European Union – Employment. The Court of Justice of the European Union made a preliminary ruling concerning the interpretation of arts 2, 6(1) and 16 of Council Directive (EC) 2000/78 (establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation). The request had been made in proceedings between Mr Schmitzer and the Austrian Federal Minister for the Interior concerning the legality of the system for remuneration of public servants adopted by the Austrian legislature with a view to ending age-based discrimination.