Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the fourth medium- term Community action programme on equal opportunities for women and men (1996-2000)
Date: 1995-07-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU employment policy, EU programme, action programme, equal treatment, gender equality, job access

COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  19.07.1995 
COM(95)  381 final 

95/0206  (CNS) 

Proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the fourth  medium-term  Community  action  programme 
on equal opportunities for women  and  men  (1996-2000) 

(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

FOURTH  MEDIUM-TERM  COMMUNITY  ACTION  PROGRAMME  ON 
EQUAL  OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR  WOMEN  AND  MEN  (1996-2000) 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

Changes  in  the  roles  of  women  and  men  are  one  of  the  major  features  of 
social  change  in  Europe.  Upheavals  in  the  labour  market,  changes  in 
demographic'and  family  structures,  and  developments  in  education  and 
training  have also played  a major  part. Policies conducted  on the  initiative 
of  the  Member  States  and  the  activities  of  organisations  involved  in 
promoting  equal  opportunities  have  led  to  some  real  progress. 

The  Community-has been  one  of the prime movers  in  changing  the  status 
of  women  in  society.  It  first  consolidated  the  legal  principle  of  equal 
treatment  at work,  and  to  a  large  extent  with  regard *to social  security,  on 
the basis of Article  119 of the Treaty enshrining the principle of equal  pay. 
Realising that equal  opportunities  are conditional  upon, but not necessarily 
guaranteed  by,  equality  in  law,  the  Commission  also  instituted  a  host  of 
measures  to  promote  de  facto  equality  -  mainly  through 
its  three 
-  in  many  different  and 
consecutive  equal  opportunities  programmes 
mutually  complementary  ways,  such  as  forming  networks,  stepping  up 
information  and  communication  activities,  supporting  pilot  activities  or 
studies  and  identifying  and  disseminating  sound  practice,  etc. 

Nevertheless,  there  is  still  gender  bias  in  many  fields.  The  rate  of 
unemployment  amongst  women  is  higher  than  amongst  men,  women 
account  for  the  majority  of  the  long-term  unemployed,  they  often  have 
low-skilled,  poorly  paid  and  insecure jobs  and  there  are  still  gaps  in  pay 
between  men  and women  in most  regions of the Union.  And there  are still 
not  enough  women  to  whom  decision-making  posts  and  a  full  share  in 
political  and  social  life  are  open.  Furthermore  their  participation  in  the 
economy  as entrepreneurs  is  still  very  limited. 

the 

limits  of 

its  powers  and 

What  has  been  done  so  far  to  promote  equal  opportunities  must  be 
continued  and  stepped  up.  The Union  has a duty  to  make  its  contribution, 
within 
its  resources,  especially  by 
consolidating the acquis communautaire, ensuring that equality  law is built 
upon  and existing legislation applied consistently,  and working towards the 
integration  of equal opportunities in the process of preparing,  implementing 
and monitoring all policies, measures and activities at Community  national, 
regional  and  local  level. 

Recently  the  European  Council  -  the  highest  level  of  the  Council  -
acknowledged  that promoting equal opportunities, together with  combating 
unemployment,  was  one  of  the  Union's  paramount  tasks.  The  European 
Parliament,  pursuing  its  commitment  in  this  area,  urged  the Union  to  step 
up  and  expand  its  equal  opportunities  activities. 

A-v 

This  was  the  background  against  which  the  Commission  prepared  its 
proposal  for  the  new  programme.  To this  end,  it  launched  a  wide-ranging 
consultation  process  and  designed  the programme to  provide  a  framework 
for  action,  discussion  and exchange for  all  initiatives contributing  to equal 
opportunities  for  men  and  women  in  the  European  Union  and  in  its 
Member  States. 

The  programme  is  scheduled  to  run  for  five  years  (1996-2000)  and 
concentrates  on  six  aims: 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

mobilising  all  the  actors  in  economic  and  social  life  to  promote 
equal  opportunities; 

promoting  equal  opportunities  in  a changing  economy; 

encouraging  a  policy  to  reconcile  family  and  working  life  for 
women  and  men; 

promoting  a gender  balance  in  decision-making; 

making  conditions  more  conducive  to  exercising  equality  rights; 

supporting  the  implementation,  monitoring  and  assessment  of 
activities  in  order  to  achieve  the  above  aims. 

The  Commission  intends to implement this programme in partnership with 
the  Member  States  and  all  other  parties  concerned.  It  will,  in  particular, 
consult regularly  with the Advisory  Committee  on Equal  Opportunities  for 
women  and  men. 

(\- ? 

A R T I C LE  BY  A R T I C LE 

G U I DE 

Article  1 

This  article  states  the  programme's  title  and  period  of  application. 

Article  2 

This  article  sets  out  its  prime  objectives  in  the  light  of  experience  acquired  in 
implementing the previous three programmes and the contributions received during 
the consultation  process for  preparing  the White Paper  on the future  of  European 
Social  Policy  and  consultation  on the broad  outlines  of  the fourth  programme. 

Article  3 

This article lists the various measures which can be implemented,  enhanced  and/or 
supported  under  the  programme. 

Article  4 

This  article  emphasises  the  synergy  which  is  required  with  Structural  Fund 
activities. It should be borne in mind that the Framework Regulation governing the 
Structural  Funds  refers  to  equal  opportunities  and  that  the  Council  has  adopted  a 
resolution  on the  Structural  Funds'  contribution  to promoting  equal  opportunities. 

Standard  text 

Article  5 

Article  6 

The  programme  will  be  implemented  in  partnership  with  players  and  authorities 
involved  in promoting equal opportunities in the Member  States. The Commission 
proposes  in  this  respect  to  collaborate  with  the  Advisory  Committee  for  Equal 
Opportunities  for  women  and  men. 

Provision  is  made  for  an  interim  report  and  a final  report  on  the  programme. 

Article  7 

ft-3. 

Proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on  the  fourth  medium-term  Community  action  programme 
on  equal  opportunities  for  women  and  men  (1996-2000) 

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  Commission1, 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the European  Parliament2, 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of the Economic  and  Social  Committee3, 

Having  regard  to the  opinion  of the  Committee  of  Regions4, 

Whereas  the  Council  has  adopted  six  directives,  two  recommendations  and  nine 
resolutions  in  the  area  of  equal  opportunities  for  women  and  men5, 

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; 

A  -  4-

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 

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 
(84/635/EEC),  OJ  No  L  331,  19.12.84, p.34; 
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, 
OJ  No  C  166, 05.07.85,  p.l; 
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.  ... 

Bulletin  of  the  European  Communities,  Supplement  6/93. 

A-  S 

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  men8; 

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  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 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  Treaty  does not  provide,  for  the adoption  of the programme,  powers 
others  than  those  of  article  235, 

7COM (94)  333 of 27 July  1994. 

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. 

ft-6 

DECIDES  AS  FOLLOWS: 

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. 

The  programme  has the  following  six  aims: 

Article  2 

- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

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  may  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. 

Setting up of facilities  for  observing  and monitoring  relevant  policies  with 
b) 
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. 

A-T-

Article 4 

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. 

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. 

Article  7 

7.1 

7.2 

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. 

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. 

Done  at  Brussels, 

For  the  Council 
The  President 

A-  8 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 

1 

TITLE  OF  OPERATION 

Fourth  medium-term  Community  action  programme  on  equal  opportunities  for  women 
and  men 

2 

BUDGET  HEADINGS  INVOLVED 

B3-4012 
A0-1178 
A0-238 

Equal  opportunities 
Technical  assistance,  consultants 
Administrative  costs 

3 

LEGAL  BASIS 

Application  of  Article  235  of  the  Treaty.  Council  decision  expected  at the end  of  1995. 

4 

DESCRIPTION  OF  OPERATION 

4.1 

General  objective 

The programme's  general  objective  is to  promote  integration  of  equal  opportunities  - in 
partnership  with  all the actors concerned  - in the process of preparing, implementing  and 
monitoring all policies, measures and activities at Community, national, regional and local 
level. 

The  programme  will  provide  a  framework  for  action,  discussion  and  exchange  for  any 
initiatives which  contribute to promoting  equal  opportunities in the European  Union  and 
in  the Member  States. 

4.2 

Period  covered 

The  programme  covers  the  period  from  1 January  1996 to  31 December  2000. 

5 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  EXPENDITURE  OR  REVENUE 

5.1 
5.2 
5.3 

6 

6.1 

Non-compulsory  expenditure 
Differentiated  appropriations 
Type  of  revenue  involved:  none 

TYPE OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

Subsidies,  mainly  100%,  for  contracts  for  studies,  services,  meetings  of  experts 
and organisation  of conferences,  seminars and model  projects  and for  expenditure 
on  publication  and  dissemination  decided  upon  by  the  Commission. 

6.2 

Subsidies, generally  less than 75% of the total  costs for  operations co-financed  by 
public  or  private  organisations  at  the request  of  the  latter. 

A-  i 

6.3 

Interest  rate  subsidy:  none. 

6.4 

Other:  none. 

~ 

6.5 

Reimbursement:  partial  or total  reimbursement  can  be  requested  if  the  activities 
for  which  a  subsidy  was granted  were  not  carried  out  or  only  carried  out  in  part. 

6.6 

The  proposed  operation  will  not  cause  any  change  in  the  level  of  revenue. 

7 

FINANCIAL  IMPACT 

7.1 

Estimates  have been  made  on the basis  of  past  experience.  They  take  account  of 
the  dictates  of  major  legal  provisions  on  equality  and  the  conclusions  of  the 
European  Council  in Essen, which identified  equal opportunities as a priority  task 
for the European  Union.  The breakdown  is provisional  and  only  covers  activities 
directly under budget heading B3-4012. However, it should be borne in mind that 
some  activities  will  be  promoted  in  synergy  with  other  budget  headings, 
particularly  B3-4010, European employment  support and promotion facility,  or in 
connection  with  the  activities  of  the  Structural  Funds,  especially  the  European 
Social  Fund,  and  also  with  budgetary  headings  of  other  Directorates-General 
(DG X,  DG  XXII  and  DG  XXIII).  Activities  coming  under  budget  heading 
B3-4012  will  also be  supported  by  administrative  expenditure  set  out  under  10. 

7.2 

Itemised  breakdown 

ECU  million 

SPECIFIC  OBJECTIVES 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

TOTAL 

1.  Integration/partnership 

2.50 

4.20 

4.60 

5.00 

2.  Employment/entrepreneurship 

2.00 

2.40 

2.60 

2.80 

3.  Reconciliation 

4.  Decision-making 

5.  Women's  rights/information 

6.  Monitoring/assessment 

1.00 

1.00 

1.00 

1.00 

1.10 

1.10 

1.10 

1.10 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 

1.30 

1.30 

1.30 

1.30 

5.40 

3.00 

1.40 

1.40 

1.40 

1.40 

23.00 

13.00 

6.00 

6.00 

6.00 

6.00 

TOTAL 

10.00 

11.00 

12.00 

13.00 

14.00 

60.00 

information 
The provisional  amounts  are in  million  ecus.  This breakdown  is  purely  for 
and does not indicate the sums which will actually be allocated by the budgetary  authority 
for  each  of  the  years  under  consideration.  The  breakdown  in  a  given  field  of  action  is 
given by way of guidance. The provisional  amounts for subsequent years of  implementing 
the  programme  will  have  to  be  defined  in  the  relevant  preliminary  draft  budgets. 

fV  (0 

7.3 

Indicative  schedule  of  appropriations 

ECU  million 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

TOTAL 

2001 
and 
subs,  yrs 

COMMITMENT 
APPROPRIATIONS 

PAYMENT 
APPROPRIATIONS 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

20001 

and  subs,  yrs 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

1 

3.1 

3.1 

4.9 

2 

9.4 

11.5 

12.5 

13.5 

10 

4.5 

5 

1.5 

4.5 

6 

1.5 

5 

6.5 

1.5 

5.5 

7 

1.5 

TOTAL 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

1 

60 

60 

3.1 

9.4 

11.5 

12.5 

13.5 

8.5 

1.5 

60 

8 

FRAUD  PREVENTION  MEASURES 

The  operations  financed  will  be  examined  ex-ante,  in  itinere  and  ex-post  by  the 
departments responsible with regard to both quality and cost-benefit  ratio. These measures 
will be supplemented by the activities, which including on-site inspection,  of the  financial 
departments  of  the  Commission  and  the  Court  of  Auditors.  Contracts  between  the 
Commission  and  beneficiaries  of  payments  provide  for  fraud  prevention  guaranteeing 
proper  use  of  Community  financial  contributions. 

