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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(83) 781 final
Brussels, 5 January 1984
PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 
NEW COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMME ON THE PROMOTION OF 
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN
(submitted to the Council by the Commission)
COM(83) 781 final

PROGRESS REPORT ON ?HE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NEW COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMME ON THE
PROMOTION OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN
Introduction
1. On 9 December 1981, the Commission submitted to the Council
a communication on a New Community Action Programme on the promotion 
of equal opportunities for women 1982-1985.
On 12 July 1982, the Council adopted a Resolution on the 
communication. In the Resolution, it requested the Commission to 
submit an interim progress report on the implementation of the new 
programme, together with appropriate proposals if necessary, by 
1  January 1984.
2. In order to draw up the progress report, the Commission requested 
the Member States to provide information. In view of the replies 
received, which varied considerably, particularly as regards the 
volume of information and the implementation of specific actions laid 
down in the Programme, the Commission decided to focus principally
on its own activities, leaving the actions taken by Member States 
to be included in the full report it is to make in 1985 on the basis 
of Member States' contributions. This is why the first part of this 
report will be limited to a brief run-down on certain specific aspect^ 
of actions undertaken by Member States.
3. The Commission considered that as this is an interim report,
it should take the form of a summary, even with regard to own activities, 
which will be described in greater detail in the 1985 report.

- 2 -
I. Review of several developments in the Member States
A review of the measures adopted by the Member States which sent 
data shows that, in general, very few legislative provisions have 
really helped to implement the new Action Programme. These will be 
mentioned briefly, without discussion of the various draft texts 
and measures cited by the governments.
On the other hand, a growing number of positive action measures 
are to be found of varying impact, in the fields of desegregation in 
.  employment, education and vocational training, evolution in attitudes, 
sharing of family work and social responsibilities.
*  *  *
A. Equal treatment legislation
In view of the limited replies already received, it was considered 
preferable to examine the measures as a whole rather than individually, 
with the emphasis on a few major legislative changes, at least as 
regards the first part of the new Action Programme on the strenghtening 
of individual rights.
- In France :  the Law of 13 July 1983 amending the Labour Code and  
the Penal Code as regards occupational equality between women and men  
aims at achieving occupational equality between men and women by prohibiting  
all discrimination in access to employment, remuneration, training, posting,  
qualification, classification, and occupational promotion (Art. L 123.
1. a, b and c).
In addition to the specific improvements to previous regulations on equal 
treatment for men and women, this law groups together a number of scattered 
texts into a single, cohesive whole (1).
As well as requiring compliance with the principle of equal treatment, 
the law makes extensive provision for the achievement of equal opportunities, 
notably by permitting the introduction of temporary measures to remedy 
de facto inequalities affecting equality of opportunity for women.
(Art. L 123.3). These measures take the form either of regulations;  
or of agreements established in accordance with the laws in force  
(Art. L 900.4); it therefore provides a means of controlling legality.
(1) Detailed analysis of this provision will be necessary to enable  
a decision to be made on whether it correctly implements  
Directive 76/207/EEC.

- 3 -
For the same reasons, employers ene now required to submit an  
annual written report to the Works Council on the conditions of  
employment of women and men (measures taken, objectives, future action  
evaluation). A plan for occupational equality can be proposed by employees  
in respect of recruitment plans, training, job. promotion, qualification,  
classification, working conditions, etc. The plan is checked by the  
departmental director for employment.
*  *  *
2. Bodies dealing with equal treatment and opportunities (Action A 2)
In the Netherlands, the Emancipatieraad became, in May 1981, the  
Government's external advisory body on policy. The Government is now  
required to seek the Council's opinion in good time on all matters concerning  
equal treatment.
In Italy, a ministerial decree of 8 October 1982 set up, under the aegis  
of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, a national Committee on the  
application of the principle of equal treatment. Its task is to formulate  
proposals, suggest measures, actions and means of abolishing discrimination  
and obstacles to the achievement of equality andt®xpress opinions on legal  
proceedings instituted by women in this field· The Committee has not yet.  
taken up its duties.
In France, the Law of 13 July 1983 provides for the creation of a Council  
on Occupational Equality between men and women under the aegis of the  
Ministers responsible for women's rights, labour, employment and vocational  
training. It will have the task of "participating in the definition,  
implementation and application of the policy on occupational equality  
between men and women". (Art. L 330.2). The Cpuncil of State has yet  
to adopt a decree on the conditions for the application of the Law.
A department for occupational equality - an administrative department -  
will be set up to help apply the law and encourage the development of  
plans for equality.
It should be noted that in Ireland, the annual grant which the Agency  
for Equality in Employment receives from the Government has been nearly  
quadrupled in 1983 to encourage the Agency to carry out its tasks more  
effectively. An inter-departmental working party on women's affairs and  
family law reform was also set up in 1983 to assist the Minister of  
State for Women's Affairs to identify ways of eliminating existing  
discrimination and promote positive measures.

