EU court reprimands ČR over anti-discrimination laws

Luxembourg - The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the Czech Republic failed to comply with the obligations of its admission to EU. It was the Commission of the European Communities that filed the lawsuit.

"The Czech Republic failed to adopt all the laws, regulations and administrative provisions in time under Article 12 and Article 54 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic," says the ECJ's verdict.

The obligations ČR failed to comply concern adopting two directives from 1986 and 1996 on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women.

These directives are included in the so-called acquis, a set of European norms the Czech Republic was obliged to implement after it had been admitted to the EU.

The ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is only a warning that does not impose any penalty yet. However, the Czech Republic will have to pay the expenses of the trial worth several thousands of euro.

Lawsuits between the commission and EU member states are nothing exceptional and the ECJ issues high numbers of them every year.

No affirmative action, please

The Czech Republic is the only country of the EU27 bloc that has not passed the anti-discrimination bill yet.

In 2004, the Chamber of Deputies made a push to pass the bill, but the Senate vetoed it, partially over concerns about the language that would provide affirmative action for the education and employment of Roma, as the Prague Post reported at that time.

Finally, in March 2008 the bill was approved by both chambers but this time it was president Klaus who vetoed it in May.

"I call on all MPs to discuss the bill immediatelly in the lower house and annull the president's veto and thus prevent further complaints, lawsuits and financial losses that the Czech Republic could face soon again," said Human Rights Minister Džamila Stehlíková (Green Party).