One important step on this path followed within a few months of that Brussels conference. In September 1996, the Council adopted a Resolution on mainstreaming equal opportunities for women and men into the Structural Funds. This was a strong political indication of a willingness to make a radical and vigorous commitment to equal opportunities in the future implementation of the Funds. That Resolution asked the Commission to take gender mainstreaming into direct consideration when preparing its proposals for the reform of the Funds. Let me first sketch in the context in which the whole issue of equality is being considered at European level.
Equality is on the political top table.
I am happy to salute the way in which the Austrian Presidency has taken employment and equal opportunities very seriously indeed. And this has been evident right from the start of their Presidency. On 8-10 July the Ministers for Labour, Social Affairs and Equality were convened in Innsbruck for an Informal Council. It is clear that the Council and the Presidency are determined to make progress on mainstreaming and on equal opportunities within the European employment strategy. I am delighted that the Austrian Presidency took such an early opportunity to follow up the very useful Ministerial Meeting of Equal Opportunities Ministers in Belfast during the British Presidency in May.