EU Commissioner Urged to Press UK Over Traveller Discrimination

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE The Celtic League has written to the European Justice Commissioner, V?ra Jourová, urging her to support concerns raised by the Celtic League over discrimination suffered by the Traveller community in the United Kingdom. A recent letter to UK Communities Minister, Eric Pickles, was drawn to her attention (see CL News link below). The full text of the letter to Ms Jourová is set out below: ?Commissioner V?ra Jourová Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality European Commission Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200 1049Brussels Belgium 11th March 2015 Dear Commissioner Jourová, I understand that you recently held a meeting with various NGOs on the Equal Treatment Directive. I understand at that meeting you said: The fight against discrimination is a key priority for the Juncker Commission and it is my mission to unblock the negotiations on the Equal Treatment Directive. We already have EU legislation prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of nationality, sex and race. However, protection from discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation is limited to the employment field. We should build on this momentum to further progress in the coming months. I draw your attention to the attached correspondence to the United Kingdoms Communities Minister Eric Pickles MP in which we express concern at reports that he is coming under pressure from local authorities to adopt more draconian legislation aimed at the Irish Traveller community. In our correspondence we remind Minister Pickles that the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has periodically criticised the UK over the discrimination suffered by the Traveller Community. I trust that you will remind the UK government and specifically the Communities Minister that the UK also has obligations under EU directives which prohibit discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic background. (For information the Celtic League is an accredited UN NGO (ECOSOC) and our ?fields of activity? include ?Minority Rights, Human Rights and Citizenship and Governance?). Yours sincerely J B Moffatt (Mr) Director of Information? Related link: (voir le site) J B Moffatt (Mr) Director of Information Celtic League 11/03/15 (Please note that replies to correspondence received by the League and posted on CL News are usually scanned hard copies. Obviously every effort is made to ensure the scanning process is accurate but sometimes errors do occur.) ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues Internet site at: (voir le site) (voir le site)