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Articles in this category:  26.02.2009 // Proposal for a Directive on Equal Rights conflicts with the fundamental rights of publishers
click to close The Commission’s proposal for a Council directive on equal rights is currently discussed in the European Parliament. The proposal aims to implement the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation and applies to non-employment areas such as access to goods and services.
The proposed directive would also cover advertising as a commercial activity and could, therefore, oblige magazine and newspaper publishers to publish for example adverts of sects, religious or political groups. Furthermore, the non-discrimination clause for disabled people in terms of accessing print media could involve higher costs for publishers.
These effects are not acceptable as they impact fundamental rights of publishers to refuse or to accept to publish editorial or advertising copy that is not in line with the ethos of specific titles. FAEPs aim is therefore to ensure that an exception clause for media and advertising is inserted in the directive.
Some MEPs so far support this position and tabled amendments that suggested such an exception. Nevertheless, at this stage it is still unclear how the Parliament will decide. A first discussion about the draft proposal and the respective amendments in the responsible committee revealed different opinions on the question whether such an exception clause should be incorporated in the directive.
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