9 

ELEMENTS  OF  COST-EFFECTIVENESS  ANALYSIS 

9.1 

Specific  objectives 

1. 

Integrating  equal  opportunities  through  partnership  in  a  changing  society 

The assessment  of the Third Programme highlighted the need to focus  activities more and 
to  take  advantage  of  the  combined  effect  of  existing  mechanisms  in  the  interests  of 
greater  efficiency  and  a higher  profile. 

Support to model  projects  for integrating  equality  is intended to provide  a benchmark  for 
and  encourage  practices  most  likely  to promote  equal  opportunities  at  local  level  where 
action is taken  combining multiple partnerships with intervention by various  Community, 
national  or regional  instruments. The partnership  approach  will be developed  at all  levels 
but  especially  regional  level  where  it  will  be  based  on  the  Structural  Funds'  activities. 
Integrating  equal  opportunities  in the European  social  dialogue is crucial  at a time where 
the social  partners'  contribution  to forging  European  social  policy  is becoming  more and 
more  important. 

fl-  U 

2. 

Promoting  equal  opportunities  in  the  economy  and  the  labour  market 

What has been  established  so far  shows that desegregation  of the labour  marketrts a key 
factor in moving towards equal pay and upgrading women's work. Measures to encourage 
and  support  women  setting  up  their  own  enterprises  will  be  designed  to  do just  this. 

Specific  indicators  and  tools  for  assessing  employment  policies  need  to  be  devised  to 
determine  whether  equal  opportunities  remain  a  genuine  concern  in  programmes  and 
measures  for  combating  unemployment.  Activities  in  this  area  will  encourage  and 
complement  measures  in  the  Member  States. 

3. 

Reconciling  working  and  family  life 

The  concept  of  reconciliation  has  emerged  from  work  carried  out in  various  bodies  and 
has  featured  in  previous  programmes.  A  Council  Recommendation  on  child  care  was 
adopted  in  1992.  This  issue  will  henceforth  be  an  integral  part  of  social  policy  in  the 
wider  sense  and  will  be  factored  into  the  discussion  on  organisation  of  working  hours. 
It is one of the themes addressed by social dialogue at European level  and constitutes one 
of the  Structural  Funds' strands of  action, both  as a source of employment  and  as a form 
of  structural  intervention.  The Fourth  Programme  will  support  practices  which  conform 
with  the  standards  of  quality  and  scale  defined  with  a  view  to  promoting  equal 
opportunities  and  boosting  employment  in this  sector. 

4. 

Promoting  a gender  balance  in  decision-making 

A  gender  balance  in  decision-making  is  a sine  qua non  in  a  democracy.  Following  the 
activities  conducted  in  this  field  under  the  Third  Action  Programme,  the  Fourth 
Programme  will  support  exchanges  of  information  and  sound  practice  between  Member 
States, research into and assessment of strategies and means used to promote participation 
by women  in  decision-making  in  all  spheres of political,  economic  and  social  life  by  the 
social  players  concerned  (social  partners,  public  or  private  institutions  and  NGOs). 

5. 

Enabling  women  to  exercise  their  rights 

The  problem  of  information  on  women's  rights  is  related  to  the  general  issue  of  the 
Commission's  need to improve its information  policy. However,  it is compounded  by the 
special  needs  of  women  who,  according  to  opinion  surveys,  are less well  informed  than 
men about Community  policy and the acquis communautaire. There is increasing demand 
amongst women  for  rapid  access to clear information  on Community  equal  opportunities 
policy. 

The programme's aim to make Community  equal opportunities law more effective  reflects 
the priority  defined  in the medium-term  Social  Action  Programme  for  1995 to  1997 and 
is  to  be  achieved  by  seeing  that  people  are  better  informed  and  getting  more  legal 
practitioners  involved. 

6. 

Implementing,  monitoring  and  evaluating  the  programme 

The  Commission  will  need  a technical  assistance  unit  to  implement  a  programme  with 
such  a  wide  range  of  activities  and  measures  (conferences,  research,  studies,  model 
projects  and  information,  etc.).  This  will  function  as  a  clearing  house  for  monitoring 

ft- 

\1~ 

activities  receiving  technical  and/or  financial  support  from  the  Commission  and  will 
coordinate initiatives and disseminate and exchange information  and good  practice in the 
15 Member  States  in  a consistent  and  uniform  fashion. 

The  Commission  will  draw  up  a  report  on  equal  opportunities  each  year  and  will  also 
submit an interim  report to the European  Parliament  and the Council  in  1998 and  a  final 
report  in 2001. 

9.2 

Grounds  for  the  operation 

The  Community  has been  a prime mover  in  changing the  status of  women  in  society.  It 
first  consolidated the legal principle of equal treatment at work, and to a large extent with 
regard  to  social  security,  on  the  basis  of  Article  119  of  the  Treaty.  Since  1982,  the 
Commission  has  also  implemented  three  equal  opportunities  action  programmes.  The 
acquis  communautaire  has  been  considerable  in  terms  of  legislation  (six  Council 
Directives  and  several  Council  Recommendations  and  Resolutions)  and  of  forming 
networks  and  identifying  and  transferring  good  practice.  Accordingly,  the  mid-term 
assessment  report  on  the  Third  Programme  stressed  the  need  to  sustain  efforts  to 
desegregate  the  labour  market,  reconcile  working  and  family  life,  involve  women  in 
decision-making,  implement  equality  law  and  promote  partnership  between  the  parties 
concerned. The added value of Community  action along these lines was confirmed  during 
the very  extensive consultation process undertaken  by the Commission  in preparation  for 
this  proposal  (involving  the  Member  States,  Parliament,  the  social  partners,  non 
governmental  organisations,  experts,  etc). 

In December  1994, the European  Council  confirmed  that  combating  unemployment  and 
promoting  equal  opportunities were the Union's priority  tasks. In this context,  the Fourth 
Action  Programme  is  designed  to  integrate  equality  into  Community,  national,  regional 
and local  policies in partnership with all the players involved. The Commission  considers 
it  necessary  to  step  up  its  activities  in  this  field  by  adopting  a  more  integrated  policy 
concentrating  on  the  priority  objectives  mentioned  above. 

9.3  Monitoring  and  evaluation 

As  this  is  a  framework  programme  for  action,  discussion  and  exchanges  for  all  the 
initiatives  contributing  to  promoting  equal  opportunities  in  the  European  Union, 
monitoring  and  assessment  - in order to determine how far  its goals have been  attained  -
form  an  integral  part  of  its  activities. 

Assessment  will  comprise an analysis of efficiency  and will  compare the results  obtained 
with  the  objectives  of  each  activity  in  terms  of  quality  and  scale.  Assessment  of  model 
projects will  mainly  be designed to determine whether good  practice demonstrated  in this 
context  is  transferable. 

The  Commission  will  submit  an  interim  report  on  the  programme  to  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  by  31  December  1998  at the  latest. 

9.4 

Coherence  with  financial  programming 

The  activities  provided  for  are  incorporated  in  the  financial  programming  of  DG  V. 

i"2> 

10 

ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENDITURE 

The  administrative  resources  required  will  be  released  by  the  CommissionV annual 
decision on the allocation  of resources, taking account of the additional  staff  and  amounts 
allocated  by  the  budgetary  authority 

10.1 

Impact  on  the  number  of  staff 

Type  of  staff 

Staff  to  be  deployed  for 
management 

permanent  staff 

temporary  staff 

Who 

Duration 

will  be  provided 
from  additional 
resources 

will  be  provided 
from  existing 
resources  in 
DG  V or 
department 
concerned 

Officials 
or 
temporary 
staff 

A 
B 
C 

Other  resources 

TOTAL 

4 
1 
1 

1 

6 

1 
1 
1 

10 men/year 

13 

5 
2 
2 

10 

19 

/ 

/ 

/ 

5  years 
(duration  of 
programme) 

5  years 
(duration  of 
programme) 

5  years 
(duration  of 
programme) 

10.2  Overall  financial  impact  in  terms  of  additional  human  resources 

AMOUNTS 

CALCULATION  METHOD 

ECU 

Officials 
Temporary  agents 
Other  resources 

Staff  of  the  Employment  Directorate  of  DG  V  will  set  up  and  implement  the 
programme  and  will  analyse  the  outcome. 

Consultants  will  be  in  charge  of  managing  activities  relating  to  model  projects, 
transfer  of  good  practice,  observation  and  monitoring  of  policy  and  information 
and  dissemination. 

A'  «H-

10.3 

Increase of other operating expenditure resulting from the programme 

BUDGETARY  HEADING  (number  AMOUNTS 
and  title) 

CALCULATION  METHOD 

(Ecuy 

Pi  -  1^ 

Fourth Medium-Term  Community 
Action  Programme 
on Equal  Opportunities 
for Women  and Men 
(1996-2000) 

G >- 

i 

Table of Contents 

Fourth Medium-Term  Community Action  Programme 
on Equal Opportunities  for Women  and  Men 

Introduction 

Objective 1 
Building  Partnership  in  a  Changing  Society 

1.1 

1.2 
1.3 
1.4 
1.5 

Promoting  Partnership  between  the  Players  involved  at  National  and 
Community  Level 
Integrating  Equality  in  the European  Social  Dialogue 
Developing  Partnership  at Regional  and  Local  Level 
Supporting  integrated  Equality  Projects 
Promoting  a  Change  of  Attitudes:  Education,  Training,  Culture  and  the 
Media 

Objective  2 
Promoting  Equality  in  a Changing  Economy 

2.1 

2.2 
2.3 

Desegregating  the  Labour  Market  and  Promoting  the  Value  of  Women's 
Work 
Encouraging  Women's  Entrepreneurship 
Shaping  Structural  Change:  Equal  Opportunities  in  the  Structural  Funds 

Objective  3 
Women  and  Men  Combining  Work  with  Household-Family  Life 

3.1 
3.2 

Reconciling  Work  and  Household-Family  Life 
Promoting  the  Individualisation  of  Rights 

Objective  4 
Promoting  a Gender  Balance  in  Decision-Making 

4.1 
4.2 

Developing  Strategies  to Promote  a Gender  Balance 
Stimulating  Research  and  the  Exchange  of  Good  Practice 

Objective  5 
Enabling  Women  to  Exercise  their  Rights 

5.1 
5.2 
5.3 

Enforcing  Community  Law 
Providing  Information  on  Equal  Opportunities 
Promoting  the  Dignity  of  Women  and  Men  in  the  Workplace  and  in 
Society 

Objective  6 
Implementing,  Monitoring  and  Evaluating  the  Programme 

&-  K 

INTRODUCTION 

1 

Equal  treatment  for  women  and  men  is  a  basic  principle  in  law  and  equal 
opportunities  form  an  integral  part  of  democratic  citizenship. 

Respect for  human  dignity and full  and equal participation  by women in  political, 
economic,  social  and  cultural  life  and  in  decision-making  processes  are  basic 
requirements  of  democracy. 

This  year,  with  the  4th  World  Conference  on  Women  being  held,  the  Union  has 
a  duty  to  build  upon  its  achievements  to  date  and  to  confirm  and  increase  its 
commitment  to  the  democratic  values  of  equal  opportunities. 

The  Commission  has  recently  confirmed1,  as  part  of  its  attachment  to  European 
citizenship  and  democracy,  the  need  for  a  fundamental 
text  constituting  a 
summary  of  rights  and  duties  of  citizens  with  particular  reference  to  equal 
opportunities. 

I 

Changes  in  the  roles  of  women  and  men  are  one  of  the  major  features  of 
evolution  in society.  Over the last 30 years, increasing participation  by women  in 
the  labour  market,  their  resulting  economic  independence  and  their  entry  into 
secondary  and higher education  and in domains and  sectors traditionally  occupied 
by  men  have  wrought  major,  irreversible  changes.  In  the  light  of  current 
demographic  change, especially  ageing of the population,  the growing number  of 
working  women  is a crucial  economic  asset which  we need  to exploit  in  order  to 
use our human resources for maximum benefit2.  The impact of these developments 
on  the  organisation  of work  and  the  need  to respond  to  changing  aspirations  and 
hence  to  develop  new  forms  of  employment  now  form  the  focal  point  in  taking 
up  the  challenges  presented  by  the  employment  situation  now  and  in  the  future. 

Other factors, apart from  purely economic ones, which influence the collective and 
individual  behaviour  of  economic  and  social  agents  are demographic  change and 
the  transformation  of  family  structures,  the  construction  uf  new  partnerships 
between  men  and  women  and  the  evolution  of  individual  rcles  for  mothers  and 
fathers. 

