Claude Moraes MEP joins cross party MEPs to call for safeguards on anti-discrimination in the European Constitution

If the current plans of the Convention on the Future of Europe to exclude the principle of non-discrimination in the introduction to the proposed European Constitution go ahead, European Governments are in grave danger of breaking their promise to oppose the rolling back of the EU's existing powers.

An unprecedented "Equality Coalition" incorporating leading Euro MPs and EU-wide organisations representing the fight against discrimination on grounds of age, disability, race and sexual orientation is issuing a special declaration against the threat on the eve of the crucial Praesidium meeting in Brussels which is due to recommend the final version.

Maria Liese Flemming MEP, co-Chair of the Parliamentary Intergroup on Ageing says:-

"If the new Constitution is really to improve Europe's relevance to its people, there can be no rolling back equality commitments in the existing Treaty".

Richard Howitt MEP, President of the Parliamentary Intergroup on Disability Rights says:-

"Disabled people and others who campaigned successfully to win these powers in the last decade will find it incomprehensible that the fight against discrimination is neither a value, an objective or even a shared competence for the EU in Europe's draft constitution."

Claude Moraes MEP, President of the Parliamentary Intergroup against Racism says:-

"The deliberate omission of a commitment to combat racism and xenophobia is a slap in the face and is deeply disturbing for the millions of EU citizens from ethnic backgrounds and for any European who believes in a EU free from the scourge of racism."

Joke Swiebel MEP, President of the Parliamentary Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights says:-

"Relegating equality issues to the Charter of Fundamental Rights which may or may not be given legal status is a clear and unacceptable retreat."

The Praesidium - the Convention leaders - are due to meet on 22 May, as part of final preparations for the draft Constitutional Treaty due to be agreed by 13 June. They have so far failed to respond to an invitation to meet representatives of the four EU umbrella organisations combating discrimination issued on 16 April.

cmoraes@europarl.eu.int

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