Equality on Hold? The Withdrawal of the EU’s Anti-Discrimination Directive

The EU’s decision to withdraw the horizontal anti-discrimination directive has elicited concern about the future of rights and the bloc’s commitment to equality. This comes amid a troubling global trend of backlash and rising authoritarianism, regressive policies threatening hard-won progress worldwide.

The withdrawal by the Von der Leyen II Commission appears antithetical to the so-called "Union of Equalities" declared by her previous Commission. This move raises critical questions for advocates, decision makers and scholars alike: Is the EU stepping back from its promise to protect equality, especially for marginalised communities, and what impact does this have on its credibility as promoter of rights both internally and on the global stage?

Bringing together a range of scholars this roundtable will offer a critical and forward-looking discussion to explore the implications of this decision. From the erosion of LGBTQ+ protections to the broader social policy landscape and the EU’s external relations, we’ll examine what this means for the vision of a fair and inclusive Europe. Fundamentally, we ask whether this move reinforces the idea that the "Union of Equalities" is nothing more than an empty slogan. At the same time, we want to explore  how this  moment could galvanise renewed action for justice and equality.

Join us as we dissect the challenges and chart a path forward.

Speakers

Koen Slootmaeckers, City St George's, University of London

Roberta Guerrina, University of Bristol

Toni Haastrup, University of Manchester

Malte Breiding, Lund University

Chair

Katharine Wright, Newcastle University

When

10th March 2025 2:30 PM through  3:45 PM

Click here to register for this event.