WRITTEN QUESTION E-0954/01

by María Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (PSE) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Gender equality in the Territorial Pacts for Employment programmes

In 1996 the Commission launched an initiative entitled Territorial Pacts for Employment which enabled 89 programmes to be carried out, involving all the EU Member States. The programmes received funding from the Directorate-General for Regional Policy in respect of technical assistance and most of the programmes have been completed or are drawing to a close thanks to financial support from the operational programmes of each country or region involved.

One of the most important guidelines laid down by the Commission for use by the Member States when selecting projects is the need to include measures and initiatives based on the Community's equal opportunities policy.

Similarly, the Guide to the 2000-2006 Territorial Pacts for Employment recommends that the equal opportunities policy be incorporated into the new programmes in the local areas in which they are implemented.

Has the gender impact of the programmes implemented under the 89 Territorial Pacts been assessed with a view to incorporating the experience gained from those programmes into new projects relating to the current planning period and for the purpose of assessing the continuity or otherwise of programmes which are coming to an end but which are to be repeated?

If not, what procedure will be applied for the purpose of identifying the best practices implemented and learning the lessons which may be drawn from them?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2001)

As the Honourable Member says, ever since they were launched in 1997, the Territorial Employment Pacts (comprising projects financed by all the Structural Funds) have incorporated and encouraged measures to promote equal opportunities between men and women. The rules applying in 1994-1999, less specific than those introduced for 2000-2006, stipulated that projects financed by the Structural Funds must respect the principle of equality.

Moreover, as one of the four pillars of European employment policy, equality in the broadest sense (encompassing minorities and social exclusion as well as gender aspects) was given prominence in action plans under the pacts. Innovative projects initiated by the pacts were promoted at two conferences in 1999 and 2000, the proceedings of which are available on the Inforegio site (http://www.inforegio.cec.eu.int/). In addition, a database has been established to provide information on projects under the 89 pacts, classified according to the four European employment policy priorities. This base will be operational on the Inforegio site within the next few months.

A list of the main projects under the pacts considered to promote equality is being sent to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of Parliament. Some of these projects are to be continued and extended in the new Structural Fund programming period 2000-2006.

Among the projects with a major favourable impact on equal opportunities, the Commission would mention the women's employment foundation, FAST, presented at the November 1999 ideas exchange. This foundation, promoted by the Vienna pact, is intended especially for women with fairly basic skills, to help them broaden the range of employment opportunities open to them. Other exemplary measures will be described (after verification by experts), in the guide to transferable instruments and good practice gleaned from the territorial employment pacts, to appear in June 2001.

Gender equality is a priority throughout the European Union, and will be taken into account in the thematic evaluation of the territorial employment pacts, to start by the end of 2001.