Europe and Me

Helping everyone feel they belong?

The European Union

Discrimination at Work

The two colleagues live in different parts of the town

But one of them seems to be given more work than the other

So she goes to ask why…

But the question costs her job.

A few weeks later…

What has made Leila react like this?

Languages of Europe

Did you know?• Riots broke out in 2005 in a small town near Paris in an area where

there is a large concentration of minority families from North Africa.

• The riots started after two French teenagers of African origins died. They were electrocuted as they took shelter in an electric power substation when being chased by the police. Following these deaths, a number of young people protested and clashed with the police. Their feelings were further inflamed when newspapers reported that the French Interior Minister had called them “riffraff” and threatened to "clean out the suburbs with a power hose."

• Within days, the riots had spread to other suburban towns in France. No fewer than 300 neighbourhoods were involved. Lives were lost and cars, business and houses were destroyed.

Did you know?• With some 10-12 million members, the Roma and Sinti are the

largest minority in Europe today. They live mainly in central and east Europe and the Balkans. Those of eastern European descent are called "Roma" and those of central European origin are referred to as "Sinti".

• When Romania and Bulgaria expanded the European Union to 27 countries, up to 8 million Roma became EU citizens.

• For many years they have been subjected to harassment, discrimination, ghettoisation, racial stereotyping and hate propaganda.

• The practice of sending Roma children to special schools for the mentally handicapped or concentrating them in special Roma classes with worse facilities has been said to be an international scandal.

Did you know?• The EU has taken a number of measures to prevent discrimination

against minority groups – including:• the Charter on Fundamental Rights which states that all people

are equal before the law, prohibits discrimination and requests the EU to protect the cultural, religious and linguistic diversity of minority groups

• the Racial Equality Directive which prohibits discrimination against people because of their racial or ethnic origin in terms of employment and training, education, social security, health care and access to goods and services, including housing

• the Employment Equality Directive promotes the equal treatment of all people in employment and training regardless of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation

Did you know?

• Every Member State of the EU has a National Equality Body that gives you independent advice if you think you have been the victim of discrimination.

• It you want to take your case to court using the laws in your country, your National Equality Body can tell you about:

• the procedures you have to follow • what the law can do for you• any financial support that is available

Did you know?

• In June 1993 EU leaders meeting in Copenhagen agreed rules for new countries wishing to join the EU.

• These rules are sometimes known as the Copenhagen criteria.

• They state that to qualify as members of the EU candidate countries must have institutions in place to guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.

• Candidate countries’ records concerning the treatment of minorities are assessed in annual reports presented by the European Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council of Ministers. Based on these reports, the European Commission recommends measures the candidate countries can take to improve their records.