EU survey finds rise in discrimination

BRUSSELS, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Racial, gender, age and other forms of discrimination are on the rise in European Union nations, particularly among the young, a survey indicates.

This year's European Commission survey of discrimination in the EU revealed that the financial crisis is worsening the situation, even as economists are warning its effects on wages and employment are likely to extend for quite some time, the EUObserver reported Monday.

The European Commission report found that some 16 percent of citizens across the EU bloc reported having experienced some form of discrimination, be it based on race, gender, age, disability, religion or sexual orientation -- which is roughly as it was in 2008.

But when researchers asked the questions of minority group members only, rather than of all Europeans, they found a moderate increase in discrimination across most categories, while there was reportedly was a big spike in the number of gays and lesbians reporting discrimination.

The EUObserver said that while just 3 percent all Europeans reported racial bias, 25 percent of ethnic minorities reported such encounters, up from 23 percent last year.