ABSTRACT
The European Union (EU) has a long tradition of tackling sex discrimination and working for equal pay between men and women, although its legislative enactments on discrimination in relation to other grounds of discrimination, including race, are much more recent. It was in 1975 that a Directive on equal pay was adopted and an equal treatment Directive, concerning equality between men and women, was adopted the following year. The Directive also provides for an exception to the principle of non-discrimination in relation to occupational requirements and access to employment. Directive 2004/113/EC implementing the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services extended the scope of protection against sex discrimination outside the field of employment and vocational training. The EU has also been concerned with tackling discrimination outside of employment in those fields where this is not currently covered.
