European Diversity Truck hits the road

The European Diversity Truck hits the road in Strasbourg today and embarks on its long tour across Europe. Leaving from the seat of the European Parliament, the Truck will promote diversity and equal opportunities for all. The journey will take in 19 countries, covering more than 18,000 km. Visiting city centres, universities, job fairs, and public festivals, the mobile information platform will inform people about their rights to equal treatment and promote the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.

Vladimir Spidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, together with the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Pierre Moscovici, and the Chamberís rapporteur on the 2007 European Year, will today unveil the EU Diversity Truck in front of the Strasbourg seat of the European Parliament. The truck promotes the campaign For Diversity. Against Discrimination and carries the key messages of the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.

Vladimir Spidla said the tour facilitated direct discussion with citizens on the benefits of diversity. Letís not wait for the people to come to us, letís go to the people. The European Diversity Truck will be found on market squares and in front of schools; it will be at employment fairs and cultural festivals to inform citizens about their rights to equal opportunities. This is an effective way of reaching out to Europeans. Mr Spidla emphasised.

The EU anti-discrimination laws are amongst the most advanced in the world. Yet, only one third of citizens know their rights should they become a victim of discrimination. 64% of Europeans are of the opinion that discrimination is widespread in their country and 51% think that not enough is being done to fight discrimination.

The truck provides a platform for NGOs and people suffering from discrimination. Those who might otherwise have no opportunity to put forward their case can make their voices heard.

Thanks to the active involvement of prominent Members of the European Parliament as speakers and panellists, the launch event will give the tour a powerful start. Parliamentarians on stage and in the audience will carry the message of the European Year back to their constituencies.

Selected highlights of this yearís Truck Tour include stops at: the Diversity Festival in Madrid on 29th June; the Christopher Street Day in Saarbrcken on 29th July; the Dublin Hurling tournament on 2nd September; the Diversity in business conference in Rome in October.

The tour will allow guests to participate in the activities at a national level for both European Year of Equal Opportunities for All and the For Diversity. Against Discrimination campaign.

For more information on the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, see http://equality2007.europa.eu. For further information and photos of the tour, please see www.stop-discrimination.info.

Route of the European Truck Tour 2007
25.04. Strasbourg, France
27.04. Nancy, France
07.05. Graz, Austria
09.05. Maribor, Slovenia
18.05. Riga, Latvia
22.05. Tartu, Estonia
25.05. Vilnius, Lithuania
31.05. Szeged, Hungary
04.06. Sofia, Bulgaria
16.06. St. Julians, Malta
21.06. Genova, Italy
29.06. Madrid, Spain
30.06. Madrid, Spain
13.07. Lisbon, Portugal
20.07. Luxembourg, Luxembourg
24.07. Liverpool, UK
25.07. Liverpool, UK
29.07. Saarbrcken, Germany
04.08. Nove mesto , Slovakia
08.08. Budapest, Hungary
15.08. Copenhagen, Denmark
17.08. Aalborg, Denmark
20.08. Leipzig, Germany

Continued tour after a short break in August:
11.09. Brussels, Belgium
Sept. Dublin, Ireland
Sept. Edinburgh, UK
29.09. Brussels, Belgium
Oct. Milan, Italy
Oct. Milan, Italy
Oct. Brussels, Belgium
20.11. Lisbon, Portugal
21.11 Lisbon, Portugal