The Commission has recently published a Special Eurobarometer on ‘Discrimination in the EU in 2012’ (no. 393), the report shows among others:

• Discrimination is still considered to be common in the EU Member States. The three most widely perceived grounds are “ethnic origin” (56%), “disability” (46%) and “sexual orientation” (46%)
• Personal experience of discrimination (17%) remains in 2012 largely at the levels measured in 2009 (16%). Europeans who say they belong to a minority are more likely than Europeans on average to report that they have personally experienced discrimination.
• The economic crisis is contributing to more discrimination in the labour market, especially for older persons, and is impacting negatively on policies promoting equality and diversity.
• Discrimination in employment against people over 55 years old is seen as a significant problem in 2012. Europeans are very supportive of measures to foster diversity in the workplace and more critical towards what is being done to promote diversity in the workplace.
• A slight improvement in Europeans’ awareness of their rights has been recorded since 2009. Europeans belonging to a minority in 2012 are only slightly more likely than average to know their rights. Nor are individuals who have actually experienced discrimination significantly more aware of their rights.
• Europeans continue to prefer to report their case to the police should they become a victim of discrimination or harassment.
• The Roma are widely perceived as a group at risk of discrimination whose integration could benefit the society.