ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(76)650
Vol.1976/0197

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(76)650final.
Brussels.10January1977»
PROPOSAL FORADIRECTIVE
concerningtheprogressive implementation oftheprinciple
ofequalityoftreatmentformenandwomeninmattersof
socialsecurity
(submittedtotheCouncil "bytheCommission)
C014(76)650final

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
InitsResolutionof21January1974concerning aSocialActionProgramme,the
CounciloftheEuropeanCommunities expressedthepoliticalwilltoadopt,in
afirststagecoveringtheperiod1974to1976,themeasuresnecessaryto
attaincertainobjectives,includingtheachievement offullandbetter
employmentintheCommunityandtheimprovement oflivingandworking
conditions .AmongthepriorityactionstobeundertakentheCouncillisted
thoseaimedatsecuringequalitybetweenmenandwomenregardingaccessto
employment,vocationaltrainingandpromotion andworkingconditions.Accor­
dinglyon9February1976theCounciladoptedaDirectiveontheimplementation
oftheprincipleofequaltreatmentformenandwomenintheseareas.
Article 1oftheDirectiveof9Februarystatesthatwithaviewtoensuring
theprogressive implementation oftheprincipleofequaltreatmentinmatters
ofsocialsecurity,theCouncil,actingonaproposalfromtheCommission,
willadoptprovisionsdefiningitssubstance,itsscopeandthearrangements
foritsapplication .
Inconformity withthisDirectivetheCommission hasundertaken astudyof
thedifferences intreatment betweenmenandwomeninthefieldofsocial
security.Numerousdifferences intreatmentareapparentbothasconcerns
mandatory schemes(i.e.schemesimposedbylaw)andoccupational arrangements
whichinmanycasesoperateclearlytothedisadvantage ofwomen.Inother
cases,however,differences intreatment havebeendesignedtotakeaccount
ofdifferences inthesocialandeconomicpositionofwomenwhichthoughthey
maybeofdecreasingsignificance havealreadyshapedthelivesofmostof
thepresentpopulation .
Ithasbeenconsidered necessary,therefore,asforeseenintheCouncil
Directiveof9February1976toelaborate afurtherjudicialinstrument
sothattheprincipleofequaltreatmentsetoutinthesaidDirective
canbeappliedinthiscomplexfield.ThepresentDirectiveisproposed
forthatpurpose.
ThepresentDirectiveflowsfromtheDirectiveof9February1976whichin
Article2(1)setsouttheprincipletobeapplied,thatis:
"theabsenceofalldiscrimination basedonsex,eitherdirectly
orindirectly,inparticular byreferencetomaritalorfamily
status".

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ThepresentDirectivealsoappliestothesamecategoriesofpersonsasare
coveredbytheparentDirective,thatisthepotential ,,presentandformer
workingpopulation,includingtheself-employed ,inthiscasewithparticular
referencetoformerworkersinoldage,sickness,invalidity andunemployment .
Arrangements forthenon-employed areoutsidethescopeofthepresentDirective.
6.TheDirectivedoesnotsetouttoeliminatealldifferences intreatment
betweenmenandwomeninasinglejudicialinstrumentbutrathertoinitiate
afirstphaseintheimplementation oftheprinciple.Certainaspectsof
socialsecurityareexcludedforthepresent(Article6)buttheDirective
foreseesthepossibility offurtherjudicialinstruments (Article7).
7.Thetermmattersofsocialsecurityhasbeendefinedinrelationtothe
contingencies againstwhichthevariousschemesprotectthegroupsthey
serve.Thecontingencies setoutinthepresentDirectivearethoselisted
anddefinedinConvention No102oftheIL0(1952)andtheEuropeanCode
ofSocialSecuritydrawnupbytheCouncilofEuropein1964,withthe
exceptionofwidowhood,maternityandfamilycharges.Thesethreearenot
includedwithinthepresent •Directiveasthefirsttwoarespecifictowomen
andfamilybenefitsliemorewithinthedomainoffamilypolicythanworking
conditions.Howeverthisdoesriotprecludeawiderdefinitionbeingemployed
inlaterjudicialinstruments .
8.ThepresentDirectivecoversnotonlysocialsecurityschemeslaiddownby
lawbutalsooccupational arrangements sofarastheyarenotalreadycovered
byCommunityprovisions .Socialassistancearrangements arealsocoveredtothe
extentthattheysupplementorstandinlieuofsocialinsurancepaymentsforone
ofthelistedcontingencies ,e.g.thesupplementation ofinsurancebeneficsby
meanstestedpaymentstomeetbasiclivingstandardsandpaymentstot!\*long
termunemployed whoseinsurancebenefitsareexhausted.
Thisisinrecognition ofthefactthatthesamecontingencies canbecovered
indifferentwaysindifferentcountries,sometimesbycontributory benefits
andsometimesamixtureofcontributory andnon-contributory benefits.Social
assistancepaymentsinrespectofcontingencies otherthanthoselistedin
thisDirectivearenotcovered.

