On the 21st June 2008, Commissioner Vladimír Špidla will launch the 2008 ‘For Diversity. Against Discrimination.’ truck tour as part of the EU's Europe-wide anti-discrimination information campaign. The tour will kick off at the United Islands of Prague music festival (Czech Republic), where 20,000 visitors are expected – before going on to visit 20 cities in 10 different EU countries over the next four months. The initiative – now in its fifth year – aims to raise awareness of the right to a life free of discrimination and has so far reached half a million people. The campaign aims in 2008 to build on the success of the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, to which its activities last year were closely linked.

The truck tour is one of the most popular activities under the ‘For Diversity. Against Discrimination.’ campaign: an EU-wide information campaign launched in 2003 to raise awareness of discrimination and the legislation which exists to combat it, as well as to promote the benefits of diversity across the EU. By the end of the 2008 tour, the truck tour will have visited all Member States since it first set out in 2004 – details of routes http://truck07.stop-discrimination.info/. The Czech Republic has had three previous visits from the truck: Prague in 2004 and 2006 and Ostrava in 2004. This year Kacov (Sazavafest) will also host the truck.

"Discrimination is unacceptable," said Mr Špidla, Commissioner for Equal Opportunities. "But too many people in Europe are still unaware of their rights to a life free of discrimination. This campaign takes the message direct to citizens and will help to make the right to equal treatment a reality in everyday life."

The 2008 truck tour will visit Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia. Stopping in two cities per country, the truck will visit music, youth and film festivals, sporting events, universities and employment fairs, and bring together business, NGOs, musicians, artists and the general public to explore discrimination and diversity issues.

Other activities under the campaign in 2008 include the Journalist Award which will be launched in August. This award recognises the work of online and print journalists in the EU who, through their work, contribute to a better public understanding of the benefits of diversity and the fight against discrimination.