BRUSSELS (AFP) — The EU unveiled Wednesday new plans to tackle discrimination against aged or handicapped people, strengthen workers' rights and clear up health care across Europe's borders.
The so-called "Renewed Social Agenda" comes amid criticism of the European enterprise since Irish voters rejected the EU's reform treaty, and was a new attempt to prove that Brussels is concerned about people.
"A lot has been said about the need to bring Europe closer to its citizens. That's exactly what we are doing with today's social package," said EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou as she presented part of it.
Under the plans -- quickly criticised for lacking substance -- a real estate agent would no longer be able to refuse to rent to students, for example, or a company deny travel insurance to a handicapped person.
The draft rules build on past legislation preventing discrimination on the grounds of age, physical disability, religion or sexual orientation and extend protection into other areas of daily life like access to goods and services.
According to a survey from February and March, 15 percent of Europeans said they had been discriminated against on the basis of gender, disability, ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief over the previous year.
"The right to equal treatment is fundamental, but millions of people in the EU continue to face discrimination in their everyday lives," noted Vladimir Spidla, commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities.
The measures, drawn up by the European Commission, would also reform the way that works committees operate, encouraging companies to inform them earlier about any restructuring plans that might result in job losses.
On health, the package would ensure that the almost half a billion Europeans can get medical treatment elsewhere in the EU without prior authorisation, as well as be refunded.
Patients would also have easier access to information on cross-border healthcare, as well as make it simpler for patients to receive medication prescribed abroad after they return home.
The package of 19 initiatives is part of the commission campaign to show that it cares about citizens, whose concerns were underlined last month when Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty, meant to streamline decision-making.
But if the measures are to be implemented, the EU's executive arm was obliged to release them now, with its mandate set to expire next year and European Parliament elections in 2009.
The EU parliament must approve the rules for them to enter force.
But no sooner had the package -- described by Spidla as a "holistic approach" to Europe's social woes -- been released, than a storm of criticism descended.
The European Chamber of Commerce described it as "a confusing patchwork with questionable added value", while the Greens bloc in parliament accused Brussels of doing "public relations work". Union groups said it "lacked ambition".
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