- 4 -
In Greece, a new Council on Equality between the sexes was set up by  
Law No 1288/82. It gives opinions and submits proposals to the Prime  
Minister; it is an independent department under the aegis of the  
Ministry attached to the Prime Minister.
To date, the Federal Republic of Germany is the only country that  
does not have a Committee to promote equal opportunities.
3. Very few amendments have been made to legislation on the protection of  
women's employment since the adoption of Directive 76/207
However, in a number of countries, the competent bodies have examined 
the possibility of revising some of these laws in cases where the 
original reasons for their existence are no longer relevant.
Thus on 26 February 1982, the Irish Government gave notice that it would 
no longer apply ILO Convention No 89 as from 26 February 1983.
A draft law was tabled in the Netherlands with a view to amending the  
1919 labour law by abrogating the prohibition on night work for women.
In April 1983, a written statement was sent in reply to the second chamber.
★ * *
4. Several improvements to systems of pregnancy and maternity protection have been  
notified, notably in Ireland, Denmark and Belgium.
Ireland adopted a new provision for the protection of maternity in 1981  
(Maternity Protection of Employees Act, 1981).
In Denmark, a committee has been set up to amend provisions on the length of  
maternity leave whose work has resulted in an extension as from 1  January 1981  
of the period during which pregnancy, maternity and adoption allowances are  
granted.
Belgium has granted women receiving unemployment benefit the same rights as  
employed women as regards the possibility of taking either all or part of  
their ante-natal leave after post-natal leave (Royal Decree No 22 of  
23 March 1982). Several bills' aimed at giving added protection were also  
presented recently.
*  *  *
5. In Social Security matters
The Federal Republic of Germany pointed out that by the Law (20-12/82) designed  
to boost the economy and employment and to reduce the federal budget, men  
and women’s rates of contribution to the state pension scheme were harmonised  
into one rate from 1 January 1983.
For the survivor's pension (area not covered by the Directive 79/7) a change  
towards equality is being prepared, following a ruling of the federal  
Constitutional Court.

- 5 -
6. To ensure that femaLe workers, unions, employers and all persons affected  
by the application of equal treatment provisions are well informed, some  
governments have published and distributed brochures, codes of practice,  
explaining what forms of legal redress were available in case of infringement,  
for example, in the Federal Republic of Germany (information bulletin  
"Treffpunkt") in Ireland (Explanatory booklet for Employers and Employees")  
in Belgium ("Equal treatment for men and women, a law that concerns you !"  
and "How to draw up an offer of employment").
B. Positive action
All governments claim that they are encouraging, stimulating and promoting  
positive measures or actions. The French law of 13 July 1983 makes express  
provision for plans for occupational equality to be made by employers  
(see above point A 1).
The type of action varies considerably, ranging from preliminary studies (1)  
and information to specific and sometimes binding measures.
In order to simplify matters, they are described below (2) according to the  
fields given priority by the Member States :
- vocational guidance and training
- employment, promotion
- the public sector
- women immigrants
- sharing of responsibilities
- changes fn attitudes
1.  Vocational guidance and training
The States have shown imagination and willingness in this area :  it is  
generally agreed that the most effective way of effecting changes is to respect  
the principle of progress and the need for intervention before women enter  
working life.
a) In order to encourage girls to follow technical studies, the Ministries  
of Labour, Employment and Education in the majority of Member States  
have produced brochures, pamphlets and posters, organized seminars, plays  
and television broadcasts (particularly in the Federal Republic of Germany  
by the German Federal Labour Office which elaborates new teaching methods),  
(girls in Science and Technology in the United Kingdom).
b) Primary school text books in Ireland are examined by -inspectors from the 
Ministry of Education who point out any sexist texts or illustrations and 
give advice on "neutrality" to the publishers.
The inspectors also ensure that girls and boys take part in every
subject on the curriculum, including physical education. _______  ___
c)
 The French authorities have introduced a two year plan which, for 1984,  
sets at 25 X the proportion of women among trainees entering courses  
organised by the National Training Service (3).
(1) In order to concentrate on a limited number of concrete examples, the present  
report will not cover studies in progress on these subjects.
(2) The summary of the measures ratified by the governments is not of course an  
exhaustive list of all the measures introduced in all the countries.
(3) At present, the percentage of women trainees is 18 X.