3 

il  for 
Yet  situations  still  exist which  are unacceptable  in  a democracy.  Is it nor 
there  to  be  yawning  gaps  in  pay  between  men  and  women  in  1996,  aim jst  40 
years  after  the  signing  of  the  Treaty  of Rome?  How  can  one remain  unmoved  at 
the  high  rate  of  female  unemployment  and  the  increasing  number  of  women 

See  the  Commission's  Report  on the functioiming  of the  Treaty  on European  Union,  prepared  as 
a contribution  to the current  reflections  concerning  the  1996 I.G.C. (SEC (95) 731 fin. of  10.05.95) 

In  its  report  on  the  demographic  situation  in  the  European  Union  (COM  (94)  595),  the  Commission 
stresses that the ageing of the population  places such a  growing burden  on the working population  that 
it is vital  to mobilise  all  the human  resources  of the population  of working  age and  hence  to  increase 
the  number  of  women  in  employment  (between  1990  and  2020  the  number  of  people  over  65  will 
increase  by  15 million, and  the figure for  those under  15 will  drop by  9 million  and  those between  15 
and  65  by  9 million  too. 

fc  - 

lb 

suffering  from  poverty?  Is it normal  for  so few  women  to be in  decision-making 
bodies  in  the  Union  in  general?  How  can  attacks  on  women's  dignity_and  the 
violence  to  which  they  are  subjected  in  Europe  and  in the  world  be  tolerated? 

The  Community  has  been  the  driving  force  in  changing  the  status  of  women  in 
society. It first  consolidated  the legal  principle of equal  treatment at work,  and  to 
a  large  extent  with  regard  to  social  security,  on  the  basis  of  Article  119  of  the 
Treaty  enshrining  the  principle  of  equal  pay. 

At the  same time,  realising  that  equal  opportunities  are  conditional  upon  but  not 
necessarily  guaranteed  by  equality  in  law,  it  gradually  instituted  a  host  of 
measures to promote de facto  equality - mainly through its three consecutive equal 
opportunities programmes  - in many different  and mutually complementary ways, 
culminating  in  the  Third  Action  Programme,  which  contributed  towards: 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

desegregating  the  labour  market  by  applying  Community 
law  and 
promoting  positive  action  and  pilot  projects  for  equal  opportunities  in 
education  and  vocational  training; 
reconciling  family  and  working  life  more  effectively; 
promoting  entrepreneurship  amongst  women; 
encouraging  a  change  of  mentality  and  attitude,  through  the  media  and 
through  education; 
developing  innovation  through  the  Structural  Funds  and  transferring  it 
through  the NOW  initiative; 
promoting  a gender  balance  in  decision-making; 
integrating  equal  opportunities in  the  relevant  Community  policies3. 

It  should  also  be  pointed  out  that  the  new  Regulations  of  the  Structural  Funds, 
adopted  in  1993, include equal  opportunities  as part  of the new objectives  of  the 
Funds  as well  as laying  down  the  respect  of the  principle  of  equal  opportunities 
in  the  implementation  of  measures  financed  under  the Funds. 

The  Community's  key  role  has  been  widely  recognised  by  the  Community 
institutions  and  by  various  public  or  private  organisations,  including  non 
gouvernmental  organisations,  involved  in  or  representing  women's  interests  -
witness the contributions received when the Green and White Papers on the  future 
of  European  social  policy  and the  present  programme  were  being  prepared. 

However,  the  fact  is  that  several  surveys  on  the  future  of  Europe  have  shown 
women  to  be  frequently  more  reluctant  to  come  out  in  support  of  furthering  the 
construction  of  Europe. 

Is  this  because  of  a  lack  of  information?  Does  it  betray  unease  with  regard  to 
economic  and  social  change?  Do they  feel  that they  are not  sufficiently  involved 
or  have  a  sufficiently  active  role  in  Community  life?  Are  they  expressing 
disappointment  at what  they  see  as being  inadequate  progress? 

See  the  Mid-Term  report  on  the  Third  Community  Medium-term  Action  Programme  on  Equal 
opportunities  between  women  and  men  (COM  (95)  246  of  13 June  1995) 

(K-  2 

7 

This is  a considerable  challenge  to the Union  and  it has reacted  positively  to this 
situation. 

Apart from  continuing  and  stepping up  its activities in this area,  the  Commission 
stressed  in  its  White  Paper  on  Growth,  Competitiveness  and  Employment  that 
solidarity  based  on  equality  for  men  and women  was  an essential  element  of  this 
three-pronged  plan.  Over the  last few  months it has formed  a group  of  Members 
of the  Commission  under  the  auspices  of  the President,  which  is  responsible  for 
stimulating  the  debate  within  the  Commission  and  for  ensuring  that  equal 
opportunities  are  built  into  all  policies  and  become  a  common  strand  of 
Community  action,  and  has instructed  an  interdepartmental  group  to  prepare  the 
ground  for  and  monitor  this  course  of  action.  The  outcome  of  the  work  of  this 
group  will  be  a  communication  which  will  review  the  equal  opportunities 
dimension  of  all  activities  of  the  Commission. 

Recently, the European Council -  the highest level of the Council  - acknowledged 
that promoting  equal  opportunities,  together with  combating  unemployment,  was 
one  of  the  Union's  paramount  tasks. 

The European  Parliament,  pursuing its commitment  in this area, urged  the Union 
to  step  up  and  expand  its  activities  to  cover  a wider  field. 

The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  actively  encouraged  the  Union  to  expand 
and  intensify  its  efforts  to  promote  equal  opportunities. 

8 

Against  this  background,  the  Commission  undertook  to  present  a  fourth  equal 
opportunities  programme. 

To  this  end,  it  launched  a  wide-ranging  consultation  process  as  soon  as  work 
started  on  the  Green  Paper  and  then  the  White  Paper  on  the  future  of  European 
social  policy. 

Moreover,  on  the  Fourth  Programme  itself,  a  short  consultative  document, 
"Advancing  Equal  Opportunities",  containing  the  principal  features  of  the 
programme  was  sent  to  the  Women's  Rights  Committee  of  the  European 
Parliament, the Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities and Women's Rights, 
the European  Women's  Lobby  and  the  social  partners. 

They  have  offered  the  Commission  most  useful  contributions  and  stressed  the 
importance of protecting  and building on the acquis and the desirability  of  further 
strengthening  and  broadening  of  policies  and  activities  at Union  level,  in  a more 
integrated  and  concentrated  way. 

This  programme  pursues  the  course  of  action  already  plotted  by  the  Community 
and  will  therefore  have  to  consolidate  and  build  upon  the  major  achievements 
mentioned  above.  But  above  all  it  will  also  have  to  make  a  significant 
contribution to solving existing problems and meeting new challenges and respond 
to the  expectations  and  concerns  expressed  by  women. 

However,  one thing needs to be made clear right from  the start:  the Union  can not 
and  ought  not  to  monopolise  the  action.  Much  of  it  is  up  to  the  Member  States, 

e >- 

3 

their  education  systems,  their  regional  and  local  authorities,  the  various  partners 
in economic and social  life,  the social  partners, voluntary  organisations, the media 
and,  not  least,  the  partnership  between  men  and  women. 

Nevertheless,  the  Commission,  on  the  strength  of the  acquis  communautaire,  its 
experience  and  its commitment  can  and  must  extend  its  role  as the  driving  force 
and  motivator  as  well  as  fulfilling  its  basic  duty  as  guardian  of  the  Treaties, 
mainly by strengthening equality law, supporting and disseminating sound practice 
and  policies  and  encouraging  debate,  even  on  sensitive  and  intractable  issues. 

This  course  of  action  is in  line  with  the  conclusions  of  the  mid-term  assessment 
report on the Third  Programme  which  stressed  the need to press for  coordination 
and complementarity between the activities of the Commission, the Member  States 
and  the  social  partners  and  to  look  at  ways  of  increasing  synergy  between 
measures  taken  at  all  levels. 

Bearing  this in  mind,  and taking into  account its own  resources, the  Commission 
proposes  that  the  fourth  programme,  from  1996  to  2000,  provide  an  action  and 
reference framework  to stimulate interaction and partnership at all levels (national, 
regional, local and Community) and in all domains to integrate equal  opportunities 
into  the  process  of  preparing, 
implementing  and  monitoring  all  relevant 
Community  and  national  policies  and  programmes.  This  is  the  principle  of 
mainstreaming which  will  be expanded  upon  in the follow-up  to the White Paper 
on  Growth,  Competitiveness  and  Employment. 

Against this background, the Community  institutions will take care to give women 
more  of  a  say  at  all  stages  of  preparing,  negotiating  and  deciding  upon 
Community  policies, by providing for equal access to posts carrying responsibility. 

This  integrational  approach,  which  will  set the tone  for  implementing  the  fourth 
programme,  calls for  action  and resources to be concentrated  on a limited  number 
of clearly  defined  aims which  have been  selected  with  a view to provide  the best 
possible  multiplier  effect  and  synergy  with  initiatives  at  all  levels : 

1) 

2) 

3) 

4) 
5) 

6) 

mobilising  all  the  actors  in  economic  and  social  life  to  promote  equal 
opportunities; 
promoting  equal  opportunities  as a means of adjusting  working  life  to the 
changes  taking  place,  mainly  through  the  Structural  Funds; 
encouraging  a  policy  to  reconcile  family  and  working  life  for  men  and 
women; 
promoting  a gender  balance  in  decision-making, 
ensuring  that conditions  are  more  conducive to women  who  are  nationals 
of  or  resident  in  the  Union  exercising  active  citizenship; 
supporting  implementation,  monitoring  and  assessment  of  activities 
conducted  in  order  to  achieve  the  above  aims. 

The  profusion  of  initiatives  and  structures  developed  previously  which  have 
played  a  fundamental  role  in  developing  the  acquis  communautaires  must  now 
give  way  to  an  integrated  approach  and  more  streamlined  management  of 
activities  to  ensure  that  the  Community  equal  opportunities  policy  is  more 

h-  4 

consistent  and  has a higher  profile.  This is why, for  example,  provision  will  be 
made  for  an  integrated  clearing  house  (ANIMA)  structure  to  promote  the 
development  and exchange of innovation  and sound  practice in order tolichieve 
the programme's  aims.  This structure  should  help to facilitate  the  dissemination 
of  information  in  close  liaison  with  the planned  information  centres  at  national 
and regional  level. 

Legislative action will comprise a sustained effort  to adopt outstanding proposals 
in  the  most  suitable  way,  which  will  include  application  of  the  Agreement  on 
Social Policy  annexed to the Maastricht Treaty, and also new proposals designed 
to  consolidate  the  legal  framework  for  equal  opportunities.  Efforts  to  make 
conditions more conducive to rights being exercised in full will be focused mainly 
on promoting the dignity  of women and men at work and in  society in general. 

In order to  enable progress to be measured,  a system  will  be set up to monitor, 
assess and analyse the programme's activities,  one of the key components being 
an annual  report on equal  opportunities. 

G>  "  5 

OBJECTIVE  1 

BUILDING  PARTNERSHIP  IN  A  CHANGING  SOCIETY 

Democracy,  a  fundamental  value  of the  European  Union,  requires  the  integration  of an 
explicit  equality  dimension  into  all  policies,  programmes,  actions,  financial  and  support 
frameworks,  and  evaluation  systems  of the  Community,  as well  as at  national,  regional, 
and  other  appropriate  levels. 

How  can  the  European  Union  contribute  to  the  monumental  task  of  integrating  equal 
opportunities into planning and policy  and into new fields  of action? This is the challenge 
that  faces  the  Fourth  Action  Programme.  The  Programme  will  provide  support  and 
develop  actions  to  stimulate  key  partners  to  combine  their  resources  in  a  spirit  of 
partnership  to  integrate  equality  into the mainstream  of  policy.  It  proposes to  cooperate 
with  all  concerned  actors  both  at  European  and  national  level,  to  involve  the  social 
partners  as  well  as  the  actors  engaged  in  regional  and  local  development  and  those 
having  a  multiplier  effect  on  attitude  change.  It  will  build  on  thé  experience  of  local 
projects  aimed  at  promoting  integrated  approaches  to  equal  opportunities. 

1.1. 

