COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 27 11.1995 
COM(95) 602 final 
95/0206 (CNS) 
Amended proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
on the Fourth Medium-Term Community Action Programme 
on Fqual Opportunities for Women and Men( 1996-2000) 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Further to the Opinion of the European Parliament of 17 November 1995, and taking into consideration 
the debate within the Economic and Social Committee, the Commission, under Article 189a paragraph 
2 of the EC Treaty, presents to the Council a revised "proposal for a Council Decision on the fourth 
medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities for women and men (1996-2000)". 
The amendments presented by the Parliament and accepted by the Commission: 
1. add a reference to "equal treatment" to the existing references to "equal opportunities"; 
(Amendments : 1, 2, 23) 
2. update the references to meetings of the European Council, and introduce a reference to the UN 
Conference in Beijing ; (Amendments : 3, 4, 33) 
3. underline the risks of poverty which women face ; (Amendments : 6) 
4. mention positive action ; (Amendments : 23) 
5. underline the contribution of information and vocational training to enable women to play a full 
part in economic, social, and cultural life (Amendments : 10, 12, 27, 30). 
The Commission has not taken on board the amendments that: 
a. deal with Community actions outside the framework of the Action Programme established by this 
Council Decision that includes a proposal for a specific budget (legislative initiatives, Structural 
Funds) ; (Amendments : 1, 7, 16, 19, 23, 25, 26, 28, 34) 
b. concern internal technical or administrative aspects of the implementation of the 
programme ; (Amendments : 20, 21,22, 36) 
c. put forward initiatives which exceed the proposed budget ; (Amendments : 18, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 
33); 
d. prejudge the outcome of the next Intergovernmental Conference. (Amendments : 2) 
z 
COUNCIL DECISION 
on the Fourth Medium-Term Community Action Programme 
on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men( J 996-2000) 
INITIAL PROPOSAL REVISED PROPOSAL 
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 m. 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament ax 
Having regard to the opinion, of the Economic 
and Social Committee o>, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of 
Regions M>, 
3 
Whereas the Council has adopted six directives, 
two recommendations and nine resolutions in the 
area ofequal opportunities for women and men (5), 
(5) 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, 19.02.1975, 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, 
14.02.76, 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, 10.01.79, 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, 
12.08.86, 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, 19.12.86, 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, 28.11.92, p.l; 
Council Recommendation of 13 December 1984 on the 
promotion of positive action for women (84/63 5/EEC), 
OJNoL 331, 19.12.84, p.34; 
M 
(5) continued 
Council Recommendation of 31 March 1992 on child 
care (92/241/EEC), OJ No L 123, 08.05.92, p. 16. 
Council Resolution of 12 July 1982 on. the promotion 
of equal opportunities for women, OJ No C 186, 
21.07.82, p.3; 
Council Resolution of 7 June 1984 on action to 
combat unemployment amongst women, OJ No C 
161, 21.06.84, 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, 
OJNo C 166, 05.07.85, p. 1; 
Second Council Resolution of 24 July 1986 on the 
promotion of equal opportunities for women, OJ No 
C 203, 12.08.86, p.2; 
Council Resolution of 16 December 1988 on the 
reintegration and late integration of women into 
working life, OJ No C 333, 28.12.88, p.l; 
Council Resolution of 29 May 1990 on the protection 
of the dignity of women and men at work, OJ No C 
157, 27.06.90, p.3; 
Council Resolution of 21 May 1991 on the third 
medium-term Community action programme on equal 
opportunities for women and men (1991-1995), OJ 
No C 142, 31.05.91, p.l; 
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, 20.08.94, p.l; 
Council Resolution of 27 March 1995 on the 
balanced participation of women and men in 
decision-making, OJ No L ..., , p. ... 
s~ 
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 recognised 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 (6); 
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 <7>; 
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 («> ; Whereas the Council's Directives and measures 
in the field of equal treatment and opportunitties 
for women and men have played a major part in 
improving the situation for women ; 
Whereas equal treatment and opportunities for 
women and men is a basic principle recognised 
by Community law; 
Whereas the Heads of States and Governments, 
meeting within the European Council at Essen on 
10 and 11 December 1994 and at Cannes on 26 
and 27 June 1995. 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 this programme must as a minimum 
build on the perspectives laid out in the 
conclusions, final declaration and action platform 
from the World Conference on Women in 
Beijing, and must be implemented as part of the 
follow-up to the Beijing Conference 
Bulletin of the 
Supplement 6/93. European Communities, 
(7) COM (94) 333 of 27 July 1994. 
(8) 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. 
(o 
Whereas the first three medium-term 
Community action programmes on equal 
opportunities for women and men (1982-1985, 
1986-1990, 1991-1995) 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 organisation of working 
life and in the demographic composition of 
society; Whereas the increasing feminization of poverty 
in the Member States of the European Union is 
a worrying development which calls for 
Community action alongside national 
measures 
Whereas access to education and vocational 
training, and the promotion of a wider choice of 
jobs for girls and women are vital if women are 
to develop to the full their role in the economic, 
social, political and cultural spheres and if they 
are to be integrated into the labour market on an 
equal footing ; 
Whereas information and training on equal 
treatment must be geared to specific national, 
regioanl and local conditions and targeted at all 
social players in accordance with social, 
economic and cultural factors in order to 
facilitate women's access to and use of 
information and structures, which enable them to 
exercise their rights to the full : 
Y 
Whereas active partnership between the 
Commission, the Member States, the social 
partners and all other organisations concerned 
needs to be promoted in this area and synergy 
between all the relevant policies and measures 
encouraged; Whereas active partnership needs to be 
promoted in this area between Commission, the 
national, regional and local authorities, the social 
partners, non-governmental organizations 
concerned, including European women's 
organizations, and all other relevant players in 
civil society ; 
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 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 and treatment, bring Community 
added value by identifying and stimulating good 
practice and policies, encouraging innovation 
and exchanging of relevant experience, not least 
with regard to positive action; 
Whereas the Treaty does not provide, for the 
adoption of the programme, powers others than 
those of article 235. 
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 mobilise 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 rrray 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 (a) Methodological, technical and financial 
support for integrated projects for identifying 
and transferring good practice in the economic, 
social and cultural domains, reconciling working 
and family life, and participation by women in 
decision-making. 
d) Implementation and support of any 
action needed to promote the widest possible 
exchange of information and dissemination of 
the acquis communautaire on equal 
opportunities and the results of the programme's 
initiatives, on the understanding that such 
actions must take careful account of national, 
regional and local differences in order to 
maximise their impact. 
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. 
AJO 
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. The Commission shall implement the 
programme in accordance with this Decision. To 
this effect, it shall cooperate in a spirit of 
partnership with players in civil society 
involved in the promotion of equal opportunities 
including non-governmental organisations active 
at EU level, and the authorities of the Member 
States. 
Article 7 
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. 
7.2 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. 
AA 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 602 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 06 04 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-643-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-96994-6 
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