What Is The Equal Treatment Directive

The Equal Treatment Directive (ETD) is a legislative proposal on its way to become EU-wide binding law in all 28 Member States. Proposed in 2008 by the European Commission, it passed Parliament in 2010 and is since then being negotiated by the Council - the EU body composed of the Member State's governments. The required unanimity to make it EU law has not been reached until now - but it could be at any moment.

Intention	Reality
The intention of the ETD is to stop discrimination in the provision of goods and services.	The reality is that the ETD would turn freedom of contract from the rule to the exception; it would impose excessive bureaucratic burden and legal uncertainty; it would privilege few protected groups at the price of reducing freedom for all other citizens.

THE MAIN CONCERNS AGAINST THE ETD

A great deal of analysis has been given to the ETD, down to the smallest detail. And under close inspection, these five areas of concern appear to be the most important ones that affect everyone in one way or another.