Euro Commission Warns Netherlands on Discrimination

San Diego, Calif. – The European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities has told the Netherlands to fix laws that permit anti-gay churches and religious schools to discriminate against gay people in hiring, local media reported Feb. 4.

Vladimír Spidla said the European Commission could haul the country before the European Court of Justice if it doesn't beef up gay protections within two months’ time.

European Union law bans employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation, disability, age, race and religion.

The European Commission is the executive branch of the 27-nation European Union.

Several other nations also received warnings about their implementation of various aspects of the EU's Employment Equality Directive, which was supposed to be fully implemented by the end of 2003.