- 6-
d) A number of training and apprenticeship programmes have been set up  
in all the countries with the aim of increasing the range of  
occupations available to women. They have been aimed at :
- trades where women are under-represented, e.g. engineering (UK),  
craft trades, metallurgy (D), electricity (B, D), banking,  
management (6B) etc.
- sectors where their situation needs improving :  
agriculture (Ireland);
- worksharing systems involving part-time work, return-to-work  
programmes for women in Ireland; part-time training in the  
Netherlands;
- more flexible types of work units :  Irish project on cooperatives;
- specific measures for certain categories with special needs :
.  occupational preparation courses for unemployed persons with  
few skills (Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium);
.specialised modules for unemployed women in Denmark :
"access to non-traditional posts for women" and "position of  
women in society";
ï courses for women having interrupted their career for  
several years (e.g.Nether lands, and the Westminster Bank  
in the U.K.).
2. Employment and promotion
The dividing line between the preceding section and this one is not very  
distinct. However, the following measures certainly contribute to the  
desegregation of the labour market.
- in Denmark, counsellors were appointed in 1981 in each regional placement  
office. Their task is to ensure that the placement offices comply with  
the principle of equal treatment, and to work out placing and guidance  
methods which remove the prejudices traditionally attached to the roles  
of men and women, and to the notion of adequate qualifications. In four  
regions, the counsellors have set up groups to support women seeking non-  
traditional training and jobs.
“ In the United Kingdom, several measures have been adopted on training for  
counsellors and instructors; local authority careers officers are advised  
to take account of equal treatment practices by the Department of Employment  
in its "advisory booklet".
- In Germany,further training and retraining courses are available to all  
guidance and placement staff to keep them up to date with the problems  
of women seeking work and equal opportunities policies.

- 7 -
- In the United Kingdom, the Equal Opportunities Commission reveals that,  
of 500 industrial enterprises, seven have organized positive action on  
behalf of women.
The Engineering Industrial Training Board pays premiums to employers  
who take on women for training in engineering, in addition to their quota  
of trainees.
- The Danish job creation programmes (Law No 286 of 9 June 1982 on job  
creation and Ministerial Decree No 66 of 18 February 1983 on the same  
subject) for the young unemployed aged 18-25 enables positive action to  
be taken on behalf of women. The aim of the programme is to create  
ordinary jobs in the private sector at the local level. It can, for example,  
be stipulated that beneficiaries are to comprise a number of women which
is proportional to the number of unemployed women in the région.
3. The public sector
Altough this subdivision is somewhat theoretical as the aim in this  
sector is also to promote desegregation in employment, it is taken  
separately as it is felt that this sector should set an example.
However, Member States have reported only a very small number of positive  
measures within their administrations. Many are only at the stage of  
analysing the present position of women.
Thus, in the United Kingdom, a study Committee was set up in 1980,  
composed of employers and trade unions (the Joint Review Group).
Its task was to examine the position of women in the major public sector  
jobs. The report of this group is mainly concerned with the development /<
of part-time work and the reasons for the different promotion rates for  
men and women.
In Belgium,the Ministry of Employment and Labour set up, in collaboration  
with the Committee on Women's Employment, a team responsible for studying  
the position of women in the public sector and their ciçfyi]d^es of promotion. *  
The Committee also questioned the Ministries about any remaining recruiting  
criteria and practices as regards access to employment which could be  
detrimental to women in the Public sector, in particular in certain male  
bastions.
A seminar was also held in Belgium, lasting several days and open only  
to women civil servants, which was designed to identify obstacles encountered  
on the path to promotion, and possible remedies.

