NON-DISCRIMINATION: MEPS URGE COMMISSION TO KEEP PROMISE ON DISCRIMINATION LAW.

The committee is starting to mobilise as it sees that Mr Barroso's enthusiasm for such legislation seems to be on the wane. Committee Vice-Chairman Greek Socialist Stavros Lambrinidis recalled how this was the very issue that led his committee to bring down Commissioner-designate Rocco Buttiglione in October 2004. Mr Buttiglione was rejected largely because of remarks he made that many felt were anti-gay and anti-women. Dutch Green MEP Kathalijne Buitenweg waved around a copy of a speech Mr Barroso made at the time in which he pledged new anti-discrimination legislation within a year. She demanded to know what the EU executive was doing now.

In response, a Commission official noted that a feasibility study had been requested in June 2005 and that it was waiting for the results before deciding what future steps to take. Hinting that new legislation was far from inevitable, he referred to Mr Barroso's commitment to the obetter regulationo initiative. He added that two anti-discrimination Directives were already in force (2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC) and that the Commission's immediate priority was to ensure they have been implemented properly.

However, this is...