Promoting  partnership  between  the  players  concerned  at  national  and 
Community  level 

Before  equal  opportunities  can  be  integrated  in  all  fields  of  economic  and  social  life 
everybody  has to be mobilised  who, for  one reason  or another,  contributes to  formulating 
and  implementing  the  relevant  policies  and  decisions.  The  Commission  thus  intends  to 
contribute,  within  the  limits  of  its powers  and  resources,  to  this  process  of  mobilisation 
by cooperating closely with the Member  States, the social  partners and  non-governmental 
organisations.  To this end, it will  promote cooperation  between  the players concerned  by 
inviting interested  parties to support practical  initiatives and to pool their experience  and, 
if necessary, to set up permanent partnership  structures. It will also help to identify  sound 
practice  and  successful  experiments  in  key  areas  of  equal  opportunities  mapped  out  in 
previous  programmes:  integration  in  employment,  reconciling  family  and  working  life, 
participation  in  decision-making  and  the  exercise  of  rights. 

Action 

The new  Advisory  Committee  for  Equal  Opportunities  for  Women  and  Men  will  play  a 
key  role in  the  partnership  which  the  Commission  plans  to  develop.  The  composition 
of the  Committee  has  been  adjusted  to  take  in  the Member  States,  the  national  equal 
opportunities  bodies  and  the  social  partners. 

The  Commission  will  also  contribute  to  the  discussion  and  exchanges  on  equal 
opportunities  issues  in  every  Member  State  by  organising,  with  the  national  authorities, 
seminars  and  meetings  for  the  exchange  of  information.  These  seminars  should 
promote  cooperation  between  the  authorities,  the  social  partners  and  non-government 
organisations. 

1.2. 

Integrating  Equality  in  the  European  Social  Dialogue 

Social  partners  at  European  level  have  been  involved  in  various  activities  Concerning 
equal  opportunities,  including  the  adoption  of  a joint  opinion  on women  and  training  in 
1993  and  a  compendium  of  good  practice  in  this  field  issued  in  1995.  The  Social 
Dialogue  takes  place  at  different  levels  and  in  different  forms  and  involves  various 
processes  and  structures.  It  is  important  to  ensure  that  the  equality  dimension  is 
adequately  reflected  throughout  the layers  of the  Social  Dialogue,  and that the  processes 
of  the  latter  are  accessible  to  those  most  concerned  with  advancing  equal  opportunities 
at  all  levels.  To  this  end,  it  would  be  helpful  to  increase  awareness  of  the  mechanisms 
of  the  Social  Dialogue  and  of  their  possible  impact  on  issues  of  equality. 

Actions 

The  Social  Partners  will  be  invited  to  consider,  if they  so wish,  the  possibility  of 
developing  European  networking  and  exchange  between  their  equal  opportunities 
officers  at  different  levels  of  their  organisations  where they  exist  and  of  designating 
such  persons  where  they  don't  exist.  These  officers  would  act  as guides  for  Trade 
Union  and  Employer  organisations  into the European  Social  Dialogue  process  and  its 
impact  on  equal  opportunities. 

They  could  inter  alia  facilitate  national,  transregional  and  transnational  exchanges  of 
information.  Study  visit  schemes  for  the  national  equality  officers  and  members  of 
equality  units  already  appointed  to  some  Social  Partner  organisations  will  be  supported 
if  social  partners  so  wish.  The  Commission  will  offer  to  underpin  this  process  at 
European  level  through  the  provision  of technical  and  financial  support. 

The  Commission  will  prornote  monitoring  of  Community  equal  opportunities  initiatives 
and  programmes  in  the  framework  of the  social  dialogue  at  cross-branch  and  sectoral 
level. 

1.3.  Developing  Partnership  at  Regional  and  Local  level 

The  social,  historical  and  cultural  diversity  of  the  regions  and  municipalities  of  Europe 
is  one  of  its  many  strengths.  The  active  contribution  of  the  regions  together  with  the 
Member  States  and  the  institutions  of  the European  Community  provides the  means  for 
social  and  economic  policies  to reach  ever larger  numbers  of citizens.  Strengthening  the 
regional 
the 
démocratisation of Europe. Partnership between regions and municipalities of the Member 
States  and  the  European  Commission  in the  field  of  equal  opportunities  has  not  to  date 
been  given  sufficient  development  and  has  to  be  encouraged.  The  Fourth  Programme 
proposes to promote the integration  of an equality  dimension  into the regional-local  level 
throughout  the  European  Union. 

level  of  economic  development  and  decision-making 

is  part  of 

e >- 

? 

Actions 

The Fourth  Programme  will  support,  in  partnership  with  the  competent  national 
authorities,  equal  opportunities  centres  in  one  or  more  regions  of  each  Member  State. 
Regional  information  centres  on  equal  opportunities  will,  for  the  first  time,  be  ai; 
expression  of  a European  regional  policy  which  takes  account,  in  practical  measures,  of 
equal  treatment  between  women  and  men.  Regional  equal  opportunities  centres  will  be 
points  of  contact  and  information  for  equal  opportunities  policies  and  programmes, 
measures  and  actions  emanating  from  European,  national  or local/regional  institutions. 
They  will  build  on  the  experience  of  "National  Animation  Strategies"  initiated  under 
the  Third  Action  Programme.  These  centres  will  orovide and  exchange  information  on 
equal  opportunities  policies  and  in  particular  the European  component  thereof. 

Regional  Information  Centres  could  network  together  to  ensure  added  value  and  cross-
fertilization  of  actions. 

The ERDF  could  provide  support  for  setting  up  and  networking  these  centres  under  the 
terms  of  Article  10, for  innovative  action  in  regional  economic  development. 

Geographically  balanced  distribution  between  rural  and  urban  areas  as well  as 
coordination  with  existing  information  structures  financed  by  the  Community  will  have 
to be  ensured. 

1.4. 

Supporting  Integrated  Equality  Projects 

The  Commission  proposes  to  support  pilot  projects  designed  to  promote  equal 
opportunities  vigorously  within  a given  urban  or  rural  area  in  line  with  the  partnership 
approach  underlying  the  entire  programme  and  with  a view  to  extending  this  approach 
to  practical  experiments  and  innovation  which  might  prompt  more  discussion  and 
initiative. 

Such  projects,  which  would  be  a  practical  manifestation  of  local  partnership,  would  be 
designed  to  establish  a  sustained  drive  for  equal  opportunities.  Enterprises  or  their 
organisations,  training  bodies,  trade  union  organisations  and  local  authorities  could,  for 
example,  agree to join  forces  to reduce  segregation  in the local  labour  market  to  enable 
women,  inter  alia,  to  benefit  from  measures  for  training  and  for  easing  access  to 
employment  in occupations  and  sectors of activity  where women  are traditionally  under-
represented. 

A project  could  also see local  partners (local  authorities, the social  partners, associations, 
etc)  agreeing  to  help  to  reconcile  working  and  family  life  (by  setting  up  neighbourhood 
services, which  mainly  employ  women  and  can  create jobs  for  them,  adjusting  working 
hours  and  the  organisation  of  work  etc). 

Or  again,  in  a rural  area,  the  players  involved  in  local  development  could  agree to  pool 
their  efforts  and  some  of  their  resources  in  order  to  do justice  to  the goal  of  promoting 
equal  opportunities (by taking action on behalf of female  agricultural  workers,  examining 
what  part  women  could  play  in  diversifying  activities  to  create jobs,  tackling  specific 

&- 

8 

problems of isolation, giving them  a say in decisions on rural development,  and involving 
them  in  alternative  activities  in  rural  areas). 

The programme could provide such projects with technical  and methodological  assistance 
and  financial  support  aimed  specifically  at  organising  a  partnership  and  promoting 
consistency  and  synergy  amongst  the  activities  of  the  partners  concerned. 

Integrated  Equality  Projects  are  intended  to be  a part  of  a coordinated  strategy  between 
the  European  Union  and  Member  States  to  integrate  the  equality  dimension  into  local 
employment  and  development.  The  setting  up  of  these  Equality  Projects  will  rely  on 
establishing a partnership between relevant institutions, including Community  institutions, 
elected  authorities,  public  bodies,  non-governmental  organisations,  and  representative 
bodies  of  employers  and  employees,  with  a view  to  developing  in  a  given  local  area  a 
range of  actions  intended  to  promote the  full  participation  of women  in  social,  political 
and  economic  life.  The  projects  will  aim  at  concentrating 
into  a  single  local  focus  the 
growing  number  of  diverse  actions  and  measures  of  Member  States,  regions,  and  other 
institutions and bodies concerned with integrating an equality dimension  into policies and 
actions. 

The potential  of  such  projects  to  create  a supportive  framework  in  favour  of  changes in 
enterprise  and  organisational  culture in public,  private, non-profit  and  non-governmental 
organisations,  will  be  tested,  monitored  and  assessed. 

This approach will  provide an opportunity to develop new focused  policies resulting  from 
the integration  of  Community,  national,  regional  and local  labour  market and  integration 
measures concerning the fields  of pay,  pay  systems, training  and  counselling,  health  and 
safety,  care  work,  local  employment  initiatives  and  enterprise  development  for  women, 
informal  economy  actions and improvements in the balance of the sexes in  representative 
structures  and  indirectly  elected  bodies. 

e >- 

9 

Actions 

In  accordance  with  guidelines  produced  by  the  Commission,  the  design  and 
implementation  of  the  projects  will  be  defined  by  local  promoters,  in  partnership  with 
all  the  actors  concerned,  with  due  regard  to  national  and  local  circumstances. 

30 to 40  Integrated  Equality  Projects  throughout  Europe  will  be  selected  by  the 
Commission  after  consulting  the  Advisory  Committee,  to  be  awarded  financial  support 
in  the  framework  of  cofinancing  rules. Particular  attention  will  be  paid,  in  the  selection 
process,  to  the  relevance  of the  strategy  proposed  by  the  applicants  with  regard  to  the 
needs  and  the  potential  of the  concerned  urban  or rural  areas. Each  project  will  bring 
together  public  and  private  actors  and  agencies willing  to  develop  equal  opportunities 
policies  and  practices  in  an  integrated  way. 

The programme  is  not  intended  to finance  all  the  local  activities  which  could  be 
conducted  for  the  benefit  of  women  and  which  could,  after  all,  attract  support  from  the 
Structural  Funds  or  other  Community  policies.  Support  under  this  programme  will  be 
mainly  designed  to  promote  coordination  between  activities  and  cooperation  between 
the  players who  have  embarked  on  an integrated  approach  to  equal  opportunities  and 
have  agreed  to  pool  their  resources  permanently  for  this purpose  and  to  form  a 
network  and  take  part  in  a process  of partnership,  transnational  exchanges  and 
assessment. 

Such  projects  will  contribute  to  identifying  the best  and  most  successful  practices, 
measures,  and  methods,  to  reduce  labour  market  segregation,  promote  the  economic 
independence  of  women,  facilitate  adaptation  at  local  level  to the  changing  economic 
and  social  conditions,  and  promote  full  and  equal  participation  of  women  in  social  and 
economic  life. 

A  series  of  such  projects  could  produce  a number  of European  models  for  the 
development  of  equality  through  a mixed  range  of  approaches. 

The  experience  gained  will  be  disseminated  widely  through  European  guides  to  good 
practice. 

1.5. 

Promoting  a  Change  of  Attitudes:  Education,  Training,  Culture  and  the 
Media 

Coping  with  change  in  European  Society  has  been  identified  in  the  White  Paper  on 
Growth,  Competitiveness  and Employment  and the White Paper  on  Social Policy  as well 
as in the Medium-term  rolling  Social  Action  Programme  of  the  Commission  as a  major 
challenge.  Coping  with  change  is  about  changing  attitudes,  in  addition  to  structures  and 
systems.  The  rigidity  of  sex  roles  in  the  labour  market  and  between  public  and  private 
life  has  survived  the  massive  technological  changes  in  the  production  process  and 
communications  that  affect  the  organisation  of  working  life. 

The  consistency  of  sex  role  stereotyping  has  passed  relatively  unnoticed  despite  the 
present  erosion  of  the  social  contract  which  has  underpinned  relations  between  women 

and men for  centuries,  leaving  a situation  in which the combination  of work  with  family 
life  is  extremely  difficult.  There  are  new  demands  for  free  time  and  for  a  personal  life 
outside the workplace. 

" 

Sex  differences  in  education,  the  labour  market  and  the  family  are  critically  associated 
with  ideas  on  appropriate  roles  for  men  and  women  to  be  reflected  in  public  policy. 
Central  to  concerns  of  men  and  women  as equal  citizen-partners  is the  sharp  separation 
of  public  and  private  spheres  into  male  and  female  spheres. 

The  media,  new  communications  and  multi-media  systems  are  at  the  heart  of  the 
reinforcement  of sex stereotyped images of women's and men's roles as workers or carers, 
earners  or  dependents,  productive  or  inactive.  Sex-stereotyped  images  lag  behind  the 
emerging  reality  in  European  society. 

