Request for a preliminary ruling from the Président du tribunal du travail de Liège (Belgium) lodged on 2 March 2022 – OP v Commune d’Ans

(Case C-148/22)

Language of the case: French

Referring court

Président du tribunal du travail de Liège

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: OP

Defendant: Commune d’Ans

Questions referred

Can Article 2(2)(a) and (b) of Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation ¹ be interpreted as permitting a public administration to put in place an entirely neutral administrative environment and thus to prohibit all members of staff from wearing symbols of conviction, whether or not they are in direct contact with the public?

Can Article 2(2)(a) and (b) of Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation be interpreted as permitting a public administration to put in place an entirely neutral administrative environment and thus to prohibit all members of staff from wearing symbols of conviction, whether or not they are in direct contact with the public, even if that neutral prohibition appears mostly to affect women, and may thus constitute disguised discrimination on grounds of gender?

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¹ OJ 2000 L 303, p. 16.