The European Union is founded on the principles of solidarity, respect for human rights, prevention of discrimination and commitment to social cohesion.
Equality is one of the fundamental values on which the European Union is founded, reflected in the Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which give the EU a mandate and responsibility to combat discrimination. The Treaty provisions have allowed the EU to introduce non-discrimination laws for specific protected grounds (sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation).