Amended proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the Fourth Medium-Term Community Action Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (1996-2000)
Date: 1995-11-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: action programme, equal treatment, gender equality, position of women, women's rights

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  27  11.1995 
COM(95)  602 final 

95/0206  (CNS) 

Amended  proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

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

(presented  by  the  Commission  pursuant  to  Article  189 a  (2) 
of  the  EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

Further to the  Opinion  of the  European  Parliament  of  17 November  1995, and  taking  into  consideration 
the  debate within  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee,  the  Commission,  under  Article  189a paragraph 
2  of  the  EC  Treaty,  presents  to  the  Council  a  revised  "proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  on  the  fourth 
medium-term  Community  action  programme  on  equal  opportunities  for  women  and  men  (1996-2000)". 

The  amendments  presented  by  the  Parliament  and  accepted  by  the  Commission: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

add  a  reference  to  "equal  treatment"  to  the  existing  references  to  "equal  opportunities"; 
(Amendments  :  1, 2, 23) 

update the  references  to  meetings  of the  European  Council, and  introduce  a reference  to the UN 
Conference  in  Beijing  ; (Amendments  : 3, 4, 33) 

underline  the  risks  of poverty  which  women  face  ; (Amendments  : 6) 

mention  positive  action  ; (Amendments  : 23) 

underline  the contribution  of information  and  vocational  training  to enable  women to play  a  full 
part  in  economic,  social, and  cultural  life  (Amendments  :  10,  12, 27, 30). 

The  Commission  has  not  taken  on  board  the  amendments  that: 

a. 

b. 

c. 

deal with  Community actions outside the framework  of the Action Programme established  by this 
Council  Decision  that  includes  a proposal  for  a specific  budget  (legislative  initiatives,  Structural 
Funds)  ; (Amendments  :  1, 7,  16,  19, 23, 25, 26, 28, 34) 

concern  internal  technical  or administrative  aspects  of the  implementation  of the 
programme  ; (Amendments  : 20, 21,22,  36) 

put forward  initiatives which exceed the proposed  budget ; (Amendments  :  18, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 
33); 

d. 

prejudge  the  outcome  of the  next  Intergovernmental  Conference.  (Amendments  : 2) 

z 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

on  the  Fourth  Medium-Term  Community  Action  Programme 
on  Equal  Opportunities  for  Women  and  Men( J 996-2000) 

INITIAL  PROPOSAL 

REVISED  PROPOSAL 

The  Council  of  the  European  Union, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing 
the 
European  Community,  and  in  particular  article 
235  thereof. 

Having 
regard 
Commission  m. 

to 

the  proposal 

from 

the 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  European 
Parliament ax 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion, of  the  Economic 
and  Social  Committee o>, 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of the  Committee  of 
Regions M>, 

3 

Whereas  the  Council  has  adopted  six  directives, 
two  recommendations  and  nine  resolutions  in  the 
area ofequal  opportunities  for women  and men (5), 

(5) Council Directive 75/117/EEC on the approximation 
of  the  laws  of  the  Member  States  relating  to  the 
application  of the principle  of  equal pay  for  men and 
women, OJ No L 45,  19.02.1975, p. 19; 
Council Directive 76/207/EEC on the  implementation 
of the principle of equal treatment for men and women 
as regards access to employment, vocational training 
and  promotion, and working  conditions, OJ No L 39, 
14.02.76, p.40; 
Council  Directive  79/7/EEC  on  the  progressive 
implementation of the principle of equal treatment for 
men and women in matters of social security, OJ No L 
6,  10.01.79, p.24; 
Council Directive  86/378/EEC on the  implementation 
of the principle of equal treatment for men and women 
in occupational  social security schemes, OJ No L 225, 
12.08.86, p.40; 
Council  Directive  86/613/EEC  on  the  application  of 
the  principle  of  equal  treatment  between  men  and 
women engaged in an activity, including agriculture, in 
a self-employed capacity, and on the protection of self-
employed  women  during  pregnancy  and  motherhood, 
OJ No L  359,  19.12.86, p.56; 
Council  Directive  92/85/EEC  on  the  introduction  of 
measures to encourage improvements in the safety  and 
health at  work  of pregnant  workers  and workers who 
have  recently  given birth or are breastfeeding,  OJ No 
L  348, 28.11.92,  p.l; 
Council Recommendation of 13 December 1984 on the 
promotion of positive action for women (84/63 5/EEC), 
OJNoL  331, 19.12.84, p.34; 

