Press room
Press Pics
Launch event of Truck Tour 2007
- Richard Howitt, Martine Roure, Liz Lynne, Vladimír Špidla, Michael Cashman, Anna Záborská, Claude Moraes, Elisabeth Schroedter, Viktória Mohácsi at opening ceremony on truck stage
- The stop discrimination truck in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg
Downloads
Download Press Release Truck Tour 2007 Launch PDF-file (222 KB)
Download Logo European Year of Equal Opportunities for All 2007 JPEG-file (155 KB)
Download Logo For Diversity Against Discrimination campaign GIF-file (7,6 KB)
National Press Releases
Download Press Release Strasbourg 25.04.2007 PDF-file (185KB)
Download Press Release Nancy 27.04.2007 PDF-file (245KB)
Download Press Release Graz 07.05.2007 PDF-file (183 KB)
Download Press Release Maribor 09.05.2007 PDF-file (239 KB)
Download Press Release Riga 19.05.2007 PDF-file (246 KB)
Download Press Release Tartu 22.05.2007 PDF-file (224 KB)
Download Press Release Szeged 30.05.2007 PDF-file (163 KB)
Download Press Release Sofia 04.06.2007 PDF-file (288 KB)
Download Press Release Sliema 15.06.2007 PDF-file (245 KB)
Download Press Release Genova 22.06.2007 PDF-file (271KB)
Download Press Release Madrid 29./30.06.2007 PDF-file (181 KB)
Download Press Release Lisbon 14.07.2007 PDF-file (187KB)
Download Press Release Luxembourg 20.07.2007 PDF-file (218 KB)
Download Press Release Liverpool 24./25.07.2007 PDF-file (230 KB)
Download Press Release Saarbrücken 29.07.2007 PDF-file (187 KB)
Download Press Release Nove Mesto nad Vahom 04.08.2007 PDF-file (252 KB)
Download Press Release Budapest 08.08.2007 PDF-file (250 KB)
Download Press Release Copenhagen 15.08.2007 PDF-file (204 KB)
Download Press Release Aalborg 17.08.2007 PDF-file (202 KB)
Download Press Release Leipzig 20.08.2007 PDF-file (182 KB)
Download Press Release Glasgow 18.09.2007 PDF-file (529 KB)
Download Press Release Galway 28.09.2007 PDF-file (348 KB)
Download Press Release Sibiu 14.10.2007 PDF-file (179 KB)
Download Press Release Turin 22.10.2007 PDF-file (109 KB)
Download Press Release Trier 06.11.2007 PDF-file (184 KB)
Download Press Release Valencia 13.11.2007 PDF-file (766 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the Truck Tour?
A: The European Truck Tour spreads information about EU-wide anti-discrimination laws to countries across Europe and explains the rights and obligations of each and every citizen in the European Union. At the same time the tour in particular aims to increase public awareness of the benefits of a discrimination-free workplace. The truck allows this information to be transported to each country, where national partners of the campaign such as NGOs, stakeholders and ministries provide high quality, on-the-spot consultancy.
The EU declared 2007 the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. Therefore the Truck Tour events will also inform about the year and promote the benefits of equal opportunities for all.
Q: Which countries will the truck visit?
A: This year’s tour starts in Strasbourg and will visit 19 countries on its seven-month trip. After France, the truck will visit Austria, Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary and new EU member state Bulgaria, before heading to Malta, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Luxemburg, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Denmark and Ireland. The tour will come to an end in Portugal in November, when the European Year’s closing event and the Portuguese EU presidency will be celebrated.
Q: Why will the truck visit these particular countries?
A: This year’s tour completes the progression of three successful road shows organised in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The truck will visit 19 different countries, due to high demand from national authorities and stakeholders, among these the new member state Bulgaria.
Q: What distinguishes the 2007 tour from the two previous tours?
A: The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All 2007 adds greater impact to the Truck Tour by increasing the focus on the general public as a means of raising awareness of antidiscrimination issues and equal opportunities. Nevertheless, this year’s tour will again focus on young people in particular, informing them about their rights to equality when accessing jobs, education and training. Therefore, the truck will not only stop at highly frequented places to reach the public at large, but will also visit job fairs, university career days, youth festivals, and companies to raise awareness of the benefits of a discrimination-free working environment. Moreover, in 2007 the tour will also celebrate the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All and join in special activities planned during the year.
