted calls for tender,

— the direct purchase of consultancy services, via open and/or restricted calls for tender,

— subsidies allocated to cover the expenses of special events at European level to highlight and raise awareness of
the European Year; such funding will not exceed 80 % of the total expenditure incurred by the recipient.

The Commission may make use of technical and/or administrative assistance to the mutual benefit of the Commission
and of the Member States, for example to finance outside expertise on a specific subject.

II.

Actions at national level

1.

2.

3.

Actions at local, regional or national level may qualify for financing from the general budget of the European Union
up to a maximum of 50 % of the total costs per Member State.

Following adoption of this Decision, the Commission will
implementing bodies.

issue a call for proposals restricted to the national

Each national implementing body will submit a single application for Community funding in response to the call for
proposals. That grant application will describe the national strategy and priorities for the European Year, the actions
proposed for funding in the relevant Member State and the organisations that are to be responsible for the
implementation of each of the individual actions. The grant application will be accompanied by a detailed budget
setting out the total costs of the actions proposed and the amount and sources of co-funding. Eligible costs may
include provision for any personnel and administrative costs incurred by the national implementing body.

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4.

5.

The national strategy and priorities for the European Year will be set out in line with the general objectives set out in
Article 2 and will seek to ensure balanced treatment of all the grounds of discrimination referred to in that Article.

The Commission will evaluate and if necessary request modifications to the applications for Community funding
submitted by the national implementing bodies, which will be responsible for coordinating and monitoring the
implementation of the various national actions.

6.

Actions at local, regional or national level may include:

(a) Meetings and events connected with the objectives of the European Year, including an event to launch the

European Year;

(b)

Information and educational campaigns and measures to disseminate the principles and underlying values
celebrated by the European Year at national level, including the organisation of awards and competitions;

(c)

Surveys and studies other than those mentioned in point 3 of Part I.

III.

Action for which no financial aid from the general budget of the European Union is available

The Community will offer its moral support, including written authorisation to use the logo and other material associated
with the European Year, for initiatives undertaken by public or private organisations, where those organisations can
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Commission that the initiatives involved are or will be in progress during the
European Year and are likely to contribute significantly to achieving one or more of the objectives of the European Year.