it •& COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 30.05.19% 
COM(96) 252 final 
95/0308 (CNS) 
Amended proposal for a 
COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION 
on the balanced participation of 
women and men in decision-making 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a(2) 
of the EC Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 
1. The initial proposal for a Council Recommendation was adopted by the Commision 
on 29 November 1995 (COM(95) 593 final). Its aim is to encourage the Member 
States to examine the question of the balance between women and men in all areas 
of decision-making (economic, political, social and cultural), and to adopt a 
comprehensive and integrated strategy to achieve such a balance. 
2. The Economic and Social Committee delivered favourable opinion on this initial 
proposal (24 April 1996) 
3 At its plenary of May 24th, the European Parliament voted 36 amendments, of which 
8 are acceptable by the Commission in toto and 1 in part (2, 8, 10, 14, 19, 25, 26, 31, 
35): The accepted amendments strenghten and broaden the scope of the initial proposal 
in terms of: 
the importance of reconciling professional and family life, 
the close links between the decision-making process and women's participation in the 
labour market as well as main streaming. 
the need for public campaigns 
the monitoring and evaluation of targets 
the promotion of entrepreneur ship of women 
4 The amendments which are not accepted can be seperated into three groups: 
Those which: 
propose changes to the meaning of the text that do not appear to add anything useful 
(1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, 32) 
propose completely new concepts which are not yet developed sufficiently either by 
the Commission or the Member States (5, 9, 13, 28, 29, 33). 
refer to areas where Commission has the right of initiative (36) or propose activities 
for the Commission which fall outside its present competences (34). 
The amended proposal takes into account those amendments which have been accepted by 
the Commission. 
COM (95) 593 final 
PROPOSAL FOR 
A COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION ON 
THE BALANCED PARTICIPATION OF 
WOMEN AND MEN IN DECISION­
MAKING AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR 
A COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION ON 
THE BALANCED PARTICIPATION OF 
WOMEN AND MEN IN DECISION­
MAKING 
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 Commission's proposal, 
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 
Committee of the Regions, of the 
Whereas the Council has adopted a series 
of legislative instruments and political 
commitments in the field of equal treatment 
and opportunities for men and women; 
Whereas the Heads of State and 
Government, meeting within the European 
Council in Essen and Cannes, stressed that 
equal opportunities for women and men and 
the fight against unemployment were 
paramount tasks of the European Union and 
its Member States; 
Whereas attention was focused on women's 
access to decision-making in the Council 
Recommendation of 13 December 1984 on 
the promotion of positive action for women, 
in the Council Resolution of 24 July 1986 
on the promotion of equal opportunities for 
women and in the Council Resolution of 
21 May 1991 on the Third Medium-Term 
Community Action Programme on Equal 
Opportunities for Women and Men (1991-
1995); 
Whereas the Council Resolution of 
27 March 1995 on the balanced 
participation of women and men in 
decision-making called on the Member 
States to "promote the balanced 
participation of men and women in 
decision-making as a priority objective in 
the context of their respective practices 
regarding equal opportunities for women 
and men and to adopt this objective as such 
in their government's programmes" and, 
moreover, called upon the Commission "to 
draw up a draft recommendation to be 
submitted to the Council aimed at 
promoting the balanced participation of 
women and men in decision-making"; 
Whereas the European Parliament in its 
Resolution of 11 February 1994 "on women 
in decision-making bodies" asked the 
Commission "to step up implementation of 
the equal opportunities policy ... to combat 
individual obstacles which hinder women 
from taking part in decision-making" and to 
define "measures and actions to promote 
greater participation of women in the 
decision-making process"; 
