Proposal for a Council Decision on the fourth medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities for women and men (1996 to 2000) (95/C 306/02) COM(95) 381 final - 95/0206(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 27 July 1995)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of Regions,

Whereas the Council has adopted six directives, two recommendations and nine resolutions in the area of equal opportunities for woman and men (1),

Whereas the Council's Directives and measures in the field of equal opportunities for women and men have played a major part in improving the situation for women;

Whereas equality for women and men is a basic principle recognized by Community law;

Whereas the Heads of States and Governments, meeting within the European Council at Essen on 10 and 11 December 1994, emphasized that equality of opportunities for women and men, together with the fight against unemployment, is a paramount task of the European Union and its Member States;

Whereas in the White Paper on Growth, competitiveness and employment, the Commission underlines the need to strengthen equal opportunities policies for women and men in employment (2);

Whereas in the White Paper on European social policy the Commission undertakes to present during 1995 a fourth action programme on equal opportunities for women and men, to come into force in 1996 (3);

Whereas the European Parliament has strongly and repeatedly urged the Union to strengthen its policy in the field of equal opportunities for women and men (4);

Whereas the first three medium-term Community action programmes on equal opportunities for women and men (1982 to 1985, 1986 to 1990, 1991 to 1995) have played an important role in improving the situation of women and in promoting cooperation at all levels in this respect;

Whereas it is necessary to consolidate and build upon the results of the three programmes and whereas, despite the efforts made both at national and Community level, there is still gender bias, particularly with regard to employment and pay;

Whereas boosting education and vocational training and increasing the number of working women can help to enhance the competitiveness of the European economy;

Whereas there is a need to develop measures taking into account the social and economic changes, and in particular to respond to changes in family structures, in the roles of women and men in society, in the organization of working life and in the demographic composition of society;

Whereas active partnership between the Commission, the Member States, the social partners and all other organizations concerned needs to be promoted in this area and synergy between all the relevant policies and measures encouraged;

Whereas the present programme can, in accordance with Article 3b of the Treaty, and without prejudice to the competences of the Member States for promoting equal opportunities, bring Community added value by identifying and stimulating good practice and policies, encouraging innovation and exchanging of relevant experience;

Whereas the Treaty does not provide, for the adoption of the programme, powers others than those of Article 235,

DECIDES AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

This Decision establishes the fourth medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities for women and men (hereinafter called the programme) for the period from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2000.

The programme is intended to promote integration of equal opportunities in the process of preparing, implementing and monitoring all policies, measures and activities at Community, national, regional and local level.

Article 2

The programme has the following six aims:

- to mobilize all the actors in economic and social life to promote equal opportunities,

- to promote equal opportunities in a changing economy,

- to encourage a policy to reconcile family and working life for women and men,

- to promote a gender balance in decision-making,

- to make conditions more conducive to exercising equality rights,

- to support implementation, monitoring and assessment of activities in order to achieve the above aims.

Article 3

In order to achieve the aims set out in Article 2, the following measures may be implemented, enhanced and/or supported under the programme:

(a) methodological, technical and financial support for integrated projects for identifying and transferring good practice in the domains of the economy, enterprises and employment, reconciling working and family life, and participation by women in decision-making;

(b) setting up of facilities for observing and monitoring relevant policies with regard to equal opportunities and conducting of studies on all the economic, social and legal issues arising in connection with equal opportunities;

(c) ongoing assessment of activities undertaken under the programme;

(d) implementation of any action designed to promote the widest possible exchange of information and dissemination of the acquis communautaires on equal pay, equal treatment and equal opportunities and the results of the programme's initiatives.

Article 4

The Commission and the Member States shall encourage consistency and complementarity between the initiatives undertaken under the present programme and under the Structural Funds and other Community policies or activities, including those concerning education and vocational training.

Article 5

The activities under the programme which will be open to participants from the countries of the European Economic Area, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Malta and the Union's partner countries in the Mediterranean will be defined in the context of the Union's relations with these countries.

Article 6

The Commission shall implement the programme in accordance with this Decision. To this effect, it shall cooperate in a spirit of partnership with the Member States.

Article 7

1. The Commission shall submit an interim report on the implementation of the programme to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions by 31 December 1998 at the latest.

2. The Commission shall submit a final report on implementation of the programme to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions by 31 December 2001 at the latest.

Article 8

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

(1) Council Directive 75/117/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women (OJ No L 45, 19. 2. 1975, p. 19).

Council Directive 76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions (OJ No L 39, 14. 2. 1976, p. 40).

Council Directive 79/7/EEC on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security (OJ No L 6, 10. 1. 1979, p. 24).

Council Directive 86/378/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes (OJ No L 225, 12. 8. 1986, p. 40).

Council Directive 86/613/EEC on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity, including agriculture, in a self-employed capacity, and on the protection of self-employed women during pregnancy and motherhood (OJ No L 359, 19. 12. 1986, p. 56).

Council Directive 92/85/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding (OJ No L 348, 28. 11. 1992, p. 1).

Council recommendation of 13 December 1984 on the promotion of positive action for women (84/635/EEC) (OJ No L 331, 19. 12. 1984, p. 34).

Council recommendation of 31 March 1992 on child care (92/241/EEC) (OJ No L 123, 8. 5. 1992, p. 16).

Council resolution of 12 July 1982 on the promotion of equal opportunities for women (OJ No C 186, 21. 7. 1982, p. 3).

Council resolution of 7 June 1984 on action to combat unemployment amongst women (OJ No C 161, 21. 6. 1984, p. 4).

Resolution of the Council and of the Ministers for Education, meeting within the Council of 3 June 1985 containing an action programme on equal opportunities for girls and boys in education (OJ No C 166, 5. 7. 1985, p. 1).

Second Council resolution of 24 July 1986 on the promotion of equal opportunities for women (OJ No C 203, 12. 8. 1986, p. 2).

Council resolution of 16 December 1988 on the reintegration and late integration of women into working life (OJ No C 333, 28. 12. 1988, p. 1).

Council resolution of 29 May 1990 on the protection of the dignity of women and men at work (OJ No C 157, 27. 6. 1990, p. 3).

Council resolution of 21 May 1991 on the third medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities for women and men (1991 to 1995) (OJ No C 142, 31. 5. 1991, p. 1).

Council resolution of 22 June 1994 on the promotion of equal opportunities for women and men through action by the European Structural Funds (OJ No C 231, 20. 8. 1994, p. 1).

Council resolution of 27 March 1995 on the balanced participation of women and men in decision-making, OJ No C . . ., . . ., p. . . ..

(2) Bulletin of the European Communities, Supplement 6/93.

(3) COM(94) 333 of 27 July 1994.

(4) Resolution on the evaluation of the Third Community action programme on equal opportunities for women and men and proposals for the Fourth Community action programme A4-0104/95 of 14 June 1995.