Attitude  change  is  not  merely  a  question  of  conveying  a  positive  image  of  women  in 
education,  culture  and  the  media.  This is  one  of the lessons  of  the  Third  Programme  of 
Action.  What  is  at  stake  is  promoting  a  change  in  women's  and  men's  experiences  and 
their  aspirations in the public and private domains. This is a long term  goal to which  the 
Commission can contribute, building on the achievements of the Third Action Programme 
and  stimulating  transnational  research,  information  and  awareness  raising.  Women's 
studies  and  research  are  still  very  unevenly  developed  in  Member  States.  In  some 
Member  States,  their  contribution  to  the  development  of  gender  awareness  in  the 
formulation  of  policies  is  used  and  recognised.  At European  level,  the  interdisciplinary 
approach  of  women's  studies  could  well  be  an  asset  for  the  integration  of  equality  in  a 
variety  of  policy  fields. 

Concerning education more specifically,  the SOCRATES programme recently  adopted by 
the  Council  draws  attention  to  the  need  to  develop  projects  involving  parents,  teachers 
and schools in order to promote non sexist education, including through  schools  curricula 
and  text  books. 

Actions 

The  Commission  will  build  on  initiatives  undertaken  in  the fields  of  education, 
training,  culture  and  the  media  in  existing  programmes  and  initiatives  aimed  at 
inspiring  a change  in  attitudes  towards  a more balanced  partnership  of  women  and  men 
in  European  society.  It  will  support  audiovisual  activities  and  publications  promoting 
positive  images  of  the  role  of  women  and  men  in  society. 

It  will  in  particular  develop  now proposals  to combat  gender  stereotyping  by 
encouraging  girls  and  boys,  women  and  men,  to  develop  skills  traditionally  associated 
with  one  particular  sex  both  through  its  action  programmes  and  initiatives  in  this  area 
(SOCRATES,  LEONARDO,  MEDIA,  ...)  and  in  its forthcoming  White  Paper  on 
Education. 

The  Commission  will  support  research  from  a European  perspective  into  the  evolving 
roles  of  women  and  men  in  contemporary  society.  It will  encourage  networking  and 
exchange  between  experts  and  diffusion  of  research  results,  particularly  those  of 
women's  studies. 

&-  11 

OBJECTIVE  2 

PROMOTING  EQUALITY  IN  A  CHANGING  ECONOMY 

The  conclusions  of  the  Essen  Summit  in  December  of  1994  identified  equality  of 
opportunity  for  women  and  men,  as  a  'paramount  task  of  the  European  Union  and  its 
Member  States'  and  necessary  to  the  continued  dynamic  development  of  an  internal 
market.  These conclusions were confirmed  at the Cannes European  Council. The  follow-
up  action  plans  to  Essen  have  reflected  the  widely  held  view  that  equal  opportunity 
policies  depend  on  men  and  women  being  able  to  support  themselves  by  taking  up 
employment.  The  promotion  of  equality  in  a  changing  economy  requires  that  equal 
opportunities  policies  be  integrated  into  all  aspects  of  economic  planning  and  policy. 

2.1.  Desegregating  the  Labour  Market  and  Promoting  the  Value  of  Women's 

Work 

There  has  been  a  certain  amount  of  progress  in  the  position  of  women  in  the  labour 
market over the past few  years.  The rise in the labour force  participation  of women  has 
been  the  motor  of  European  employment  growth.  Since  the  mid-eighties  women  have 
been  the principal  source  of  increase  in  European  labour  forces.  However,  this  massive 
influx  of  women  into  the  labour  market  has  not  been  matched  by  diversity  of 
employment. Paradoxically,  systems of segregation and marginalisation  of women  within 
economic  sectors  and  groups  of  occupations  have  survived  the  overall  féminisation  of 
employment.  Occupational  segregation  remains  a  central  characteristic  of  all  European 
labour  markets  notwithstanding  the  level  of  development  of  economies. 

Two  out  of  five  of  all  jobs  in  the  European  Union  are  now  held  by  women  and  the 
majority  of  the  new jobs  created  during  the  last years  are  held  by  women.  35  %  of  the 
active  labour  force  in  agriculture  are  women  whereas  only  10  %  are  head  of  farms. 
However,  3  out  of  10  part-time  workers,  7  out  of  10  family  workers,  5  out  of  10 
temporary  employees  and  6 out  of  10 clerical  workers  are women. Unemployment  rates 
among women  (13% at  02.95)  in  the  European  Union  continue  to  be  higher  than  those 
for  men. 

law,  the  Commission  has  undertaken  a  strategy,  announced 

Bearing in mind that the right to equal pay under Article  119 is a fundamental  right under 
Community 
in  the 
Memorandum  on  Equal  Pay,  of  improving  awareness  and 
information  on  pay 
discrimination.  The  right  to  equal  pay  concerns  every  male  and  female  worker  in  the 
European  Union  and  applies  in  all  employment  situations  where  work  of  equal  value  is 
performed. Phenomena such as occupational  segregation  and low pay, whilst  complicating 
the task  of  detecting  pay  discrimination,  cannot  restrict  the  scope  of  Article  119. 

The unacceptable persistence of differences  in pay and related compensations at work and 
the  huge  body  of  case  law  in  this  area  will  necessitate  a  more  systematic  approach  to 
monitoring  and  enforcement  of  Community  and  national  law  in  the  coming  years. 

The value  of  women's  unremunerated  or undervalued  contributions  to  the  economies  of 
Europe  remains  unrecognised  in  most  economic  analysis.  This  is the  case  in  relation  to 

P>-  12 

homeworking, contributions to farm enterprise and semi-recognised and undervalued work 
in the care sector. The costs of non-integration  of women into Europe's economies should 
be further  researched  and publicised. 

Education  and  vocational  training  programmes  are  powerful  tools  to  stimulate 
desegregation. In this context, the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme (Council Decision 
n* 1081/94 of  1 December  1994) draws attention to the need for a specific  effort to open 
up  new  areas  of  work  for  women  and encourage  them  to  return to  work  after  a career 
break.  In  addition  to  supporting  an  overall  objective  of  promoting  equal  opportunities 
within the framework  of this mainstream training programme, it makes specific  financial 
provision  for  projects  designed  to  adapt  the  content  and  methodology  of  training  to 
women's needs, to network Member States' initiatives in this area, the training of trainers 
in the field  of equal  opportunities. As part of its new approach towards lifelong learning, 
it also makes provision to fund projects related to developing women's career prospects, 
in particular where women  are under-represented. 

&-  13 

Actions 

The  Commission  will  undertake  actions  to  promote  the  integration  of  women's  issues 
and  the  equality  of  opportunity  dimension  into  all  aspects  of  employment  planning, 
policies,  initiatives  and  programmes.  Specific  attention  will  be  paid  to  integrai'ng  a 
gender  dimension  in  the  new  developments  linked  to the  information  society  so that  its 
potential  benefits  are  equally  shared  between  women  and  men.  To  that  effect,  the 
results  of  research  on  the  differences  in  occupation,  working  conditions  and  informal 
support  systems  between  male  and  female  teleworkers  will  be  taken  into  account  for 
policy  proposals  on  telework. 

Alongside  its  role  as guardian  of  the  Treaty,  in  particular  as  regards  the 
implementation  of  Article  119,  the  Commission  will  pursue  the  course  of  action 
described  in  the Memorandum  on Equal  Pay,  namely  improving  baseline  data  on 
women  and  pay,  improving  dissemination  of research  findings  and  relevant 
jurisprudence,  and  supporting  the  development  of training  modules  for  pay  negotiators. 
Moreover,  the  European  code  of  practice  on  equal  pay  will  be  disseminated  widely. 

The  Commission  will  undertake  and  promote  studies,  exchange  of  information,  social 
and  economic  research  and  initiatives  in  relation  to  employment,  positive  action  and 
related  policy  fields.  Initiatives  will  focus  specifically  on  the  informal  sector,  health 
and  safety,  atypical  employment,  including  homeworking,  women's  entrepreneurship 
and  local  employment  initiatives.  The  Commission  will  also undertake  reviews  of 
labour  market  policy  as regards  equal  opportunities. 

On  the basis  of  research  into the  question  of  public7 procurement  procedures  as a 
means  of  promoting  equal  opportunities,  the  Commission  will  adapt  its  own  public 
procurement  practices  with  a view  to  promoting  equal  opportunities,  by  including 
standard  provisions  on  the  neceasary  respect  of the  principle  of  equal  pay  and  equal 
treatment  between  women  and  men. 

It  will  also  issue  a Communication  on  the  scope  for  a contract  compliance  policy 
under  the  Community  public  procurement  directives. 

In  line with  the  results  of the  Essen  European  Council  and  the  White Paper  on  Growth, 
Competitiveness  and  Employment,  the  Commission  will  establish  an  expert  group  to 
advise  and  help  with  the  analysis  and  monitoring  of  equal  opportunities  in  the  labour 
market. 

It  will  also  develop  actions  within  the  framework  c^the  proposed  .1996  "European 
Year  of Lifelong  Learning"  with  a view  to  promoting  diversification  of  vocational 
choices  fcr  women  and  men. 

&- 

14 

The  Commission  will  finalise  its consultations  with  the Social  Partners  under the 
Social  Protocol  on a Directive  to reverse  the burden  of proof  in  equality  cases. It will 
also consult  them,  under  the Social  Protocol,  on atypical  work,  with  particular 
reference  to part-time  work.  In the light  of the results  of these  consultations, the 
Commission  will  decide  what  further  action  should  be proposed. 

The Member  States  can reinforce  the actions  of the  programme  by promoting  research, 
labour  market  integration  programmes  and initiatives  and by monitoring the 
implementation  of their  employment-related  plans in terms  of their  impact  on  women. 

2.2.  Encouraging  Women's  Entrepreneurship 

The  experience  gained  by  the  Commission  in  the  course  of  three  previous  action 
programmes  in  the  field  of  enterprise  creation,  through  its  programme  of  Local 
Employment  Initiatives  for women,  exchanges  and research,  has enabled  it to acquire a 
technical  knowledge  in the field  of women's  entrepreneurship  at European  level.  Some 
knowledge  of the important  role  played  and problems  faced  by women  as  entrepreneurs 
and  as assisting  spouses,  in  small  and medium-sized  enterprises  has also  been  acquired 
by the Commission  in the context  of its policies  on SMEs. 

The service sector is a growth  sector of European  employment where enterprise and self-
employment  can lead  to regularising  previously  informal  economic  activities.  This  latter 
process,  in  turn,  can  open  up  new  rights:  to  social  security,  a  pension,  a  status, 
professional  recognition  and  an  opportunity  to  join  decision-making  structures.  An 
important gap persists between the proportions of men and women  ready  to become  self-
employed  or start  up businesses. 

Objective  difficulties  are  faced  by  women  entrepreneurs,  such  as  inaccessibility  of 
finance,  absence  of  appropriate  business  guidance  services,  inadequate  availability  of 
vocational  training  geared  specifically  to the needs  of  women  starting  up  and  running 
successfully  a  business  and  lack  of  recognition  of  the  competences  of  women 
entrepreneurs  by the economic  environment. 

Agricultural  restructuring  and changes  in the Common  Agricultural  Policy  are  forecast 
to  radically  transform  rural  life  in the  Community.  Improving  the  status  of  women  in 
farming  and in  family  businesses  in  rural  areas  is  a  challenge  for  the  future  to  which 
women's  entrepreneurship  can make  a contribution. 

In this  respect,  Council  Directive  86/613/EEC  of  11 December  86 on the application of 
the principle of equal  treatment  between  women  and men engaged  in activities  including 
agriculture in a self-employed  capacity, does not appear to have had the impact  originally 
hoped  for,  which  is due to the modest  nature  of the obligations  imposed  by it. 

e >- 

is 

Actions 

Support  will  be  further  developed  for  locally  based  enterprise  creation  activities  for 
women,  by  the  promotion  of  structures,  networks  and  organisations  which  facilitate 
women's  access  to  the  single  market.  The  Commission's  activities  in  the  field  of 
enterprises,  and  in  particular  as  relates  to  SMEs,  will  be  monitored  in  terms  of  their 
impact  on  equal  opportunities.  The  development  of  specific  financial  tools  for  very 
small  enterprises  will  be  explored  with  relevant  operators  and  in  particular  attention 
will  be  given  to  the  question  of  access  to  credit  by  women  entrepreneurs. 

