Brussels warns on anti-gay discrimination
Monday 04 February 2008

The European Commission has criticised the Netherlands for allowing churches, schools and other organisations too much room to refuse employment to homosexuals on religious grounds, reports Monday's Volkskrant.

If the rules are not changed, the EC will take the Dutch government to the Court of Justice, the paper reports.

The European directive of 2000 states that employers cannot refuse to employ people on grounds of their religion, sexual preference, race or age. The Netherlands has adapted its laws accordingly.

But the European commissioner for employment, Vladimir Spidla, has warned the Dutch government that its changes to national legislation does not go far enough, says the Volkskrant. He has given The Hague two months to react to the EC’s complaint.

Euro MP Sophie in 't Veld (left-wing democrat D66) tells the paper that the Netherlands points to religious freedom too easily to justify discrimination. ´Religious freedom is important but equal opportunity is more important,' she says.

© DutchNews.nl