The European Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. Effective protection against discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities is therefore a mainstay of European policies. However, a recent study on discrimination in Austria confirms yet again that discrimination is a widespread phenomenon: Almost half (43 %) of the respondents stated having experienced discrimination at least once in the course of the last three years. The findings of the study call for policy and legislative measures at European and national level in order to combat exclusion and to foster social cohesion.