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9.Article6dealswithareaswhereMemberStatesarepermittedtocontinueto
operatecertaindifferencesduringthisphaseintheapplicationoftheprinciple
ofequaltreatment.Thesearefirstlythefixingofpensionable ageforoldage
or.retirementpensions;secondlythereckoningofperiodsofemploymentfor i
pensionandotherpurposes(forinstanceinsomeMemberStateswomenareallowed
tocountacertainperiodoftimespentoutsideemploymentfollowingchild­
birthasifithadbeenspentinemploymentforthepurposeofcomputingpension
rights)andtheacquisitionofrightsfollowinganinterruption ofemployment
(thisistoallowwomenre-entering employmentaftermaternityorthecareof
youngchildrentoacquiretitletobenefitswithoutfulfillingtheusual
contribution oraffiliation conditions);thirdlytheacquisition ofbenefit
rightsbyvirtueofthespousesinsurancestatusorcontribution record.
10.ItisnottheintentionofthisDirectivetoleaveasidecompletelytheseareas
wheredifferences oftreatmentareforthepresenttobepermitted.Article6(2)
providesthatthesedifferences shouldbekeptunderreviewandmodifiedasneces­
saryandtheresultsofthisexperiencewillbetakenintoaccountinconsidering
furtherCommunitymeasures.
11.Article7developsthetimetablefortheprogressive implementation ofthe
Directive.Asregardsmandatoryschemesthemajordifficulties lieinthearea
ofincreasesfordependants.InthoseMemberStateswherebenefitsareincreased
inrecognition offamilyresponsibilities itisusuallyfareasierforaman
toclaimahigherpaymentthanitisforawoman.Changesinthisfieldwould
involvearethinkingoftheconceptofthebreadwinnerorHeadoftheFamily
whichisfoundinthesocialsecuritysystemsofmostMemberStates.Thepresent
Directivethereforeproposesthatwhileitsprovisionsshouldbeimplemented in
allotherrespectsasregardsmandatoryschemesandsocialassistancearrange­
mentswithintwoyears,aperiodofthreeyearsshouldbegivenforMemberStates
todealwithincreasesfordependants.
12.Finallyaperiodoffouryearshasbeenallowedfortheapplicationofthe
Directiveregardingoccupational schemes.Thisistogivethelargenumber
ofschemeswhichexisttimetomakethenecessarylegalandadministrative
changesinvolving,astheymay,renewedconsultations betweenthesocial
partners.
13.Article7alsoprovidesforreportstobesenttotheCommissionattheend
ofeachstageintheprogressive !implementation oftheDirective,notonlycon­
cerningtheimplementation oftheDirectivebutalsotheevolutionofthesitua­
tioninallaspectsofsocialsecurityasregardsdifferencesintreatmentbetween
thesexes(including:pensionage,derived"ightsversusautonomousrights,
periodsofnon-employment,oneparentfamilies,etc.).

PROPOSAL FORADIRECTIVE
ontheprogressive implementation oftheprincipleof
equaltreatmentofmenandwomeninmattersofsocial
security
TheCounciloftheEuropeanCommunities
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishing theEuropeanEconomicCommunity
andinparticulararticle235thereof,
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEuropeanParliament,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEconomicandSocialCommittee ,,
WhereastheCounciladoptedon9February1976aDirectiveconcerningthe
implementation oftheprinciple©fequaltreatmentformenandwomenasregards
accesstoemployment,vocationaltrainingandpromotion,andworkingconditions
Whereasparagraph 2ofArticle 1ofthesaidDirectiveprovidesthatasregards
socialsecuritytheimplementation oftheprincipleofequaltreatmentshall
becarriedoutprogressively andthattheCouncil,actingonaproposalfrom
theCommission,shalladoptthenecessaryprovisionsdefiningitssubstance,
itsscopeandthearrangements foritsapplication;
HasadoptedthisDirective

