Volinik Hadja Lahbibi ühiskiri minister Erkki Keldole jt riikide ministritele

European Commission

Hadja Lahbib Member of the European Commission

Rob Beenders, Minister of Consumer Protection, the fight against Social Fraud, Persons with Disabilities and Equal Opportunities, Belgium;

Erkki Keldo, Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Estonia;

Aurore Bergé, Minister for equality and the fight against discrimination, France;

Domna Michailidou, Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, Greece;

Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Ireland;

Inga Ruginienė, Minister of Social Security and Labour, Lithuania;

Rebecca Buttigieg, Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, Malta;

Judith Uitermark, Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Netherlands;

Katarzyna Kotula, Minister for Equality, Poland;

Margarida Balseiro Lopes, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Portugal;

Petre-Florin Manóle, Minister of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity, Romania;

Luka Mesec, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Slovenia

Brussels, И 12. ад

Dear Ministers,

Thank you for your joint letter of 1 July 2025 calling upon the Commission to reconsider its intention to withdraw the 2008 proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation within six months.

With the first work programme of the mandate, the Commission had thoroughly assessed all proposals currently pending with the co-legislators. As a result of this assessment, the Commission put forward a list of 37 proposals it intended to withdraw. This included the proposal for a Council Directive on equal treatment.

European Commission-Rue de la Loi 200, 1049 Brussels-Tel : + 32 2 2991111

I am pleased to inform you that, having considered the supportive position expressed by the European Parliament and by a large majority of Member States in the Council, the Commission has decided to maintain the proposal for the equal treatment directive for further discussion. This was confirmed through the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of 6 October 2025.

I wish to emphasise that the Commission listed the proposal for the equal treatment directive among the priority legislative files in its 2026. Work Programme, adopted on 21 October 2025.

As set out in the Political Guidelines, the Commission is fully committed to building a Union of Equality. We will therefore continue to support the Council Presidency and the Member States with all possible means to help find an agreement on this important proposal.

Yours faithfully,

Hadja Lahbib

Electronically signed on 11/12/2025 15:15 (UTC+01) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121

Rue Guimard 11/13 1040 Brussels Tel: +32 2 227 39 10 [email protected] https://eu.mfa.ee

Erkki Keldo

Majandus- ja tööstusminister

Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium

12.12.2025 nr 10.1-13/1201-1

Austatud minister

Edastame Teile Euroopa Komisjoni voliniku Hadja Lahbibi 11.12.2025 vastuskirja nr

Ares(2025)11013738 (equal treatment directive).

Lugupidamisega

Kyllike Sillaste-Elling

Alaline esindaja

Tiiu Noobel [email protected] +32 2227 4337

1

Tiiu Noobel

From: LIMON Caroline <[email protected]> Sent: neljapäev, 11. detsember 2025 16:34 To: Esindus EL juures üldaadress Subject: [Re] Letter to Commissioner Lahbib Ministers of Belgium, Estonia, France, Greece,

Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden ... - Ares(2025)11013738

Attachments: Letter to Ministers.pdf; Transmission note_ES (1).pdf

Dear Ambassador, Please find hereby a le er signed by Commissioner Lahbib. Kind regards, Caroline Limon