Activities  related  to  advisory  structures  and  information  centres  facilitating  the  start-up 
of  SMEs by  women  will  be  strengthened.  The  evolving  needs  for  training  and 
technical  support  in  order  to  encourage  women  entrepreneurs  will  be  evaluated  and 
appropriate  measures  will  be  proposed. 

The  Commission  will  continue  to  study  the  progress  achieved  in  relation  to  the  impact 
of  Council  Directive  86/613/EEC  and  will  propose  action  to  promote  its  objectives. 
After  carrying  out  a thorough  assessment  of  the  situation,  and  a wide  consultation  of 
all  interested  partners,  the  Commission  will  propose  a revised  directive  designed  to 
provide  a  response  to  the  real  needs  in  this  area. 

2.3. 

Shaping  Structural  Change:  Equal  Opportunities  in  the  Structural  Funds 

The  Regulations  governing  the  Structural  Funds  agreed  in  1993  explicitly  refer  to  the 
principle  of  equal  opportunities  between  women  and  men.  The  Council  stressed  the 
importance  of  such  a contribution  in  its Resolution  of 22 June  19944,  which  emphasized 
that  structural  action  as  a  whole  and  especially  ESF  have  to  contribute  to  equal 
opportunities,  and  which  called  for  increased  efforts  both  from  the  Member  States  and 
from  the  Commission  in  this  respect. 

In  the  past  programming  period,  the  main  part  of  the  Structural  Funds'  contribution  to 
equal  opportunities  came  from  the  ESF.  Women  had  access  to  ESF  support  through  its 
general  measures  dealing with  long term unemployment  and the occupational  integration 
of  young  people  (objectives  3  and  4).  In  addition,  specific  actions  targeted  at  women 
accounted  for  approximately  5 % of  available resources.  As the impact  of this  assistance 
on  promoting  equal  opportunities  proved  to  be  too  limited,  the  Commission  launched  a 
specific Community  Initiative  aimed  at supporting  new opportunities  for  women  (NOW, 
1990-1993),  which  encouraged  innovation  and  transnational  exchange  and  which 
strengthened  the  Structural  Funds'  intervention  by  exploring  new  ways  to  tackle  the 
obstacles  for  the  professional  integration  of  women. 

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.  20.8.94.  page  1. 

e > - 16 

Within the current programming period ( 1994-1999), the promotion  of equal  opportunities 
is  referred  to  in  all  ESF  programming  documents,  especially  those  of  Objective  3,  as a 
priority  which  should  apply  horizontally  to  all  general  measures  to  be  supported.  In  a 
number  of  Member  States,  these  programming  documents  also  refer  to  a  specific  series 
of  actions  aimed  at  promoting  equal  opportunities  (within  Objective  3  or  within  the 
human  resources  component  of  Objective  1)  and  are  intended  to  complement  the 
horizontal  approach  adopted.  The new flexibility  of the revised  ESF  regulations  has also 
made  it  possible  to  approach  the  problem  from  an  overall  point  of  view  (pathways  to 
integration). 

the  new  Community 

Moreover, 
initiative  "Employment  and  Human  Resources 
Development"  (1994-1999)  comprises  three  core  strands,  one  of  which  is  specifically 
devoted  to equal  opportunities  and is operating as the second  NOW programme  (the two 
other  strands HORIZON  and  YOUTHSTART,  and  other  Community  initiatives  such  as 
ADAPT,  LEADER  II  and  INTERREG  II  are  not  conceived  with  specific  reference  to 
equal  opportunities  but  can  of  course  benefit  women). 

Some  of  the  activities  funded  by  the  EAGGF  relate  mainly  to womens'  employment  in 
agriculture  and  in  the  rural  environment  and  some  of  the  infrastructure  financed  by  the 
ERDF  (such  as child  care facilities)  and  more generally  the help  it provides  in  restoring 
the local  and  regional  economic fabric,  is intended  to promote womens'  employment  and 
the  reconciling  of  family  and  working  life. 

Henceforth,  the  principle  of  equal  opportunities  will  be  set  out  in  standard  clauses  of 
decisions  to  grant  aid,  and  the  Member  States  shall  be  responsible  for  applying  it.  The 
Commission  will  have  to  define  the  operational  procedures  for  application  by  issuing 
more concrete guidelines  and more precise control  procedures than those contained  in the 
regulating  provisions. 

Monitoring  and  evaluation  are  crucial  to  ensure  that  the  aims  affirmed 
in  the 
programming instruments of all  Structural Funds will receive a practical  expression  in the 
implementation  process.  This  does  not  only  concern  the  specific  measures  but  also  and 
foremost  the  general  measures.  It  is  worth  recalling  in  this  respect  that  for  the  past 
programming  period, there was little reliable data and information  on the extent to which 
women  really  had  access  to  and  got  benefit  from  general  measures  supported  by 
Structural  Funds,  and  that  this  situation  generated  misunderstandings,  mistrust  and 
frustration. 

&  -  17 

Actions 

The  monitoring  committees  have  a  strategic  role to  play  in  adapting  action  and  funding 
to  policy  priorities  and  evaluation  findings  and  this  role  calls  for  a  close  partnership 
between  the  Commission,  the  Member  States  and  other  interested  parties.  With  a view 
to mobilizing  these  Committees  around  equal  opportunities  issues,  the  Commission  will 
continue  to  encourage  the  participation  in  these  Committees  of  bodies  and  services 
involved  in  these  issues  at  regional  and  national  level.  It  will  also  encourage  these 
Committees  to  include  equal  opportunities  on their  agenda  in  order  to  discuss  specific 
initiatives  aimed  at  consolidating  the  measures  taken  and  to  improve  efforts  in  this 
respect  within  the  mainstream  of  Structural  Fund  actions  as well  as  within  Community 
initiatives.  Moreover,  the  Commission  will  support  the  Committees  and  cooperate 
with  the Member  States  in  the  development  of  objective  and  transparent  evaluation 
procedures,  tools  and  indicators,  especially  in  order  to  assess  the  involvement  of 
women  in  general  measures,  their  implementation,  their  relevance  and  their  outcome, 
to  discuss  possible  ongoing  adjustments  arising  in  connection  with  broad  policy 
developments,  especially  the  follow  up  to  the Essen  process,  and  to  make  use,  when 
necessary,  of  the  flexibility  which  results  from  the  necessary  annual  reprogramming  of 
unspent  credits. 

In  order  to  support  this  partnership  with  the Member  States'  authorities  and  the 
Monitoring  Committees  at  national  and  regional  level,  the  Commission  will  pursue  its 
efforts  aimed  at  mobilizing  the  actors  concerned,  improving  information,  and 
transferring  good  practices.  Particular  attention  should  be  paid  in  this  respect,  to  the 
dissemination  of  the  lessons  of  the NOW  Community  initiative  and  to  improving  the 
visibility  of  the  measures  implemented.  The  creation  and  the  development  of  networks 
bringing  together  innovative  projects  on  equality  issues  will  stimulate  the  dissemination 
of  know-how  and  ensure  a multiplier  effect. 

All  Structural  Funds  have  to  contribute,  within  the  framework  of  their  specific 
objectives,  to  equal  opportunities.  The  Commission  and  the  Member  States  have 
therefore  to  cooperate  and  combine  their  efforts  to  ensure  that  the  Structural  Funds 
operate  so  as  to  further  strengthen  the  diversification  of  vocational  training  and 
professional  integration  of  women,  to  develop  accompanying  measures  such  as  child 
care  and  care  for  dependants,  and  to  improve  the  position  of  women  in  the  decision 
making  process.  Improving  coherence  and  synergy  between  Structural  Funds  operations 
and  equal  opportunities  policy  is  a major  task  of  the  Group  of  Commissioners  and  the 
Interservice  Group  on Equal  Opportunities,  especially  as regards  mainstreaming.  A 
Communication  on  Equal  Opportunities  and  the  role  of  the  Structural  Funds  will  be 
presented  by  the  Commission  early  in  1996.  In  order  to  launch  a  debate  on  these  issues 
with  all  those  concerned,  the  Commission  will  organise  a major  European  conference 
to be  held  in  the  Spring  of  1996. 

G>-  18 

OBJECTIVE  3 

WOMEN  AND  M EN  COMBINING  W O RK  WITH  HOUSEHOLD-FAMILY  LIFE 

The  changing  pattern  of  demography,  household  composition  and  family  types  requires 
new  responses  corresponding  to  changed  living  conditions  in  Europe.  The  organisation 
of  European  society  is  not  adapted  to  these  changes.  The  challenge  of  the  late  nineties 
is to put forward  viable  solutions for the reconciliation  of working life  with the needs of 
families,  households  and  individuals. 

A  wide  range  of  policy  options  at  various  levels  of  responsibility  is  reflected  in  the 
developments which  have taken place in the Member  States. These new developments in 
services,  in  labour  market  arrangements  and  provisions  may  be  viewed  as  preparatory 
forms  of  a new  social  and  economic  infrastructure  needed  to  support  the household  and 
the  family. 

3.1.  Reconciling  Work  and  Household-Family  Life 

There is now ample research  evidence that responsibilities for the care of young children, 
adults  and  persons  with  special  needs,  inside  and  outside  the  household,  constitute  an 
obstacle to the labour force participation  and advancement of women throughout Europe. 

The increasing  labour  force  participation  of  women  leads to  new  demands  on  transport, 
school  hours,  commuting  patterns and  the urban  habitat.  Such  changes  can be viewed  as 
having  a  reflationary  potential  on  local  economies.  In  this  regard,  fiscal  incentives  and 
obstacles  for  dual  earner  households  can  play  a role  in  determining  not  only  the  labour 
force  participation  rates  of  women,  but  also their  duration  and  patterns  of  consumption 
of  child  care  and  care  of  the  elderly  and  dependents. 

The  care  household  services  sector  of  employment  is  an  expanding  sector.  It  is  itself  a 
field  of highly  concentrated  occupational  segregation  of women.  In  1992 the  Council  of 
Ministers adopted  a Recommendation  on Child Care which was supplemented by a Guide 
to Good Practice issued by the European Commission in  1995. The Recommendation and 
the Guide put forward  criteria for  the setting of  standards for  services providing  care  for 
young  children. 

Developing  policies for  the combining  of household  and work responsibilities for  men as 
well  as women  involves  providing  choices through  a range  of options.  Combining  work 
and  personal  life  can  be  approached  through  a variety  of  leave  arrangements.  Care time 
leave,  encompassing  a  number  of  currently  compartmentalised  career  breaks  policies, 
would  respond  to  a  diversity  of  household  situations  of  women  and  men  within  a 
framework  of  flexible,  agreed,  remunerated  systems. 

Reconciling  work  and  Household  Family  Life  is  particularly  difficult  in  rural  areas  due 
to  distances,  problems  of  transport  and  limited  number  of  childcare  facilities.  Special 
efforts  have  to  be  undertaken  to  improve  the  situation. 

&-  19 

The  reorganisation  and  re-thinking  of  working  time  in  relation  to  equality  policies  has 
been  the subject  of  extensive  research  and  debate amongst European  researchers  in  1994 
and  1995. There  is  concern  that  the  development  of  new  flexible  working  arrangements 
may  in practice reinforce  existing  sex segregation  on the labour market  and  contribute  to 
forming  clusters of lower-paid workers. In this regard, comparative studies on job  sharing 
would  fill  a gap  in  knowledge. 

The  role  of the  social  partners  is  significant  in  developing,  promoting  and  evaluating  an 
appropriate  range  of care options,  care time packages  and  reconciliation  measures  suited 
and  adapted  to  the  employment  environment  of  both  women  and  men.  Such  measures 
must  nevertheless  be  consistent  with  maintaining  standards that  contribute  to  improving 
working  conditions  in  Europe. 

Improving knowledge and encouraging the debate on these issues should  contribute to the 
definition  of  the  best  ways  to  reinforce  the  contribution  of  the  Structural  Funds  to  the 
efforts  aimed  at  reducing  constraints  on  women  (care  services)  and  adapting  working 
organisation  and  working  time. 

Actions 

Developing  policies  for  the  combination  of  household  and  work  responsibilities  of  men 
and  women  will  be  investigated  and  compared  in  the  course  of  the  Fourth  Programme. 
A range  of  options  and  policy  choices  will  be  explored.  A long  outstanding  issue  has 
been  the  adoption  of  a Directive  on Parental  Leave  and  leave  for  family  reasons.  In 
February  1995, the  Commission  launched  consultations  with  the  social  partners  under 
the  Agreement  on  Social  Policy  on  the  broader  issue  of  reconciliation  of  work  and 
family.  It  is  hoped  that  agreement  can  be  reached  in  this  area  before  the  end  of  1995. 
The  Commission  intends  to  follow  this  matter  very  closely.  Following  the  report  on  the 
implementation  of the  Council  Recommendation  on  child  care,  the  Commission  will 
propose  measures  aiming  at  setting  higher  standards  for  the  care  of  children  and  other 
dependents  possibly  within  a framework  directive. 