M 

(5)  continued 
Council  Recommendation  of  31 March  1992  on  child 
care  (92/241/EEC),  OJ  No  L  123, 08.05.92,  p. 16. 
Council  Resolution  of  12 July  1982  on. the  promotion 
of  equal  opportunities  for  women,  OJ No  C  186, 
21.07.82, p.3; 
Council  Resolution  of  7  June  1984  on action  to 
combat  unemployment  amongst  women, OJ No  C 
161,  21.06.84, p.4; 
Resolution  of  the  Council  and  of  the  Ministers  for 
Education,  meeting  within  the  Council  of 
3  June  1985 containing  an  action  programme  on 
equal  opportunities  for  girls  and boys  in  education, 
OJNo  C  166, 05.07.85, p. 1; 
Second  Council  Resolution  of  24  July  1986  on  the 
promotion  of  equal  opportunities  for  women,  OJ  No 
C  203,  12.08.86, p.2; 
Council  Resolution  of  16 December  1988 on  the 
reintegration  and  late  integration  of women  into 
working  life,  OJ  No  C  333, 28.12.88,  p.l; 
Council  Resolution  of  29  May  1990  on  the  protection 
of  the  dignity  of  women  and  men  at  work,  OJ No  C 
157, 27.06.90, p.3; 
Council  Resolution  of  21 May  1991 on  the  third 
medium-term  Community  action  programme  on  equal 
opportunities  for  women  and  men  (1991-1995), OJ 
No  C  142, 31.05.91,  p.l; 
Council  Resolution  of  22  June  1994  on  the  promotion 
of  equal  opportunities  for  women  and  men  through 
action  by  the  European  Structural  Funds, OJ No  C 
231,  20.08.94,  p.l; 
Council  Resolution  of  27 March  1995 on  the 
balanced  participation  of  women  and  men  in 
decision-making,  OJ No  L  ..., 

, p.  ... 

s~ 

Whereas the  Council's Directives and measures in 
the  field  of  equal  opportunities  for  women  and 
men  have  played  a  major  part  in  improving  the 
situation  for  women; 

Whereas the  Council's  Directives  and  measures 
in the field of equal  treatment  and  opportunitties 
for  women  and  men have  played  a major  part in 
improving  the  situation  for  women  ; 

Whereas  equality  for  women  and  men  is  a  basic 
principle  recognised  by  Community  law; 

Whereas  equal  treatment  and  opportunities  for 
women  and  men  is  a  basic  principle  recognised 
by  Community  law; 

Whereas  the  Heads  of  States  and  Governments, 
meeting within the European  Council  at Essen  on 
10  and  11  December  1994,  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  the  Heads  of  States  and  Governments, 
meeting within the European  Council  at Essen on 
10 and  11 December  1994  and  at  Cannes  on  26 
and  27  June  1995.  emphasized  that  equality  of 
opportunities  for  women  and  men,  together  with 
the  fight  against  unemployment,  is  a  paramount 
task  of  the  European  Union  and  its  Member 
States; 

in 

the  White  Paper  on  Growth, 
Whereas 
Competitiveness 
the 
Commission  underlines  the  need  to  strengthen 
equal  opportunities  policies  for  women  and  men 
in  employment (6); 

Employment, 

and 

the  perspectives 

Whereas  this  programme  must  as  a  minimum 
build  on 
the 
conclusions, final declaration  and action  platform 
from 
in 
Beijing,  and  must  be  implemented  as  part  of  the 
follow-up  to the Beijing  Conference 

the  World  Conference  on  Women 

laid  out 

in 

Whereas  in  the  White  Paper  on  European  Social 
Policy  the  Commission  undertakes  to  present 
during  1995  a fourth  action  programme  on  equal 
opportunities  for  women  and  men,  to  come  into 
force  in  1996  <7>; 

Whereas  the  European  Parliament  has  strongly 
and  repeatedly  urged  the  Union  to  strengthen  its 
policy  in  the  field  of  equal  opportunities  for 
women  and  men  («>  ; 

Bulletin  of 
the 
Supplement 6/93. 