- 8  -
In France, the Circular of 24 January 1983 relating to  
equality between women and men and to desegregation in the  
public sector requires, in respect of promotion, that Ministers  
ensure^that applications from women are neither discouraged  
a priori nor set aside on the pretext that their putative  
•feminine nature" would not allow them to carry out their duties  
successfully. Indeed, applications from women are even to be  
sought. Lastly, the circular calls for reports to be made on each  
measure in order to assess its effectiveness.
4. Women immigrants
Because of the special difficulties facing immigrant women in every  
European country, a number of measures have been taken on their behalf.  
The majority of such measures consist in organizing literacy and  
language classes in the host country. In the United Kingdom,-^canning  
is provided by the State.
In Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany, the state gives subsidies  
to other bodies for the provision of training.
In the Netherlands, the state also finances three cooperatives for  
women from Mediterranean countries.
5. Sharing of responsibilities
In order to improve women's position in decision-making and  
consultative bodies, some countries have adopted ad hoc measures,  
e.g. the Netherlands, which wishes to increase the number of women  
mayors and women in senior civil service positions.
In Ireland, the National Women's Talent Bank, created by the  
National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, plans  
to correct the imbalance in the representation of men and women on  
committees and boards by submitting to the decision-making authorities  
whose task is to nominate c^fid^dfates for positions in other State  
bodies and departments lists of names of women with either exceptional  
abilities or the requisite qualifications.
Social infrastructure
In France, a system known as the "crèche contracts" scheme is run  
jointly by the National Family Allowances Fund and local authorities for  
the creation and management of day nurseries; the number of available  
places is expected to quadruple. The contracts will also mean improved  
services to families (low-income and single-parent families), taking  
account of flexible working hours and the need to associate them in the  
running of the nursery.

- 9 -
The Ministries of Social Affairs, Health, Culture and Internal  
Affairs in the Netherlands have set up an inter-departmental group  
on childcare which has the task of improving and increasing childcare  
facilities.
6. Changes in attitudes
This is an extremely broad field in which a large number  
of very different measures have been taken.
The French Government conducted a campaign for occupational  
equality in 1982-83 which used all the mass media. The two themes  
were first, promoting public awareness about inequalities and the urgent  
need to overcome them and, second, guidance and training for girls.
The Netherlands uses television sequences and radio broadcasts  
Ctjesprekken met vrouwen").
The ad hoc Committee on "role of the sexes and training;,' set up  
under the Danish Ministry of Education, published a white paper  
in 1981 entitled "positive action - a path to equal treatment", which  
discusses the question of positive action (arguments in favour, forms,  
proposals) and, in particular, the application of quotas by sex.
Periodicals are published in the United Kingdom (Women and  
Training News by the Manpower Services Commission), in Germany  
("Treffpunkt"), and in France ("Citoyennes à part entière").
in Ireland, the Employment Equality Agency is drawing up  
a code of practice for the two sides of industry to help them eliminate  
illegal instances of discrimination and prevent their recurrence.
The code will contain the types of measures that are illegal under the  
1977 Employment Equality Act and recommendations on positive measures.·
Seminars are held in a number of countries for representatives of  
both sides of industry, governments, scientists, etc. (e.g. Ireland,  
Germany, Belgium).