<1
Article 1
ThepurposeofthisDirectiveistoputintoeffectintheMemberStates
inmattersofSocialSecuritytheprincipleofequaltreatmentformenandwomen
assetoutintheDirectiveoftheCouncilof9February1976concerning«cc<rss
to«<aployaent,vocationaltrainingandpromotionandwordingconditions.
Article2
1.ForthepurposeofthisDirectivethetermmattersofsocialsecurityshall
beunderstoodtocomprisethesystemsofprotectionreferredtoinArticle2<?)
belowinsofarastheyrelatetoanyofthefollowingcontingencies :medical
care;lossofearningsthroughsickness;lossofearningsthroughunemployment ;
oldage;employmentaccidentoroccupational disease;invalidity.
2.ThisDirectiveshallapplyinrespectofallmandatoryschemes,general
andspecial which
provideprotectionagainstanyofthesaidcontingencies aswellastoalloccu­
pationalschemesprovidingsuchprotectioninsofarasfcheyarenotalready
coveredbyCommunityprovisionsandallsocialassist^nc#arrangementsinsofaras
theysupplementorsubstituteforbenefitsInrespectofanyofthesaidcontin"
oencies.
Article3
Application oftheprincipleofequaltreatmentInmattersofsocial
securitymeanstheelImirrationofaltdiscrimination whatsoever ongroundso?
sexasregardsallobligationsandbenefitsrelatingtojfhescheme*andarraiige"
mentscoveredbythisDirective^inparticularasreg^rdjsthepersonscoveredby
theschemeorarrangement,theconditionsofeligibilityforbenefits,including
contributionconditions,thetypeandformofbenefit^,,ifherateofpayment
includingincreasesfordependantsandtheduration®fj|dconditionsunderwhich
benefitscanbereceived.
!

I
-2-
Artici® A
Withaviewtoensuringtheprogressive implementation oftheprinciple
ofequalityoftreatment,theMemberStatesshalltakethenecessary measures
tocossplywiththisDirective :
-inafirststageasregardsallmandatorysocialsecurityschemes,
generalandspecial
andallsocialassistance arrangements whichfall
withinthescopeofthisDirective,withtheexceptionofincreases
fordependants;
-inasecondstageasregardsalltheaboveschemesandarrangements
inthematterofincreasesfordependants;
-inathirdstageasregardsalloccupational schemesinsofaras
theyarcnotalreadycoveredbyCorcmunityprovisions .
Article 5
Ateachstageintheimplementation oftheprincipleofequalityof
treatment theMemberStatesshallensurethat:
a)anylaws,regulations andadministrative provisions contrarytothe
principleofequaltreatmentinmattersofsocialsecurityshall
beabolished;
b)anyprovisions contrarytotheprincipleofequaltreatmentwhich
areincludedincollective agreements,individual contractsof
employment,internalrulesofundertakings orinrulesgoverning
theindependent occupations andprofessions insofarastheyare
notalreadycoveredbyCommunityprovisionsshellbeconsidered
asnullandvoid,orshallbedeclarednullandvoidorshallbe
amended. ,
/

-3-
Article6
1. ThepresentDirectiveshallbewithoutprejudicetotherightsof
MemberStatestoexcludefromitsfieldofapplication
a)thedetermination ofpensionable ageforoldageandretirement
pensions;
b)thedetermination ofperiodsofemploymentforpensionpurposes
(inparticular asregardsthereckoningforpensionpurposesof
periodsspentoutsideemployment byreasonofpregnancyorchild­
birth)andtheacquisition ofbenefitrightsfollowinginterrup­
tionofemployment;
c)theacquisition ofrightstobenefitbyvirtueoftheinsurance
statusorcontribution recordofaspouse.
2. MemberStatesshallundertake aregularreviewoftheirarrangements
» t
withregardtothemattersexcludedfromtheapplication ofthisDirectiveunder
theprovisions oftheforegoingparagraph.Wheresimilarprovisions areincluded
incollectiveagreementstheMemberStatesshallrequestlabourandmanagement
toundertake thedesiredrevision.
Article7
1.. MemberStatesshallputintoforcethelaws,regulations andadmi­
nistrative provisions necessarytocomplywiththisDirective
-within2yearsofitsnotification asregardsthefirststage
ofitsimplementation assetoutinArticle4above;
-within3yearsofitsnotification asregardsthesecondstage
assetoutinthesaidArticle;
-within4yearsofitsnotification asregardsthethirdstage
assetoutinthesaidArticle.
2. MemberStatesshallcommunicate totheCommission thetextoflaws,
regulations andadministrative provisions whichtheyadoptinthefieldcovered
bythisDirective,includingmeasuresadoptedinfulfilmentoftheprovisions
ofArticle6,paragraph 2.TheywillalsoinformtheCommissionofthejustifi­
cationforanyprovisions theymaintainbyvirtueofArticle6,paragraph 1and
thepossibilities forrevisionatalaterdate.
./.

3. Within oneyear following theexpiry ofeach oftheperiods
laid down inparagraph 1Member States shall forward allnecessary information
totheCommission toenable ittodraw upareport ontheapplication ofthis
Directive forsubmission totheCouncil andtopropose such further measures
asmayberequired fortheImplementation oftheprinciple ofequal treatment .
Article 8
This Directive 1saddressed tothe Member States .