European  Communities, 

(7) 

(8) 

COM  (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. 

(o 

Whereas the first three  medium-term 
Community  action  programmes  on  equal 
opportunities  for  women  and  men  (1982-1985, 
1986-1990,  1991-1995)  have  played  an 
important  role  in  improving  the  situation  of 
women  and  in  promoting  cooperation  at all 
levels  in this  respect; 

Whereas  it  is necessary  to  consolidate  and  build 
upon  the  results  of the  three  programmes  and 
whereas, despite the  efforts  made both  at 
national  and  Community  level, there  is  still 
gender  bias, particularly  with  regard  to 
employment  and  pay; 

Whereas  boosting  education  and  vocational 
training  and  increasing  the  number  of working 
women  can  help to  enhance  the  competitiveness 
of the  European  economy; 

Whereas  there  is a need  to  develop  measures 
taking  into  account  the  social  and  economic 
changes, and  in  particular  to  respond  to  changes 
in  family  structures,  in  the  roles  of women  and 
men  in  society,  in the  organisation  of  working 
life  and  in the  demographic  composition  of 
society; 

Y 

Whereas  the  increasing  feminization  of poverty 
in the  Member  States  of the  European  Union  is 
a  worrying  development  which  calls  for 
Community  action  alongside  national 

measures 

Whereas  access to  education  and  vocational 
training,  and  the  promotion  of  a wider choice  of 
jobs  for  girls  and  women  are  vital  if women  are 
to develop  to the  full  their  role  in  the  economic, 
social, political  and  cultural  spheres  and  if they 
are to  be  integrated  into the  labour  market  on an 
equal  footing  ; 

Whereas  information  and  training  on  equal 
treatment  must  be  geared  to  specific  national, 
regioanl  and  local  conditions  and  targeted  at all 
social  players  in  accordance  with  social, 
economic  and  cultural  factors  in  order to 
facilitate  women's  access to  and  use  of 
information  and  structures, which  enable  them  to 
exercise  their  rights  to the  full  : 

Whereas  active  partnership  between  the 
Commission, the  Member  States, the  social 
partners  and  all  other organisations  concerned 
needs to be promoted  in this  area and  synergy 
between  all  the  relevant  policies  and  measures 
encouraged; 

Whereas  active  partnership  needs to  be 
promoted  in this  area between  Commission, the 
national,  regional  and  local  authorities, the  social 
partners, non-governmental  organizations 
concerned,  including  European  women's 
organizations, and  all  other  relevant  players  in 
civil  society  ; 

Whereas  the present  programme  can, in 
accordance  with  Article  3b of the Treaty, and 
without  prejudice  to the  competences  of the 
Member  States  for  promoting  equal 
opportunities,  bring  Community  added  value by 
identifying  and  stimulating  good  practice  and 
policies, encouraging  innovation  and  exchanging 
of  relevant  experience; 

Whereas the present programme  can, in 
accordance with  Article  3b of the  Treaty, and 
without  prejudice  to the  competences  of the 
Member  States  for  promoting  equal 
opportunities  and treatment, bring  Community 
added  value  by  identifying  and  stimulating  good 
practice  and  policies,  encouraging  innovation 
and  exchanging  of  relevant  experience, not  least 
with  regard to  positive  action; 

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

Article  1 

This  Decision  establishes  the  fourth  medium-
term  Community  action  programme  on  equal 
opportunities  for  women  and  men  (hereinafter 
called the  programme)  for  the period from 
1 January  1996 to  31 December  2000. 

