Page contentsPage contents What is the role of equality bodies? Equality bodies promote equal treatment by providing independent assistance to victims of discrimination, conducting independent surveys, publishing independent reports and making recommendations on matters relating to discrimination. They were first established by the Racial* Equality Directive (2000/43/EC). Three subsequent equality directives entrusted equality bodies with the same missions in their respective field: the Gender Equality Directive in the field of goods and services (2004/113/EC), the Gender Equality Directive in the field of employment (2006/54/EC) and the Gender Equality Directive in the field of self-employment (2010/41/EU). The latter two have added the additional mission of exchanging information with corresponding European bodies. * The use of the term ‘racial’ in the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU and Council Directive 2000/43/EC (‘Racial Equality Directive’) does not imply any acceptance by the European Union of theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races. Assistance in cases of discrimination If you need assistance because you feel discriminated against, please contact your national equality body. Equinet – European network of equality bodies The European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet) brings together national equality bodies to promote exchange of information and best practices between members and organises capacity-building events. More information about Equinet Recommendation on binding standards for equality bodies In 2018, the Commission recommended a set of measures for Member States to improve equality bodies’ independence and effectiveness, in particular as regards their capacity to ensure that individuals and groups that are discriminated against can fully enjoy their rights. Member States should ensure equality bodies have the necessary resources to fight discrimination on the following grounds: sex/gender, race, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation. The recommendation furthermore stresses the importance to raise awareness on the role of equality bodies and on how citizens can access them to exercise their rights if they experience discrimination. Commission recommendation on standards for equality bodies New binding standards for equality bodies The report on the application of the Racial Equality Directive and the Employment Equality Directive and its accompanying Staff Working Document on equality bodies showed that most issues addressed by the recommendation remained unresolved.Therefore, as announced in its work programme for 2022, the Commission prepared a new legislative initiative with the objective to strengthen equality bodies by setting minimum standards for their functioning.Following negotiations in the European Parliament and in the Council, the two proposals were adopted on 7 May 2024. The directives (Council Directive (EU) 2024/1499 and Directive (EU) 2024/1500 of the European Parliament and of the Council) lay down minimum requirements to ensure that people in all Member States enjoy a common minimum level of protection against discrimination, to achieve a better application and enforcement of EU equality law. They cover the mandate, independence, resources, tasks and powers of equality bodies to (1) engage in the prevention of discrimination and awareness raising activities (2) deal with cases of discrimination/assist victims. Member states are required to adapt their national legislation to the provisions of the directives by 19 June 2026. 30 MAY 2024Council Directive (EU) 2024_1499 30 MAY 2024Directive (EU) 2024_1500 of the European Parliament and of the Council Proposal for a directive8 December 2022Proposal for a Council Directive on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and servicesProposal for a Council Directive on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, equal treatment in the field of employment and occupation between persons irrespective of their religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, equal treatment between women and men in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and services, and deleting Article 13 of Directive 2000/43/EC and Article 12 of Directive 2004/113/EC Proposal for a directive8 December 2022Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupationProposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation, and deleting Article 20 of Directive 2006/54/EC and Article 11 of Directive 2010/41/EU Contact JUST-EQUALITY-BODIESec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JUST-EQUALITY-BODIES[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) Documents 7 DECEMBER 2022Factsheet - Commission proposes to strengthen equality bodies