Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting
10 November 2026
Legend
Transcript markers
- text Sentence being played
- text Search result
- text Intervention cited by the link you opened
Click a sentence to play the video from that moment. Select text to quote it with the speaker, timestamp and link.
More options
Official source
Offset
Transcript offset
0s
Text size
Export
Live capture
Versions of this video
Transcripts may differ slightly from one version to another.
EMPL
00:24 - 00:48
Speaker 2
Dear colleagues. Yes. The next item on our agenda is the exchange of views with the European Commission on its report on the application of the Racial Equality Directive and the Employment Equality Directive. And to present this item, Mrs. Ana Carla Pereira, Director for Equality and Non-Discrimination at DG JUST, is still with us. So thank you Mrs. Pereira for joining us for this discussion as well.
00:48 - 02:29
Speaker 1
Equal treatment in the workplace is a fundamental right, but having that right enshrined in legislation does not necessarily mean that everyone can exercise it in practice. This is why the effective implementation of our anti-discrimination framework remains so important.
For our committee, the Employment Equality Directive is particularly relevant. It protects people against discrimination on grounds of religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation throughout their working lives, from recruitment and vocational training to working conditions, promotion, and dismissal. Over the years, the Court of Justice of the European Union has clarified and strengthened these protections, yet significant challenges remain. Victims may struggle to report discrimination, to access justice, or obtain effective remedies. And for persons with disabilities, ensuring reasonable accommodation remains essential to making equal opportunities a reality.
The adoption of the Equality Bodies Directive in 2024 was an important step towards strengthening national enforcement mechanisms, and we now need to understand how these measures, together with the existing legal framework, can deliver tangible results. Today's exchange is therefore an opportunity to take stock of progress, identify remaining gaps, and consider what more is needed to ensure that equality in employment is not just a legal principle, but really a reality for workers across the European Union. Mrs Pereira, you have the floor for eight minutes, please.
The rest of the transcript is for Pro customers
Unlock the full transcript, chat, and every analysis feature with Polyfact Pro.
The video itself stays free to watch, in full, no account needed.
Ask anything about this video — I analyse its transcript to answer.