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A proposal for a new European directive to outlaw age discrimination in goods‚ facilities and services is today (4 October) being launched by organisations representing older people from across the European Union.

The new proposed directive would outlaw all types of unjustified ageism in key areas such as health care‚ financial services and education. It follows from the 2000 age discrimination employment directive which will be implemented across Europe by the end of 2006. It aims to bring age legislation into line with other European law affecting race and gender.

The proposed directive was written by a leading UK-based Barrister Robin Allen QC‚ Head of Chambers‚ Cloisters‚ and a consortium of European and National organisations from across the EU. It follows three years of research and consideration of similar legal models in the USA‚ Belgium‚ Ireland‚ Australia and Canada.

Anouk Mulder‚ LLM Senior Advisor‚ LEEFtijd‚ a Dutch NGO expertise centre on age‚ said:

“This initiative shows that it is possible to legislate on this topic‚ and points out very sharply where decisions have to be taken.”

The aim of the proposal is to take forward the debate to secure equal citizenship rights for people of all ages‚ in the context of our ageing population and the increasing diversity within age groups in society.

Specific proposals include:

• Outlaw most instances of discrimination on the grounds of chronological age‚ age banding and age groups
• Bring age legislation into line with other European law affecting race and gender
• The introduction of some limited exceptions. These include transactions carried out in the area of private and family life; allowing age limits for the protection‚ education and special needs of children; allowing age bands in the area of sports and other competitions; minimum driving ages; and the use by welfare organisations set up to support children and older people; and some social security provisions.
• Insurance companies would be able to consider age‚ based on relevant and accurate actuarial and statistical data.
• Positive action to compensate for disadvantage will be permitted
• Within health care‚ member states will be able to use age groups and age brands in decision making about the provision of preventative health care and screening services‚ provided it can be objectively shown that the risks for which such action is taken are closely allied with a specific age group or age groups. It will not be allowed in terms of refusing treatments because of age

Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern England and Secretary of AGE - the European Older People’s Platform‚ said:

“The directive on age discrimination in employment and training agreed in 2000 has put in place initial steps to tackle ageism‚ the last bastion of discrimination. It is now time to outlaw it completely.

“This proposed directive will take forward the debate. It sets out a way forward to end some of the main forms of discrimination that effect people of different ages‚ and proposes a legislative framework that balances protection and practical implementation.

“Ageism is the most common form of discrimination‚ and now is the time to take action.”

Notes for editors

For more information contact Samuel Heath (ph: 020 8765 7512) or Mel Beardon (ph: 020 8765 7511)

Anouk Mulder and other spokespeople across Europe are available through the Age Concern England Press Office

The explanatory memorandum on the proposed directive is available from Samuel Heath/ Mel Beardon

The following groups are backing the proposed directive:

• Age Concern England‚ UK
• AGE – European Older People’s Platform
• CDU Senioren‚ Germany
• DaneAge‚ Denmark
• Expertisecentrum LEEFtijd‚ Netherlands
• 50 plus Hellas‚ Greece
• Forum 50+Poland‚ Poland
• Help the Aged‚ UK
• Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe‚ Germany
• MZU‚ Slovenian
• Swedish Speaking Pensioners in Finland‚ Finland
• Sveriges Pensionärsförbund SPF‚ Sweden

In May 2005 the European Commission made a commitment to consider the case for further age discrimination legislation: ‘the commission will undertake an in-depth study into the relevance and feasibility of possible new measures to complement the current legal framework. This study will examine national provisions‚ which go beyond the requirements of the EC Directives‚ in Member States and in some third countries. It will consider the relative merits of legislative and non-legislative measures. It will also produce a synthesis of cost/benefit analyses of different policy options carried out at the national level. The results of the study will be made available in autumn 2006. On the basis of this material‚ the Commission will assess the feasibility of possible new initiatives to complement the current legal framework’ (Non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all - A framework strategy‚ May 2005)

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Journalists contact:

Media Team
Mel Beardon
Sam Heath
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020 8765 7511/12
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Media Team