Whereas the European Commission's Fourth 
Medium-Term Community Action 
Programme on Equal Opportunities for 
Women and Men (1996 to 2000), which has 
been submitted to the Council for decision, 
included promotion of the balanced 
participation of women and men in 
decision-making as one of its six main 
objectives; 
Whereas the Declaration and the Action 
Platform of the Fourth World Conference 
on Women stressed the need to ensure that 
responsibilities, powers and rights are 
shared equally, and that the Member States 
are fully involved in the implementation of 
the platform for action; 
Whereas the underrepresentation of women 
in decision-making bodies is largely a result 
of the delay in women's attaining equal 
rights and of obstacles to their gaining 
economic independence; Whereas the underrepresentation of women 
in decision-making bodies is largely a result 
of the delay in women's attaining equal 
rights and of obstacles to their gaining 
economic independence; as well as of the 
difficulty of combining the pursuit of a 
career with family life: 
Whereas women are still underrepresented 
in such bodies - be they public or private, 
political, administrative, economic, social or 
cultural; 
Whereas women account for over half the 
population and balanced participation of 
women and men in representation and 
administration of nations is a requirement 
for democracy; 
Whereas the underrepresentation of women 
in decision-making posts constitutes a loss 
for society as a whole and does not allow 
the interests and needs of the whole 
population to be catered for in full; 
Whereas a' balanced participation of men 
and women in decision-making is likely to 
give rise to different ideas, values and 
behaviour which will result in more justice 
and equality in the world for both men and 
women; 
Whereas the Member States, the social 
partners, political parties and organisations, 
NGOs and the media have a key role to 
play in creating a society where public and 
private, economic, political and domestic 
responsibilities are shared equally by 
women and men; (new) 
Whereas the aim of improving women's 
participation in the decision-making process 
cannot be divorced from employment policy 
given the disadvantage to women of 
continuing segregation in the labour market 
and the increasing casualization of female 
labour: 
(new) 
Whereas measures aimed at achieving equal 
participation of women and men in the 
decision-making process in all sectors must 
go hand in hand with the goal of 
mainstreaming a gender perspective into all 
Community policies: 
Whereas, in conformity with the principle 
of subsidiarity and proportionality as set out 
in Article 3B of the Treaty establishing the 
European Community, the aim of the 
present Recommendation -the balanced 
participation of women and men in 
decision-making- can be pursued more 
effectively by the exchange of information 
and examples of good practice within a 
common framework for all Member States; 
it is therefore appropriate to propose, at 
Community level, guidelines to promote a 
balanced representation of women and men 
in decision-making bodies; whereas the 
present recommendation is limited to the 
minimum necessary to obtain this objective 
and does not exceed what is necessary; Whereas, in conformity with the principle 
of subsidiarity and proportionality as set out 
in Article 3B of the Treaty establishing the 
European Community, the aim of the 
present Recommendation -the balanced 
participation of women and men in 
decision-making- can be pursued more 
effectively by the exchange of information 
and examples of good practice within a 
common framework for all Member States; 
it is therefore appropriate to propose, at 
Community level, guidelines to promote 
balanced participation bv women and men 
in decision-making bodies with a view to 
achieving equality between women and 
men: whereas the present recommendation 
is limited to the minimum necessary to 
obtain this objective and does not exceed 
what is necessary; 
Whereas the Treaty does not confer, for the 
purpose of the adoption of this 
Recommendation, any other powers that 
those set out in article 235, 
RECOMMENDS THAT THE MEMBER 
STATES: 
I. Adopt a comprehensive and 
integrated strategy designed to 
promote balanced representation of 
women and men in places of power, 
influence and decision, and develop 
or introduce suitable legislative or 
regulatory measures or incentives to 
achieve this. 
