C 184/72
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
25.5.2023
1.5.
The EESC supports the obligation for public institutions to consult with equality bodies in a timely manner and to take their recommendations into consideration, but recommends that Member States should be required to report on actions taken in relation to their interactions with equality bodies and the results of such actions.
1.6.
The EESC believes that entrusting the supervision mechanism to the European Commission ensures a high level of attention to monitoring.
However, for this to be effective, it calls for consideration to be given to whether the reporting timeframe can be reduced to three years instead of five, as proposed by the directives.
1.7.
The EESC welcomes the clarification that accessibility for all also requires attention to the accessibility requirements of persons with disabilities and stresses that accessibility can also be a matter of access to advice.
1.8.
The EESC considers it very important to respect the diversity of national legal frameworks and practices on non-discrimination — including the fact that many Member States have given equality bodies powers beyond the minimal requirements of the existing equality directives — and to take into account differences in the way social partners and civil society organisations are involved in the process.
The proposals should respect the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, while safeguarding against lowering of existing standards of protection for victims of discrimination.
The EESC further insists that the proposals must promote a leading role for social partners and civil society organisations in the implementation of national non-discrimination frameworks and reinforce existing practices of support for social partners and civil society organisations from equality bodies.
1.9.
The EESC recognises that exercising investigative powers in the context of proceedings on behalf of or in support of victims of discrimination must be without prejudice to the powers and independence of investigations by courts, tribunals and other public monitoring bodies such as labour inspectorates.
1.10.
The EESC calls for adequate protection to be provided for complainants, proportionate compensation to be guaranteed for the offence suffered by the victim, and penalties to be ensured for offenders, with a view to focusing on an individual-centred approach to victims of violence or discrimination.
The sanctions, which may comprise payment of compensation to the victim, must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive and set out at national level in line with the national legal frameworks and practices (1).
1.11.
The EESC suggests that the promotion of information campaigns on EU rights and respect for diversity be developed and financed by the European Commission, and carried out at local level by national equality bodies, together with civil society organisations and social partners, and adapted to the needs of territories.
Special attention should be paid to the most vulnerable groups and special campaigns should be planned targeting children and young people at school, from an early age.
1.12.
The EESC calls for the regular collection and analysis of disaggregated data to monitor inequalities and discrimination, including multiple discrimination, and stresses the importance of carrying out systematic research on inequalities and discrimination, also in cooperation with organised civil society and social partners in work-place related matters.
2.
Background to the Opinion 2.1.
Equality bodies are national public institutions set up across Europe to promote equality for all and tackle discrimination.
They are independent organisations protecting and assisting victims of discrimination, monitoring and reporting on discrimination issues.
They play a fundamental role in the non-discrimination architecture of the EU (2).
(1) (2)
Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (Article 17 Sanctions) (OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16).
Equinet.