- 10-
II. Implementation of Commission actions
Im£l_emen_ta_ti£n_of ^pjecJ_fj_c_a£_tj_o_ns_p_rqvi_ded _fojr by the Programme
Action 1 :  Monitoring of the application of the Directives
The Commission has continued with its task of controlling the  
application of the directives in its capacity as guardian of the Treaties.
In 1982, it also created a group of experts composed of independent  
persons chosen for their practical knowledge and experienced) in the  
field of the three Directives on equality (2).
The first task entrusted to the Group was to focus mainly on the  
problem of indirect discrimination under each of the three Directives at  
the level of :
- laws, regulations and administrative provisions (3), and caselaw,
- collective agreements,
- undertakings (in firm regulations, individual company agreements, parti­
cularly revealing specific cases, etc.).
The Commission requested the Group, composed of two European experts  
per country, to maintain contact with the various groups and persons  
particularly involved in their countries, at the level of the government  
and of the courts, as well as of legal practitioners, the two sides of  
industry and, in particular, the members of the Advisory Committee on  
Equal Opportunities. The Group has just finished its first report.
The Commission intends, after studying the report in detail, to use  
it to assist Member States in i better understanding and application of Community  
legislation and to facilitate the Commission _in its duty as guardian of the  
Treaties.
Action 2 :  Legal redress in respect of equal treatment
The Commission is at present undertaking an analysis of procedures  
for the use of legal redress in Member States, in particular with a  
view to identifying examples of good practice. The research work should  
be completed in 1984.
(1) barristers, legal practitioners, teachers, research workers,  
representatives of both sides of industry, etc.
(2) EEC Directives 75/117, 76/207 and 79/7.
(3) Not including work already carried out by the Commission in the  
context of its reports on the application of Article 119 and  
Directives 75/117 and 76/207.

- 11 -
It is clear that it is closely linked to the first action and in this  
context close contacts have been established between the experts responsible  
for implementing the two actions.
Action 3 :  Revision of national and Community protective legislation
The Commission has finalized a study on the status of legislation in  
the Member States in, this field and on the most appropriate guidelines  
within the meaning o; f Directive 76/207.
The study revealed the considerable variety of legislation and the frequent  
(.ink with a concern for protection based on antiquated and outmoded  
situations.
After consulting the two sides of industry and the Advisory Committee  
on Equal Opportunities which gave an opinion on the study and its conclusions,  
the Commission will draw the appropriate conclusions, in particular with a  
view to the correct application of Directive 76/207 and future action, for  
example as regards the fundamental problem of night work.
Action 4 :  Equal treatment in matters of social security
The Commission has submitted a proposal for a directive on the  
implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in  
occupational social security schemes.
It also commissioned a study on the fields not covered by or exempt  
from Directive 79/7 with a view to preparing a legal instrument on these  
subjects.
Action 5 :  Application of the principle of equal treatment to self-employed  
women and to women in agriculture, particularly in family  
enterprises
The Commission has had a study carried out on the problems of self-employed  
women and women in agriculture, on the basis of which it is drafting a legal  
instrument aimed at improving the legal status of such women and the  
application of equal treatment.
Action 6 :  Taxation and the employment of women
The Commission has had a comparative analysis of income tax systems 
in Member States carried out.The conclusions of the study,approved by the Advisory 
Committee on Equal Opportunities, show that only a separate tax system has 
a neutral effect on married women in employment.
This does not mean that appropriate solutions will not be adopted to 
take account of family responsibilities, particularly dependent children.
The Commission .is. preparing a memorandum on this subject for the Council.

- 12-
Action 7 :  Improvement in Living and working conditions  
Parental leave, leave for family reasons
Research has been carried out into the different experiences acquired  
in Member States and in certain non-Member States.
On the basis of the results of that study, the Commission put forward  
a proposal for a directive (1) on parental leave and leave for family reasons  
aimed at giving entitlement to such leave for men and women on an equal  
basis and on conditions which would be harmonized throughout the Member  
States.
At the same time, the Commission i§ preparing a survey on the development  
of the network of public chi ld care faci lities and services in the Member States.
Action 8 :  Protection of women during pregnancy or motherhood
A comparative analysis of measures adopted in Member States on maternity  
leave is underway with a view, if necessary, to proposing a Community  
legal instrument.
aAction 9 :  Development of positive action
An analysis and evaluation of measures applied in Member States and  
certain non-Member States has been carried out. It had showed the importance of  
legal framework for a more generalized development of positive action.
A major seminar was held on this subject in Athens, organized jointly by the  
Greek Government and the Commission. The Commission is drawing up a Community  
initiative on the promotion of positive actions in the Member States.
Action 10 :  Integration into working life (in particular with respect to  
new technologies)
A series of actions are underway; the ESF is continuing its program««-  of 
support for^raiaijig_activjti.es aimed at diversifying the choice of occupations  
including .those connected with new technologies; the CEDEFOP is currently  
evaluating„measures already taken in order to draw conclusions for actions to be  developed in the future. LU
In addition, two analyses are currently being carried out by the  
Commission, one on the impact of office technology on women's employment,  
the other on vocational training for women and new technologies based on  
case studies, with a view to producing guidelines for positive action.
(1) COM (83) 686 final

