L 180/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 19.7.2000 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 13 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Whereas: (1) The Treaty on European Union marks a new stage in the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe. In accordance with Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union, the European Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles which are common to the Member States, and should respect fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Euro- pean Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and as they result from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States, as general principles of Community Law. The right to equality before the law and protection against discrimination for all persons constitutes a universal right recognised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, the International Convention on the Elimina- tion of all forms of Racial Discrimination and the United Nations Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and by the Euro- pean Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, to which all Member States are signatories. It is important to respect such fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to freedom of association. It is also important, in the context of the access to and provision of goods and services, to respect the protec- (') Not yet published in the Official Journal. A Opinioln delivered on 18.5.2000 (not yet published in the Official ournal). ¢ JOpinion delivered on 12.4.2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (*) Opinion delivered on 31.5.2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal). origin tion of private and family life and transactions carried out in this context. The European Parliament has adopted a number of Resolutions on the fight against racism in the European Union. The European Union rejects theories which attempt to determine the existence of separate human races. The use of the term ‘racial origin’ in this Directive does not imply an acceptance of such theories. The European Council in Tampere, on 15 and 16 October 1999, invited the Commission to come forward as soon as possible with proposals implementing Article 13 of the EC Treaty as regards the fight against racism and xenophobia. The Employment Guidelines 2000 agreed by the Euro- pean Council in Helsinki, on 10 and 11 December 1999, stress the need to foster conditions for a socially inclusive labour market by formulating a coherent set of policies aimed at combating discrimination against groups such as ethnic minorities. Discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin may undermine the achievement of the objectives of the EC Treaty, in particular the attainment of a high level of employment and of social protection, the raising of the standard of living and quality of life, economic and social cohesion and solidarity. It may also undermine the objective of developing the European Union as an area of freedom, security and justice. (10)  The Commission presented a communication on racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in December 1995. (11) The Council adopted on 15 July 1996 Joint Action (96/443[JHA) concerning action to combat racism and xenophobia (°) under which the Member States under- take to ensure effective judicial cooperation in respect of offences based on racist or xenophobic behaviour. To ensure the development of democratic and tolerant societies which allow the participation of all persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, specific action in the field of discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin should go beyond access to employed and self- employed activities and cover areas such as education, social protection including social security and health- care, social advantages and access to and supply of goods and services. () O] L 185, 24.7.1996, p. 5.