Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-06-13-Speech-2-363"
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"en.20060613.32.2-363"2
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".
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you for the discussion which has just taken place and which clearly expressed the will of the European Parliament to back a series of measures in the area of equal opportunities, the fight against discrimination and the struggle for equal rights.
You spoke from various standpoints, covering various aspects of this sustained effort from the European Union, which, as I have already stated in my introduction, is one of the foundation stones on which our Union is built.
I hope you will allow me to comment very briefly on some of the points raised. Regarding the issue of positive measures, I feel that it is incorrect from any standpoint to talk about positive discrimination, since the measures discussed are really there to remove disadvantages and not to provide unfair advantages to anyone. European legislation facilitates such positive measures. We therefore decided through the medium of the work group to gather and assess examples of positive measures from individual Member States, and I think that this will prove to be of some importance.
There was also mention of the important issue of data collection. I have already stated this in my introductory statement, but nevertheless I hope you will allow me to say it one more time. European legislation does not prevent collection of the relevant data. Data protection is naturally important from the viewpoint of the individual, but we can of course use duly and correctly processed anonymous data, so it is therefore a question of formulating the right methodologies. I mentioned the reports through which we would like to formulate a method for measuring equality of opportunity or, as the case may be, for assessing levels of equality of opportunity, and in this respect we do of course need the required statistical data. I think that it is consequently a question of the appropriate methodologies. As I have already said, there are no structural obstacles from the standpoint of European law.
One important issue receiving a positive assessment was the year 2007. I think that this represents a real chance for assessing equality of opportunity from all possible viewpoints and for significantly raising the profile of our efforts, giving a very strong impulse for development in the years ahead.
Concerning legislation – at present there are two basic directives in force, and these directives mark a very significant advance. I have to say that it is now apparent that precise and reliable implementation on the part of the Member States still has not been achieved in many cases, although Member States are clearly devoting considerable energy to getting the directives applied. The European Commission will therefore push for the use of all legal measures at its disposal because, as I have already stated, it is hugely important to apply these measures fairly so that they may bring about a real result.
There is of course the open question of new legal instruments. As I have already mentioned, we are looking into this matter. In my view the clear principle applies that if legislation is necessary it should be introduced. On the other hand, however, it is always very important to assess whether the same effect might not be achieved through existing applicable instruments. We are considering the question of possible further legislation very seriously and we will produce our conclusions in 2007.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to thank you once again for the discussion and for the report. I do not know, of course, what will result from the report being debated and adopted by Parliament, but in any case the discussion that has taken place has been clear and rewarding, providing the Commission with a good guide for its future work."@en1
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