-13-
Action 11 :  Vocational choices
The Commission recently set up an experimental network of equal  
opportunities' advisers in order to foster integrated national programmes  
on education and training. The network comprises one expert per Member  
State - a specialist in education or training - attached either to an  
administration or to institutes or bodies. The expert's task is to set  
up a network of persons in his country capable of taking part in such an  
exercise (administration, two sides of industry, instructors in the  
field, research workers, etc.). The experts will have to analyse and  
assess problems and difficulties and promote measures to diversify  
vocational choices, principally in connection with the introduction of  
new technologies.
Action 12 :  Desegregation of employment
The public sector was the first one to be chosen :  the Commission  
undertook a comparative analysis of desegregation in the public service  
in certain Community countries and the practical measures needed to improve  
the situation of women.
The cooperatives sector was also closely examined by the Commission,  
which carried out a study on measures for women in this field, and  
provided support, including financial backing, for the creation of a  
certain number of cooperatives involving the employment of women.
Lastly, the Commission continued and developed the action started in  
the banking sector. In 1982, it organized a seminar of representatives  
of some fifty banks which had agreed to play an experimental role.  
Following the seminar, action has been taken in_seyera.l__ban.ks  and received  
Commission support.
Action 13 :  Analysis of trends in female employment
A group of experts has been set up to define common indicators for a  
system of monitoring women's employment trends and the impact of  
national policies in this sector.
Action 14 :  Application of the principle of equal treatment to  
women immigrants
The Commission is currently analysing instances of discrimination  
in legislation and administrative practices seen in relation to the social  
and cultural setting of immigrant women.
At the same time, CEDEFOP is studying and evaluating vocational and  
language training measures implemented in Member States with a view to  
defining guidelines for action.

-14 -
Action 15 :  Sharing of occupational, family and social responsibilities  
A number of actions are underway ip this field :
- the study on public facilities and services (1) has been finalized,
- the analysis of women's position in decision-making bodies has also  
just been completed; it will serve as a basis for the proposals for  
Community guidelines the Commission plans to submit,
in addition, the growing inconsistencies between changing social values  
and the organization of work are be«ng considered within the framework  
of a preliminary Commission study.
* v
Action 16 :  Evolution in public attitudes
The Commission is pursuing and intensifying its information campaigns,  
directed in particular towards the various women's groups and associations,  
the press and the media in general.
Two further projects have also been started, one on the position of  
women in television and the other on the image of women in television, with  
a view to preparing a seminar to increase the awareness of television  
officials and on positive measures to improve the position of women and  
eliminate stereotyped images.
III. Community measures affecting equality of opportunity
The Commission has submitted several proposals to the Council which  
contribute to the promotion of equal opportunities. They include the  
draft recommendation on the reduction and reorganisation of working time (2),the  
communication on youth employmentGfend the communication on the development  
of local initiatives^)™ addition, the Council Resolutions on vocational  
training and new technologies and vocational training in the 1980's (5),  
based on Commission proposals, include commitments to take positive  
action on behalf of women.
Lastly, the recent Commission communication to the Standing  
Committed on Employment on women's unemployment (6) comprises specific  
guidelines which affect both the promotion of equal opportunities and  
Community action to combat unemployment. The Standing Committee on Employment  
examined this communication at their 26th meeting in November 1983. The conclu­
sions from the Chair requested, amongst other things, that the Commission should  
take the necessary initiatives to ensure that a discussion could be held in the  
Council on this subject, in the light of the work already undertaken in this  
meeting of the Committee.
....In this context the Commission proposes that the Council should examine this
co
mmunication and make a policy commitment on the basis of its conclusions.
(1) See Action 7 above
(2) COM(83) 543 final
(3) C0M(83) 211 final
(4) C0M(83) 662 final
(5) O.J. No C 166 of 25 November 1983 and OJ No C 193 of 20 July 1983.
(6) C0MÎ83) 653 final