2. 
a) Highlight in school textbooks and 
curricula and in education and 
training at all levels the role and the 
contribution of women in society 
and stress the importance of sharing 
both public and private 
responsibilities between women and 
men, 
b) 
c) 
d) Take suitable steps so that the 
image of women and men in the 
media and advertising neither 
reinforces nor consolidates 
unjustified stereotyping of men's and 
women's responsibilities, 
Devise, encourage and propagate 
public campaigns to alert public 
opinion to the usefulness and 
advantages for society as a whole of 
balanced participation by women 
and men in decision-making, 
Alert the social partners, political 
parties and groups, associations and 
NGOs and the media to the 
importance of a balance between 
women and men in decision-making 
bodies, and encourage them to 
develop equal opportunities plans 
with measures to ease access to 
decision-making for women. c) Devise, encourage and propagate 
public campaigns targeted at men 
and women to raise awareness of 
the usefulness and advantages for 
society as a whole of balanced 
participation by women and men in 
decision-making, including among 
others campaigns run in conjunction 
with elections. Ensure proper 
evaluation of these campaings to 
guarantee their effectiveness: 
3. 
a) Develop or promote the production 
and publication of statistics 
illustrating how men and women are 
represented in decision-making 
circles in general and in political 
and administrative domains, public 
councils and committees, 
administrative and management 
boards at national, regional and 
local level and in the economy and 
social and cultural life in particular, 
b) Support, develop and encourage 
quantitative and qualitative studies 
on women and men in decision­
making and especially on the legal, 
social or cultural obstacles to 
decision-making for persons of 
either sex, on ideas and concepts 
which are likely to enhance the 
concept of a democratic partnership 
between women and men and on 
strategies to bring about equality in 
decision-making, 
c) Support and encourage initiatives 
creating examples of good practice 
in the various areas of decision­
making and develop programmes for 
the"dissemination and exchange of 
experience with a view to 
propagating such practice. 
4. 
a) 
b) Promote a better balance between 
women and men at all levels of 
government, 
Introduce or pursue active measures, 
such as mentorship activities and 
target figures, to promote a balance 
between women and men in political 
representation at national, regional 
and local level, including advisory 
bodies which contribute to public 
decision-making. Particular attention 
should be paid to the promotion of 
a balanced composition in 
committees, commissions and 
working groups at national as well 
as European level. b) Introduce or pursue active measures, 
such as mentorship activities and 
target figures with timetables and 
effective monitoring of these targets. 
to promote women's access to 
political representation with a view 
to achieving equal representation of 
women and men at national, 
regional and local level, including 
advisory bodies which contribute to 
public decision-making, and ensure 
that all such measures are 
monitored, documented and 
evaluated. Particular attention should 
be paid to the promotion of a 
balanced composition in committees, 
commissions and working groups at 
national as well as European level. 
4b(a)(new) 
c) Implement or develop equal 
opportunities plans for the public 
sector incorporating the concept of 
balanced participation in decision­
making, and ensure, when 
recruitment competitions take place, 
that women and men are, as far as 
possible, represented equally in the 
committees responsible for 
preparing competitions and in the 
selection boards, 
d) Encourage the private sector to 
increase the presence of women at 
all levels of decision-making, 
notably by the adoption, or within 
the framework, of equality plans or 
positive action programmes, Review the differential impact of 
electoral systems on the political 
representation of women in elected 
bodies and consider, where 
appropriate, the adjustment or 
reform of these systems. 
4d(a)(new) 
Provide for programmes and 
measures to promote female 
entrepreneurship and give women 
greater access to the professions. 
e) Encourage press, radio and 
television organisations to adopt 
measures to promote balanced 
participation by women and men in 
production, management and 
decision-making bodies, 
AND THEREFORE CALLS ON THE 
COMMISSION: 
1. to step up its efforts to provide 
information, alert public opinion, 
encourage research and promote 
pilot activities to achieve balanced 
participation by women and men in 
decision-making, 
2. to encourage and organise, in 
conjunction with the Member States, 
systematic pooling of experience 
and assessment of policies 
implemented to achieve a balance 
between women and men in 
decision-making, 
3. to submit a report to the Council, 
within three years of adoption of 
this Recommendation, on progress 
achieved in implementing it on the 
basis of information provided by the 
Member States. to submit a report to the European 
Parliament and the Council, within 
three years of adoption of this 
Recommendation, on progress 
achieved in implementing it on the 
basis of information provided by the 
Member States. 
10 
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ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 252 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 04 05 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-264-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-05191-8 
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