Q: What is the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All?
A: The 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All seeks to make people in the European Union more aware of their rights to equal treatment and to a life free of discrimination. These are two of the basic principles underpinning the EU. The Year will also launch a major debate on the benefits of diversity both for European societies and individuals.
The activities undertaken during the Year intend to remedy the discrimination from which some individuals suffer because of their gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation. These are grounds for discrimination that may be addressed at European level.
Q: What is the main message the tour wants to communicate?
A: Discrimination on the grounds of sex, religion and belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and ethnic origin is prohibited by law! People need to understand that diversity and equal opportunities are positive and beneficial concepts that embrace the variety of our society.
Q: Who will be on the truck?
A: The programme at each stop has been developed individually, in close co-operation with the national stakeholders, NGOs and employer and employee associations, and many of these organisations will be represented on the truck. Furthermore, local and national politicians and celebrities who represent diversity through the lives they lead will attend. And last but not least, there will be many people curious to know more about discrimination issues and opportunities to create a work environment free of discriminatory behaviour.
Q: The tour aims to promote equal opportunities. What facilities does the truck provide to offer people with disabilities such opportunities?
A: The truck is fully equipped to match the special needs of people with disabilities.
The most significant feature is the wheelchair lift, which guarantees users of all wheelchair types access to the truck at the push of a button. It works with an integrated electric motor that can carry up to 200kg to the stage height of 1.4m. The lift was designed exclusively for the truck and is one of the highest mobile lifts in Europe.
To ensure easy access to all areas on the truck, the interior has no steps. Information displays for brochures and leaflets as well as the information terminal are height-adjustable and easily accessible to wheelchair users.
A braille guide is connected to a special terminal and allows access for the visually impaired to information provided on the campaign website.
Q: What can visitors expect to see on the truck?
A: The programme differs from stop to stop. The truck provides information about EU anti-discrimination legislation, the “For Diversity. Against Discrimination.” campaign and the European Year for Equal Opportunities for All 2007. Visitors are offered an extensive information programme including discussions with various politicians, anti-discrimination training sessions, acting performances, live music acts and films on anti-discrimination. Attendees will find information about the national and regional NGOs that offer specific support in the country. Highlights of this year’s tour include a mobile “Ability Park”, a travelling poster exhibition presenting the best designs of the "Breaking Stereotypes" EU Poster Competition, as well as a video vox pop allowing users to record their personal statement on diversity issues on film.
In order to actively involve young people, the truck features a karaoke song contest where visitors can showcase their singing skills. The songs have been carefully chosen in line with the campaign objectives and messages.
People are also invited to take part in “Trucktivity”, an interactive quiz featuring questions spread around the truck.
Q: What is the Ability Park?
A: One of the highlights of the “infotainment” programme is an interactive Ability Park aimed at increasing public awareness of the barriers people with disabilities face in everyday life. The park, developed together with disability NGOs, invites visitors to master a fixed obstacle course using a wheelchair. As an additional challenge to the participants’ senses, they will be asked to identify everyday odours and noises without being able to see what they are.
Q: How long will the truck be on tour?
A: The truck starts its tour on 25 April and this first stage will tour Europe until 20 August. The second stage starts in September, ending on 20 November in Lisbon with the closing conference of the European Year.
Q: Where can I get concrete information about the venues and agenda?
A: All information about the truck can be found on the www.stop-discrimination.info website. The new website dedicated entirely to the truck has been online since the beginning of April (www.Truck07.stop-discrimination.info).
Q: Can I see the truck before the actual tour?
A: On the campaign website at www.Truck07.stop-discrimination.info visitors can access a virtual model of the truck before the start of the tour to get a better idea of how it looks. People enter the truck via the front steps, and can see a 3D version of various information tools, such as terminals or film shows. Additionally, descriptions are provided to explain how these tools are used.