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IV. Positive action within the Commission
In the context of the Community's new action programme on the  
promotion of equal opportunities for women (1982-1985), the Commision  
gave an untertaking to implement a number of measures aimed at  
bringing about greater equality between men and women within its own  
personnel.
In the Light of the above commitments and of the need for an  
overall strategy on the promotion of equal opportunities, it was  
decided to implement a number of organisational changes with a view  
to the development of such a strategy.
These changes relate particularly to the following aspects :
a) the creation of a Committee on Equal Opportunities to advise.the  
Administration in this area of personnel policy;
b) the imminent nomination of an official within DG IX with special  
responsability for monitoring the situation of women in the Commission.  
One of the first tasks of this official will be the establishment
of a data base to be constantly updated and on which future action can be 
based, and also the research and monitoring of the implementation  
of the changes to be made and acting as a channel of communication  
between the staff and the Administration.
c) a series of administrative measures to increase the representation  
of women in the Commission services and, on the other hand, to  
eliminate discrimination with regard to female staff and  
to take their particular needs into account.
Among these specific measures, are some that have already been put  
into effect on the basis of the work done by the Committee for Equality,  
the following included :
recruitement :
- a better drafting of texts announcing competitions and vacant  
posts in order to reassure candidates on the availability of posts  
at all levels for both sexes;
- an attempt to ensure a systematic female participation in juries,  
either as members or as assessors;
- advice to the Services that women should not be eliminated without  
reason from recruitment;

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- presenting the joint staff Committee with a proposal to apply  
a series of changes to the age.-limits (conditions of entry to  
competitions) which would take account, amongst other things,  
of the situation of women who had interrupted their career  
in order to bring up children.
Career development :
systematic presence of women in all promotion committees  
Training :
action to make internal and external trainers aware of the necessity  
to take the principle of equality into account in all training  
programmes;
nomination of a woman as a member of the Steering Committee on  
T raining
With regard to the social infrastructure and the adjustment of working time
- staff to be informed on the conditions for short-term leave on  
personal grounds to deal with difficult family situations, whatever  
the sex of the official, and on the granting of lon.ger periods of  
leave on personal grounds in particularly difficult circumstances,  
following the recent revision of the Statute;
- Staff to be informed on the availability of professional child care;
- provisions to be made for the future of the Brussels "Centre de la  
Petite Enfance" to be studied. Construction of the "Centre de la  
Petite Enfance" in Luxembourg to go ahead when agreement is reached 
with the appropriate authority.
- pilot schemes for flexible working hours to be launched. The question  
of the reorganisation of the working hours of the creches,, if flexible  
workings hours should be introduced generally,, to be studied.
- action in the part-time work field to continue, with the proposal to  
the Council for amending the financial Regulation in order to increase  
flexibility now nearing adoption.

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V. Consultation and dialogue with the institutions,, bodies, groups  
and associations concerned
1. The European Parliament has actively pursued its work/  
especially at the level of the Committee of Inquiry into the  
situation of women in Europe.
Its findings continue to stimulate developments  
in Community action and Commission proposals in particular.
2. The Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities/ created by the  
Commission when it adopted the above-mentioned Action Programme/  
made a major positive contribution to the measures developed by the  
Commission, in particular its opinions on the adoption of new legal  
instruments and on the development of positive action.
3. Consultation of the two sides of industry, who are important  
partners in the implementation of equal opportunity policies has also  
continued and been expanded within the framework of the Community  
consultation machinery.
4. Lastly, the Commission is conducting an active and constructive dialogue  
with groups and associations involved in the problems of equal
opportunity.
CONCLUSIONS
The process of promoting equal opportunities is advancing at  
Community level in spite of the' threats posed by the economic crisis,  
budgetary restrictions and technological innovation.
The situation calls for greater vigilance, both as regards ..legislation
and the de facto situation of women. __ -  It makes it all the more
ne
cessary to generalize the development of positive action to remedy  
actual inequalities.
It is in this perspective that the Commission has completed or started
all the actions listed in the Action Programme on Equal Opportunities.
In the same mann r the Member States should reinforce
their action, in the context of the Programme, to implement the
commitments contained in the Council Resolution of 12 July 1982.