The  Commission  proposes  to  establish  and  support  debates,  studies,  exchanges  and 
information  on  employment  and  social  protection  at European  level.  Research  and 
action  on  care  and  reconciliation  will  be  co-ordinated  and  hitherto  dispersed 
developments  in  relation  to  public  and  private  time,  proposals  for  leave  and  other 
methods  of  reconciliation,  policies  on  working  time  and  on  social  infrastructures  and 
care  provision  will  be  brought  together. 

The  Member  States  will  be  invited  to  contribute  to the  development  of  thinking  and 
practice  in  this  field  by  researching  and  publishing  the  results  of  findings,  actions, 
costs  and  policy  outcomes  of  the various  approaches  to  the  reconciliation  of  work  and 
family  arrangements.  Knowledge  of  existing  standards  in  terms  of  quality  and  quantity 
of  child  care  and  other  forms  of  care  would  be  useful  for  the  development  of 
employment  policies  in  the  area. 

&'  20 

3.2. 

Promoting  the  Individualisation  of  Rights 

The White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment invites the Member States 
to  strengthen  equal  opportunities  for  women  and  men  in  employment,  in  particular  by: 

"eliminating  any  potentially  discriminatory  fiscal  and  social  protection  policies 
which  can  discourage  women's  equal  participation  in  the formal  labour  market"; 

"ensuring that taxation  and social  security  systems reflect  the fact that women  and 
men  may  well  act  as  individuals  in  seeking  employment  and  reconciling  family 
and  working  life". 

Equal  treatment  in  social  security  is  not yet  totally  achieved.  In  particular  the  Directive 
proposed by the Commission  in  1987 concerning the completion  of this principle has not 
been  discussed  by  the  Council  since  1991. 

Moreover,  the massive  entry of women  onto the labour market and the changes in  family 
structures  since  the  post-war  period  have  led  to  a  re-examination  of  the  assumptions 
underpinning  social  rights  and  their  acquisition.  The  funding  of  social  security  and 
principles  of  personal  taxation  have been  generally  posited  on the  social  organisation  of 
the  family  with  the  man  as  the  sole  breadwinner  per  household.  The  growth  of 
unemployment  and  the  numbers  of  persons  outside  the  labour  market  and  the  ageing 
demographic  structure  has  raised  questions  as to  the  future  financing  of  social  security 
and  the prospects  for  the  different  European  welfare  regimes.  These themes  provide  the 
context for  the debate on the principle of the individualisation  of rights in social  security. 

The  individualisation  of  rights  would  constitute  a qualitative  leap  in  an  approach  to  the 
equal  treatment  of  women  and  men  at  work.  The  European  equal  treatment  Directives 
follow  a  logic  of  'correcting'  existing  systems  by  suppressing  existing  discriminations. 
Individualisation  would  modify  this  perspective  by  placing  equal  treatment  between 
individuals  among  fundamental  principles  to be  respected. 

Individualisation  policies  have  a particular  relevance  during  a period  of  unemployment. 
While  the  market  treats  individuals  as  such,  social  security  and  other  welfare  regimes 
treat individuals  as elements of households or family  structures. The presence or  absence 
of  individualised  rights  to  social  security  can  reduce  or  exacerbate  the unequal  status of 
women  on  the  labour  market. 

The  principle  and  policies  of  individualisation  include  the  individualisation  of  rights  to 
have  access to  training  programmes  and  measures  of  integration  into  the  labour  market. 
Individualisation  also  concerns  the  gender  neutrality  of  fiscal  policy.  There  is  a 
relationship  between  individualised  rights, mobility  and  social  security.  The  Commission 
will promote the analysis of the relationship between the individualisation  of rights within 
social  protection  and  equal  opportunities  as  part  of  its  initiatives  with  regard  to  social 
protection  and  the  process  of  convergence  of  social  protection  policies  and  objectives. 
Exact and factual  comparative data concerning the systems of the different  Member  States 
would  contribute to  a deeper  understanding  of the issue,  and  of the possible  direction  of 
policy  developments. 

£>  -  21 

Actions 

The  Commission  will  withdraw  its  1987  proposal  and  will  present  a  new  proposal  on 
the  completion  of  equal  treatment  in  social  security,  in  order  to  take  account  of 
developments,  e.g.  in  the  Court  caselaw,  which  have  occurred  in  the  meantime. 

As far  as  individualisation  is  concerned,  the  Commission  has  launched  a  number  of 
technical  studies  to  test  the  neutrality  of  taxation  systems  on  the  individual  autonomy 
of  women.  Further  technical  studies  on  the  costs  and  consequences  of  individualisation 
for  different  social  security  regimes  and  benefits,  and  on the  implications  for  part-time 
and  full-time  work  remain  to  be  undertaken. 

The  Commission  intends  to  undertake  further  studies  on the  subject  of  individualisation 
of  rights  in  social  security,  tax  and  related  areas  drawing  on  experience  gained  in  the 
Member  States.  In  the  light  of  the  findings  of these  studies,  the  Commission  proposes 
to  publish  a  Communication .on the  individualisation  of  rights  in  1997.  This 
Communication  will  analyse  the  impact  of the  current  systems  on  women's  autonomy, 
the  possible  lines  of  reform  and  the  costs  and  benefits  of  such  changes.  In  the  light  of 
this  Communication,  the  Commission  will  decide  which  proposals  would  be 
appropriate  to  bring  about  progressive  change  in  this  area. 

&  - 

22 

OBJECTIVE  4 

PROMOTING  A  GENDER  BALANCE  IN  DECISION-MAKING 

One  of  the  achievements  of  the  Third  Action  programme  has  been  to  highlight  the 
absence  or under-representation  of  women  in  centres  of  power,  influence  and  decision 
making.  The principle  of  equality  between  the sexes is one of the basic principles  of the 
European  model  of  democracy.  Nevertheless,  the  right  to  participate  in  elections  and  to 
be eligible for  senior  posts in  administration  have not produced  equality  in  practice.  The 
unbalanced representation  of women in representative, administrative and advisory bodies, 
in the media, finance, justice and public administration, manifests  a democratic deficit and 
deprives  these  institutions  of  their  full  legitimacy. 

Changes in political  life  and  in  cultures  of  decision-making  in the private  sector,  as well 
as  an  interest  in  the  efficient  use  of  human  resources  and  talents,  are  factors  creating  a 
favourable  environment  for  achieving  a gender  balance  in  representation  and  influence. 
The  increased  presence  of  women  in  decision-making  institutions  and  bodies  would 
provide  for  a renewal  of  values,  ideas  and  styles  of behaviour  beneficial  to  society  as a 
whole  and  contribute  to  achieving  the  goal  of  parity  of  representation. 

The  new  European  context  in  this  field  is  marked  by  the  recent  significant  increase  of 
women  in  the  European  Commission  and  in  the  European  Parliament.  Five  women 
Commissioners  (25%)  have  been  appointed  and  a  Group  of  Commissioners  on  equal 
opportunities  for  women  and  men  has been  set  up  to  integrate  the  principle  of  equality 
in  all  European  policies  and  programmes.  Furthermore,  in  its  communication  of  5 July 
1995,  the  Commission  has  recently  set  new  targets  for  recruitment  and  promotion  of 
women to leading  posts in  its staff,  and it intends to further  pursue its efforts  with  a view 
to  promoting  a better  balance  between  women  and  men  at  all  levels. 

146 women  were  elected  (25,7%)  to the European  Parliament  in June  1994. The  current 
percentage,  which  includes  the  new  Member  States,  is  27,6%.  In  its  Resolution  of 
11 February  1994,  the  European  Parliament  stresses  that  the  promotion  of  women  in 
decision-making  reinforces  the  legitimacy  and  quality  of  decision-making  bodies.  The 
promotion  of  gender  balance, in  decision-making  was  also  the  subject  of  a  Resolution 
adopted  by  the  Council  on  27  March  1995,  which  emphasizes  the  need  to  bring  about 
changes  in  structures  and  attitudes  in  order  to  achieve  genuine  equality  of  access  to 
decision-making  posts. 

4.1.  Developing  Strategies  to  Promote  a  Gender  Balance 

The  Commission  intends  to  develop  an  integrated  policy  for  the  promotion  of  a  gender 
balance in decision-making  by improving women's participation  both  in terms of  quantity 
(increasing  the  number)  and  quality  (increasing  women's  influence)  in  policy-making  at 
European  level.  Moreover,  the  Commission  will  encourage  and  support  similar  actions 
in  the  other  levels  of  decision-making  (national,  regional,  local),  and  by  other  actors 
(Member  States,  social  partners,  NGOs). 

? >-  23 

A broad  range  of  actions  can  be  developed  in  order  to  improve  the  representation  of 
women  at  different  points  of  hierarchical  structures  and  tend  towards  a  gender  balance. 
In the  light  of  the  principle  of  complementarity  and  subsidiarity  different  types  of  actor 
will  be  encouraged  to  explore  the use of  means  like  awareness  campaigns,  research,  use 
of  targets  and  quotas,  support  of  networks  and  women's  training  in  leadership.  Equally 
important  is  the  strengthening  of  equality  bodies,  women's  associations  and  NGOs. 

Actions 

As well  as the  actions  set  out  under  section  4.2.  below,  the  Commission  will  propose  a 
Council  Recommendation  on  gender  balance  for  women  and  men  in  decision-making, 
building  on the  experience  accumulated  under  the  Third  Action  Programme  in  this 
field. 

4.2. 

Stimulating  Research  and  the  Exchange  of  Good  Practice 

The issue of decision-making  has been  clearly  identified  as central  to the achievement  of 
equal  opportunities  in  the widest  sense.  The process  of  analysing  the  obstacles  common 
to  Member  States  has  begun  and  preliminary  exchanges  on  good  practices  to  improve 
women's  participation  are  underway. 

There is a need  for  a closer cooperation  between  and better  support  of the social  partners 
and  women's  NGOs  in  developing  strategies  to  achieve  a  balanced  representation  of 
women  in  organs  of  power,  influence  and  decision-pnaking in  European  society. 

Actions 

The  Commission  proposes  to  develop  coordinated  research  in  order  to  improve  the 
collection  of  data  to  ascertain  the  progress  of  women  in  decision-making  in  the  public 
and  private  sector  and  to  develop  promotional  strategies  to  achieve  a balanced 
representation  of  women  and  men. 

The  Commission  will  encourage  and  support  exchanges  and  good  practice  by  public 
administration,  social  partners  and  political  parties  and  associations  in  the  development 
of  policies  and  the  adoption  of  measures  which  aim  at  establishing  a gender  balance  in 
all  sectors  of  European  society. 

In  cooperation  with  Member  States,  the  Commission  will  support  scientific  research, 
measurement  indicators,  awareness  campaigns,  seminars  and  exchanges  in  this  area  to 
generate the  development  of  new  strategies. 

The  Commission  will  stimulate  changes  of  mentalities,  in  particular  by  means  of 
debate  on  women's  membership  of  and  participation  in  decision-making  bodies, 
including  the  feasibility  of  mentorship  programmes  and  of  the  establishment  of  targets 
and  quotas  to  achieve  a balance  of the  sexes  in  high  ranking  positions  in  all  fields. 

fc>- 

24 

OBJECTIVE  5 

ENABLING  WOMEN  TO  EXERCISE  THEIR  RIGHTS 

5.1.  Enforcing  Community  Law 

The  European  model  of  equality  constitutes  a  unique  body  of  knowledge,  laws, 
institutions  and  practices  which  have  conferred  formal  rights  on  women  and  advanced 
their  status  in  the  European  Union.  Knowledge  and  information  play  a  central  role  in 
enabling women  to comprehend  rights  and obligations  and have access to systems which 
vindicate  and  protect  those  rights.  There  remain,  as yet  substantial  differences  between 
the Member  States as to availability  of that knowledge  and information,  access to justice 
to  establish  rights,  the  waiting  periods  to  enforce  them,  information  on  the  correct 
procedures  arid the compensation  and remedies available. The volume and complexity  of 
information  to  be  assimilated  as regards  substantive  rights  and  procedures  can  be  fairly 
daunting.  There  still  remain  barriers  to  the  effective 
implementation  of  existing 
Community  law. 

