AGE Platform Europe is deeply disappointed and concerned about the European Commission’s decision to withdraw the proposal for the Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive. This action represents a significant step back in the fight against discrimination, including on the grounds of age, and the protection of older people’s rights.
According to Annex IV (page 25) of the Commission’s 2025 Work Programme, the proposed Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive, which would ensure equality for persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation outside the field of employment, has been withdrawn with this brief explanation and without any forthcoming initiative that would replace the 2008 proposal:
No foreseeable agreement – the proposal is blocked and further progress is unlikely.
Why is this important to all of us?
01 | Let’s define the Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive:
This proposal was designed to establish an EU-wide minimum level of protection against discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation in several areas of social life. It was meant to complement the current EU Employment Equality Directive, which prohibits discrimination in the workplace. However, this crucial proposal has been blocked by the Council of the European Union since 2008. Now, after 17 years of stagnation, the Commission has withdrawn it.
02 | Age discrimination remains one of the most widespread and normalised forms of discrimination in Europe, lacking a strong EU-wide framework. Adopting this directive would help advance the protection of older people’s rights and promote equality for all ages.
03 | Maciej Kucharczyk, Secretary General of AGE Platform Europe, expressed concerns and underscored the implications this withdrawal has for the EU’s commitment to equality and human rights:
“The European Commission’s announcement that it is withdrawing the Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive goes against the fundamental values of the EU and its ambition to create a “true union of equality” as Commissioner Lahbib recently pledged. To withdraw from this commitment at such a critical time – when discrimination on all grounds is on the rise – and without proposing any alternative is inexplicable, worrying and undermines the EU’s credibility as a world champion of human rights.
Rather, it is time to step up EU action on equality and non-discrimination, including the fight against ageism, to underpin the EU’s quest for competitiveness, economic growth, and geopolitical robustness. All of these objectives are equally important for the future of the EU and mutually reinforce each other.”
Maciej Kucharczyk
Secretary General of AGE Platform Europe
04 | Alice Kuhnke (Member of the European Parliament, Group of the Greens), rapporteur for the directive, has likewise expressed concern over this setback in the fight against discrimination:
“It is a scandal that the Commission is withdrawing this critical law. It is a betrayal of all those who daily experience discrimination in the EU. While Trump is conducting a witch hunt against Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) programmes in the US, the EU should step up and show global leadership against discrimination, and not back down. (…)
If the Commission decides to move forward with the withdrawal, we demand that the Commission promptly presents new, ambitious legislation against discrimination, at the latest when the updated equality strategies are presented later this year.”
Alice Kuhnke
Member of the European Parliament, Group of the Greens
Surprising decision
Last spring, the Belgian Presidency of the EU made a strong effort to reach a compromise on this Directive, and the current Polish Presidency priorities clarify that ‘The Presidency will also continue efforts to adopt the draft Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment.‘
Recently, AGE Platform Europe, alongside the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and Equinet, hosted a policy roundtable on age discrimination. Participants, including representatives from the UN, European Commission, European Parliament, Equality Bodies, National Human Rights Institutions and civil society, reinforced the urgent need for EU-wide protections against age discrimination.
Given this ongoing support, the decision to withdraw the directive is difficult to understand.
AGE urges the European Commission to clarify its decision and reinstate the Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive in its work programme. This is essential for building a ‘Union of Equality,’ as committed to by President von der Leyen in the previous legislature.
We remain committed to collaborating with our members across the EU, our allies in the European Parliament, Equality Bodies, National Human Rights Institutions and civil society networks to ensure that equality – including the fight against age discrimination – will not be left out in this EU legislature.
AGE reaction featured in the press
AGE’s response to the withdrawal of the Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive was featured in an article by EUobserver. The article also highlighted the reaction of Alice Bah Kuhnke, a Member of the European Parliament from the Group of the Greens and the rapporteur for the directive.
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Useful links
- Joint Statement from civil society organisations
- The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) briefing on equal treatment directive
- Proposal for the Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive
- European Parliament - Anti-discrimination directive
- European Commission’s 2025 Work Programme
- AGE Manifesto - The Europe we want is for all ages
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