The  programme  is  intended  to  promote 
integration  of equal  opportunities  in the  process 
of preparing,  implementing  and  monitoring  all 
policies, measures  and  activities  at  Community, 
national,  regional  and  local  level. 

Article  2 

The  programme  has the  following  six aims: 

to  mobilise  all the  actors  in  economic 
and  social  life  to  promote  equal 
opportunities; 
to  promote  equal  opportunities  in  a 
changing  economy; 
to  encourage  a policy  to  reconcile  family 
and working  life  for  women  and  men; 
to  promote  a gender  balance  in  decision 
making; 
to  make  conditions  more  conducive  to 
exercising  equality  rights; 
to  support  implementation,  monitoring 
and  assessment  of  activities  in  order to 
achieve  the  above  aims. 

$ 

Article  3 

In  order to  achieve the  aims  set out in  Article  2, 
the  following  measures  rrray be  implemented, 
enhanced  and/or supported  under the 
programme: 

Methodological, technical  and financial 

a) 
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. 

(a) Methodological,  technical  and  financial 
support  for  integrated  projects  for  identifying 
and transferring  good  practice  in the economic, 
social  and  cultural  domains,  reconciling  working 
and  family  life,  and  participation  by  women  in 
decision-making. 

b) 
Setting  up  of facilities  for  observing  and 
monitoring  relevant  policies  with  regard  to  equal 
opportunities  and  conducting  of  studies on  all 
the  economic, social  and  legal  issues arising  in 
connection  with  equal  opportunities. 

Ongoing  assessment  of  activities 

c) 
undertaken  under the  programme. 

Implementation  of any  action  designed 

d) 
to  promote  the widest  possible  exchange  of 
information  and  dissemination  of the  acquis 
communautaires  on  equal  pay, equal  treatment 
and  equal  opportunities  and  the  results  of the 
programme's  initiatives. 

Article  4 

Implementation  and  support  of any 

d) 
action  needed  to  promote  the  widest  possible 
exchange  of  information  and  dissemination  of 
the acquis  communautaire  on  equal 
opportunities  and  the  results  of the  programme's 
initiatives, on the  understanding  that  such 
actions  must  take  careful  account  of national, 
regional  and  local  differences  in  order to 
maximise  their  impact. 

and 

consistency 

The  Commission  and  the  Member  States  shall 
encourage 
complementarity 
the  initiatives  undertaken  under  the 
between 
present  programme  and  under  the  Structural 
Funds and other Community policies or activities, 
including 
and 
concerning 
vocational  training. 

education 

those 

AJO 

Article  5 

The activities under the programme which will  be 
open  to  participants  from  the  countries  of  the 
the  countries  of 
European  Economic  Area, 
Central  and  Eastern  Europe,  Cyprus  and  Malta 
and 
the 
Mediterranean  will  be  defined  in  the  context  of 
the  Union's  relations  with  these  countries. 

the  Union's  partner  countries 

in 

Article  6 

The  Commission  shall  implement the  programme 
in accordance with this Decision. To this effect,  it 
shall  cooperate  in  a  spirit  of partnership  with  the 
Member  States. 

The  Commission  shall  implement  the 
programme  in  accordance  with  this  Decision.  To 
this  effect,  it  shall  cooperate  in  a spirit  of 
partnership  with  players  in civil  society 
involved  in the  promotion  of equal  opportunities 
including  non-governmental  organisations  active 
at EU  level, and the  authorities  of the  Member 
States. 

7.1 

7.2 

Article  7 

the 

The  Commission  shall  submit  an  interim 
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  1998 at the  latest. 

on 

implementation 

The  Commission  shall  submit  a  final 
the 
report 
programme  to  the  European  Parliament, 
the  Council,  the  Economic  and  Social 
Committee and the Committee of Regions 
by  31 December  2001 at the  latest. 

of 

Article  8 

This  Decision  shall  be  published  in  the  Official 
Journal  of the  European  Communities. 

AA 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(95) 602  final 

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