Actions 

The  Fourth  Action  Programme  proposes  to  enable  women  to  exercise  their  rights  by 
stimulating  an  increased  involvement  of  all  relevant  legal  actors  in  this  area,  improving 
procedures  for  enforcement  of  Community  law  and  increasing  the  quality  and  quantity 
of  information  on  European  law  and  social  policies.  The  Commission  will  support  and 
undertake  a  range  of  awareness  and  information  actions  in the  field  of  legal 
enforcement  and  information.  It will  promote  in  particular  seminars  and  conferences 
involving  legal  actors  at  all  levels.  It will  issue  a communication  clarifying  the  impact 
of  Community  law  on  occupational  pensions,  pensionable  age,  etc...  . Furthermore,  as 
stated  above  (p. 14),  the European  code  of  practice  on  equal  pay  will  be  widely 
disseminated  in  order  to  enhance  understanding  of this  topic throughout  the 
Community. 
The  Commission  will  also  support  a group  of  legal  experts  in  equality 
law  whose  work  will  be  directed  to  the  assembly  and  dissemination  of  information  to 
those  active  in  the  legal  sphere. 

The  Commission  will  build  on  the  work  already  carried  out  within  the  framework  of 
former  action  programmes,  in  order  to  strengthen  Community  law.  The 
abovementioned  proposais  are  part  of this  process,  especially  those  concerning  the 
possible  follow-up  to  the  reconciliation  initiative  and  the  Council  Recommendation  on 
child  care,  the  revised  Directive  on the  completion  of  equal  treatment  in  social 
security,  the  proposals  presented  under  the  Social  Protocol,  in  particular  on  the  Burden 
of Proof,  on  part-time  work,  and  the  proposal  for  a revision  of  Directive  86/613  on 
self-employed  women.  Moreover,  the  Commission  will  work  towards  a  binding 
Community  instrument  for  the  protection  of  the  dignity  of  women  and  men  in  the 
workplace  (see  p.27). 

k- 25 

5.2. 

Providing  Information  on  Equal  Opportunities 

Knowledge of rights promotes self-confidence  and strengthens women's status as citizens 
with a full  role to play  in  public policy  and civil  society.  There is a growing  demand  for 
speedily  delivered,  clearly  worded  and accessible information  on European  Union  policy 
in  the field  of  equal  opportunities. 

The  proliferation  of  European  Community  initiatives  in  the field  of  equal  opportunities 
has proceeded  at a relatively  fast  pace in the course of the Third Action Programme.  The 
majority  of initiatives are of fixed  duration, and information  must be constantly  up-dated. 
The  European  Parliament  has  contributed  to  the  provision  of  information  through  its 
public  hearings,  enquiries,  debates  and  awareness  campaigns  on a broad  range  of  issues 
concerning  women  in  Europe  and  at global  level. 

Actions 

The  Commission  intends,  in  the  light  of  a feasibility  study  currently  underway;  to 
follow  up  the  "National  Animation  Strategies"  set up  under the  Third  Action 
Programme  by  supporting  the  setting  up  of  centres  in the Member  States,  specialising 
in the provision  of  information  concerning  equal  opportunities  issues  at European  level. 

5.3. 

Promoting  the  Dignity  of Women  and  Men  in  the Workplace  and  in  Society 

The  protection  of  the  dignity  of  women  and  men  in  the  workplace  has  been  confirmed 
as  a  principle  of  equal  opportunities  policy  by  the  Council  Resolution  of  29  May  1990 
and by the  adoption  of  a Commission  recommendation  and  a code  of  practice  on  sexual 
harassment  in  the  workplace  of  27 November  1991. These  important  instruments  stress 
that  conduct  of  a  sexual  or  other  nature which  is unwanted,  unreasonable  and  offensive 
to  the  recipient,  and  which  impinges  on  a  person's  employment  opportunities,  can  be 
contrary to the principle of equal treatment. The Commission will continue to support the 
implementation  of  this  approach. 

Awareness  has  grown  during  the  course  of  the  Third  Action  Programme,  and  more 
recently  in  relation  to  the  global  preparations  for  the  United  Nations  Fourth  World 
Conference  in  Beijing,  China  in  1995,  that  the  fundamental  rights  of  women  do  not 
always  enjoy  protection.  The  right  or  freedom  to work  in  a violence-free  workplace,  to 
live in  a violence-free  environment  and  the right  not to be  subject to  sexual  exploitation 
are rights which  are generally  protected  by  national  law. Weak  enforcement  or failure  to 
sanction infringements  inhibits women from  exercising their rights, diminishes their status 
and  reduces  their  likelihood  of  obtaining  equality  of treatment  in  the  workplace. 

A  number  of  Member  States  have  developed  effective  policies  and  judicial  awareness 
procedures  and  have joined  with  NGOs  in  developing  social  awareness  programmes  to 
address these  questions. 

Member  States,  the  European  Commission  and  International  Organisations  have  turned 
to examining the question  of women  asylum  seekers, displaced  persons, women  migrants 
and refugees,  in order  to identify  the particular  difficulties  faced  by  women  among  these 
groups. 

e>  -  26 

Women's  perceived  dependency  in  these groups  may  raise  barriers  to  the  obtention  and 
retention  of  status  as  legal  residents  in  countries  of  the  Union.  This  in  turn  deters  these 
women  from  benefiting  from  the  legal  right  of  temporary  or  permanent  residence,  the 
opportunity  to  enter  integration  and  resettlement  programmes,  and  to  enjoy  the  benefits 
of  family  reunification  in  those  Member  States  which  have  developed  policies  in  these 
fields. 

Actions 

The  Commission  will  make  a  proposal  designed  to  achieve  a binding  Community 
instrument  on  sexual  harassment  at work.  Social  partners  will,  in  the  context  of  the 
European  Social  Dialogue,  be  invited  to  examine  what  role  they  could  play  in  the 
elaboration  of  such  an  instrument.  It will  be based  on  the  terms  of  the  1991 
Commission  Recommendation  on  the Protection  of Dignity,  especially  as  regards  the 
adoption  of  adequate  procedures  in  the workplace  to  handle  incidents  of  sexual 
harassment  effectively. 

The  Commission  invites  the  Member  States to  exchange  information  on  a regular  basis 
on the  promotion  of  the  dignity  of  all  women  and  men  living  in  the  countries  of  the 
Union.  The  areas  of  particular  interest  could  include  those  where  Member  States  with 
effective  policies  in  these  fields  might  wish  to  share  their  knowledge  with  others,  and 
those where  the  Member  States  share  a common  concern  to  examine jointly  issues  that 
affect  them  all.  Priority  areas  might  be  those  where the  dignity  of  women  and  men  is 
undermined  by  abuses  connected  with  illegal  employment,  cross-border  trafficking  in 
human  beings  or  other  forms  of  exploitation  and  abuse. 

«>~  27 

OBJECTIVE  6 

IMPLEMENTING,  MONITORING  AND  EVALUATING  THE  PROGRAMME 

Implementation 

The programme will be implemented  in close co-operation with Member  States. The new 
Advisory  Committee  on  Equal  Opportunities  includes  representatives  of  government 
departments,  national  bodies  set  up  by  official  decision  and  having  a  particular 
responsibility  for  equality  matters,  as  well  as  social  partners  who  will  become  full 
members. 

The somewhat fragmented  approach which has characterised the implementation of policy 
under  the  Third  Action  Programme  will  be  avoided  by  the  establishment  of  a  unique 
structure for  the provision  of technical  assistance to the Commission's  services across the 
spectrum  of  the  activities  outlined  above. 

This  body  should  play  a  key  role;  on  the  one  hand,  it  will  assist  the  Commission  in 
the  programme,  promoting  exchanges  of  good  practice,  developing 
running 
methodological  approaches, 
and  on  the  other  hand  it  will  ensure  synergy,  cross-
fertilization  of know-howand  integration of the gender dimension  in relevant policies and 
activities. 

Actions 

The  Commission  will  establish  a  common  co-ordinating  structure  ANEMA to  provide  it 
with  the  technical  assistance  necessary  to  promote,  develop  and  review  the  programme 
proposals  related  to the  abovementioned  fields  of  the  law,  decision-making, 
reconciliation,  media,  culture  and  education  and  specific  employment  issues. 

This  broad  co-ordinating  structure  will  function  as a clearing  house  for  action-research, 
best  practices  in  the  field,  the  organisation  of  transnational  exchanges  and  groups, 
positive  action,  review  systems,  and  sets  of  model  projects. 

It  will  rationalise  and  replace  existing  structures  and  networks  and  therefore  ensure  a 
more  cost-effective  management  of the  programme. 

Functioning  as  a new  structured  platform  for  the  implementation  of  the  programme, 
ANIMA  will  facilitate  effective  review  of  progress  in  the  field  of  equal  opportunities 
and  furnish  a visible  reference  point  for  co-operation  with  the Member  States. 

This  new  and  more  concentrated  implementation  system  will  facilitate  the  integration 
of  the  equality  dimension  in  the  fields  covered  by  the  fourth  programme. 

P>- 

2\ 

Monitoring 

Despite  the  extensive  developments  of  equal  opportunities  policies  in  the  European 
Community,  the methods  and monitoring  systems to measure progress have been  proved 
insufficient  in  the  Third  Action  Programme.  The  Fourth  Programme  will  specifically 
address the development of monitoring systems to permit an on-going review of progress. 
Specific  qualitative  and quantitative  indicators,  against which  progress  can be  measured, 
are being  developed. 

Actions 

As promised  in  the  White Paper  on European  Social  Policy,  the  Commission  will 
publish  an  annual  equality  report  on  progress  in the field  of  equal  opportunities  which 
will  serve  as  a  monitoring  instrument  for  the  Community  and  the  Member  States  and 
will  form  the  basis  for  any  necessary  adjustment. 

The  Advisory  Committee  will  have  an  important  function  to  perform  as  a partner  in  an 
ongoing  monitoring  process,  since  national  experience  enables  a  comparison  to  be 
made  of  the  outcomes  of  the  different  measures,  as well  as  an  assessment  of  the 
principal  obstacles  to  equality  and  of the  main  areas  of  success. 

Integration 

The Commission's  initiatives  aimed  at integrating  equal  opportunities  into the policies of 
the  Community  will  be  developed  through  the  work  of  the  Commissioners'  Group  on 
Equality  and  of  the  inter-departmental  group  which  prepares  their  work  with  a view  to 
stimulating  the  involvement  of  all  relevant  Commission  services  in  Equal  Opportunities 
issues. 

This  group  is  working  to  carry  out  a  review  of  all  the  policies  and  actions  of  the 
Commission  in  which  equal  opportunities  do,  or  could,  play  a role.  There  are  already  a 
number  of  activities  and  initiatives  in  various  fields,  both  internal  and  external  to  the 
Community,  and the Commission is examining the possibility  of further  progress in these 
areas.  On  the  basis  of  this  work,  it  will  be  possible  to  bring  forward  new  ideas  for  the 
integration  of  women's  concerns  into broader  areas  of  Community  policy. 

Actions 

The  Commission  will  present  a Communication  at the  beginning  of  1996  on  the 
integration  of  equal  opportunities  into  the  relevant  policies  of  the  Community,  with  a 
view  to  enriching  the  Union  process  by  the  more  systematic  inclusion  of  this 
dimension. 

' 

&-  29 

Evaluation 

Ongoing evaluation  is a key  condition  of the success  of the Programme  as a whole.  The 
Commission  will  encourage the  promoters  of projects  as well  as the partners  involved  in 
specific  initiatives  to  set  up  self  evaluation  procedures  right  from  the  beginning.  It  will 
also  set  up  external  evaluation  procedures,  with  a  view  to  obtaining  independent 
assessment  of  the  work  carried  out  and  the  Community  added  value  of  the  programme. 

Actions 

A mid-term  review  of  progress  achieved  will  take  place  not  later  than  31  December 
1998.  It will  provide  an  opportunity  to  assess  and,  if  necessary,  to  adjust  the 
programme,  notably  in  the  light  of  the  Communication  on  the  "mainstreaming"  of 
equal  opportunities  policies  mentioned  above  at  p.29,  of  the  outcomes  of  the  UN 
Beijing  Conference  on  Women  and  of  the  1996 Intergovernmental  Conference. 

The  Commission  will  present  to  the  Council  and  the  European  Parliament  a  final 
report  on  the  implementation  of  the programme  not  later  than  31 December 2001. 

< 3 >-  30 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(95) 381 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

05  04 

Catalogue number  :  CB-CO-95-430-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-92679-1 

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