Article 13
Social dialogue
1. Member States shall, in accordance with their national traditions and practice, take adequate
measures to promote dialogue between the social partners with a view to fostering equal treatment,
including through the monitoring of workplace practices, collective agreements, codes of conduct and
through research or exchange of experiences and good practices.
2. Where consistent with their national traditions and practice, Member States shall encourage the
social partners, without prejudice to their autonomy, to conclude at the appropriate level agreements
laying down anti-discrimination rules in the fields referred to in Article 3 which fall within the scope of
collective bargaining. These agreements shall respect the minimum requirements laid down by this
Directive and by the relevant national implementing measures.
Article 14
Dialogue with non-governmental organisations
Member States shall encourage dialogue with appropriate non-governmental organisations which have,
in accordance with their national law and practice, a legitimate interest in contributing to the fight
against discrimination on any of the grounds referred to in Article 1 with a view to promoting the
principle of equal treatment.
CHAPTER III
PARTICULAR PROVISIONS
Article 15
Northern Ireland
1. In order to tackle the under-representation of one of the major religious communities in the police
service of Northern Ireland, differences in treatment regarding recruitment into that service, including
its support staff, shall not constitute discrimination insofar as those differences in treatment are
expressly authorised by national legislation.
2. In order to maintain a balance of opportunity in employment for teachers in Northern Ireland while
furthering the reconciliation of historical divisions between the major religious communities there, the
provisions on religion or belief in this Directive shall not apply to the recruitment of teachers in schools
in Northern Ireland in so far as this is expressly authorised by national legislation.
CHAPTER IV
FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 16
Compliance
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that:
(a) any laws, regulations and administrative provisions contrary to the principle of equal treatment are
abolished;
(b) any provisions contrary to the principle of equal treatment which are included in contracts or
collective agreements, internal rules of undertakings or rules governing the independent occupations
and professions and workers' and employers' organisations are, or may be, declared null and void or
are amended.
Article 17
Sanctions
Member States shall lay down the rules on sanctions applicable to infringements of the national
provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they
are applied. The sanctions, which may comprise the payment of compensation to the victim, must be
effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Member States shall notify those provisions to the Commission
by 2 December 2003 at the latest and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendment
affecting them.
Article 18
Implementation
Member States shall adopt the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with