(2004/C 33 E/254)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2306/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(14 July 2003)

Subject:   ‘For Diversity, Against Discrimination’ campaign — indirect discrimination

On 16 June 2003, Mrs Diamantopoulou, Member of the Commission, launched her ‘For Diversity, Against Discrimination’ campaign. One of the aspects of discrimination referred to on the campaign website is what is known as indirect discrimination. The following instance is quoted: An example of indirect discrimination is requiring all people who apply for a certain job to pass a test in a specific language, even though knowledge of that language is not necessary for the job. This test might exclude more people whose first language is not the language tested.

That concerns a problem which, to date, has indeed been neglected. Quite a number of undertakings and organisations active on the margins of the European institutions in Brussels apply language criteria to job applicants which discriminate against the local populace. Furthermore, as regards job advertisements, the practice is widespread of applying the criterion not that the person appointed must have a knowledge of languages as such but that he/she must be a native speaker.

How is Commission planning to resolve the problem of indirect discrimination based on unfair language requirements in its ‘For Diversity, Against Discrimination’ campaign? What specific measures are planned in this area?