MEPs REJECT PROPOSALS TO TACKLE SCOURGE OF AGE DISCRIMINATION

4.44.53pm GMT Thu 23rd Mar 2006

West Midlands Liberal Democrats MEP Liz Lynne the Liberal Democrats Employment Spokesperson, has today criticised Euro MPs for rejecting calls for new EU measures to tackle age discrimination.

MEPs rejected an amendment to a European Parliament motion on demographic change which called for the Commission to introduce a specific directive on age discrimination with relation to goods and services. They also rejected amendments asking that technology be made accessible to all and highlighting the issue of multiple discrimination.

Speaking in Brussels after today's vote, Liz Lynne said "An ageing population is Europe's demographic ticking time-bomb, and the MEPs who voted against these amendments today have weakened what is otherwise a timely report."

"The 2000 Employment Directive will go some way towards removing age discrimination from the workplace, but people across Europe continue to face discrimination based on their age every day in accessing goods or services. Given the challenges we face, there is a real case for a specific directive to tackle this issue."

"Voters know all too well it's not what you say, it's what you do. If Tory and Socialist MEPs were half as serious about their commitment to the social agenda as they claim to be, they would have voted differently today."

"Tory MEPs even voted against calls for better implementation across Member States of the EU's Employment Directive, which forced the UK Government to bring in new age anti-discrimination measures this October"

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Liz Lynne, who is also co-chair of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Age, has long campaigned against all forms of age discrimination, and was responsible for ensuring age discrimination was included in the 2000 EU Employment Directive, which comes into force in the UK this October.

For further information, comment or to book an interview, please telephone Liz Lynne on 003222845521(Brussels) or 077644 52725 (mobile) or the Press Officer in Stratford-Upon-Avon on 01789 262785.