31.5.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 146/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DECISION No 771/2006/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 May 2006 establishing the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All (2007) — towards a just society (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 13(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1) Non-discrimination is a fundamental principle of the European Union. That principle should be taken into account in all the European Union’s policies. (2)  On the basis of Article 13 of the Treaty, the Council has adopted Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 imple- menting the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (¥) in, inter alia, employment, vocational training, education, goods and () 0] C 65, 17.3.2006, p. 70. () Opinion of 16 November 2005 (not yet published in the Official Journal). ()  Opinion of the European Parliament of 13 December 2005 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 28 April 2006. % O] L 180, 19.7.2000, p. 22. ~ - services, and social protection, Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (%), which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation and Directive 2004/113/EC of 13 December 2004 implementing the principle of equal treatment between women and men in the access to and supply of goods and services (°). Article 2 of the Treaty provides that the promotion of equality between men and women is one of the essential tasks of the Community. Likewise, Article 3(2) of the Treaty requires that the Community aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women in all its activities. Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union sets out a prohibition on discrimination on a variety of grounds, whereas Article 23 thereof sets out the requirement that equality between men and women be ensured in all areas. European legislation on equal treatment and non-discrimi- nation covers all persons in the European Union. The Social Agenda 2005 to 2010, which complements and supports the Lisbon Strategy, has a key role in promoting the social dimension of economic growth. One of the priorities of the Social Agenda 2005 to 2010 is the promotion of equal opportunities for all as a means of achieving a more socially inclusive society. The year 2007 marks the 10th anniversary of the European Year against Racism, which has enabled considerable progress to be made towards the elimination of racial discrimination. OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16. OJ L 373, 21.12.2004, p. 37.