Amended proposal for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on the balanced participation of women and men in decision- making
Date: 1996-05-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: decision-making, equal treatment, gender equality, public awareness campaign

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

it 

•& 

Brussels,  30.05.19% 
COM(96)  252  final 

95/0308 (CNS) 

Amended  proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  RECOMMENDATION 

on  the  balanced  participation  of 
women  and  men  in  decision-making 

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

EXPLANATORY  STATEMENT 

1. 

2. 

3 

The initial  proposal  for  a Council  Recommendation  was  adopted  by the  Commision 
on  29  November  1995  (COM(95)  593  final).  Its  aim  is  to  encourage  the  Member 
States  to  examine  the  question  of  the  balance  between  women  and  men  in  all  areas 
of  decision-making  (economic,  political,  social  and  cultural),  and  to  adopt  a 
comprehensive  and  integrated  strategy  to achieve  such  a balance. 

The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  delivered  favourable  opinion  on  this  initial 
proposal  (24  April  1996) 

At its plenary  of May 24th, the European Parliament voted  36 amendments, of which 
8 are acceptable by the Commission in toto and  1  in part (2, 8,  10, 14, 19, 25, 26, 31, 
35): The accepted amendments strenghten and broaden the scope of the initial proposal 
in terms  of: 
the importance  of  reconciling  professional  and  family  life, 
the close links between  the decision-making  process and women's participation  in the 
labour  market  as well  as main streaming. 
the need  for  public  campaigns 
the monitoring  and  evaluation  of targets 
the promotion  of  entrepreneur ship of women 

4  The amendments  which  are not  accepted  can  be seperated  into three groups: 

Those which: 

propose changes to the meaning of the text that do not appear to add anything  useful 
(1,  3, 4,  6,  7,  11,  12,  15,  16,  17,  18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, 32) 

propose  completely  new  concepts  which  are not yet  developed  sufficiently  either by 
the Commission  or the Member  States (5, 9,  13, 28, 29, 33). 

refer  to areas  where Commission  has the right of initiative  (36) or propose activities 
for  the Commission  which  fall  outside  its present  competences (34). 

The  amended  proposal  takes  into  account  those  amendments  which  have been  accepted  by 
the  Commission. 

COM  (95)  593  final 

PROPOSAL  FOR 

AMENDED  PROPOSAL  FOR 

A  COUNCIL  RECOMMENDATION  ON 
THE  BALANCED  PARTICIPATION  OF 
WOMEN  AND  MEN  IN  DECISION 
MAKING 

A  COUNCIL  RECOMMENDATION  ON 
THE  BALANCED  PARTICIPATION  OF 
WOMEN  AND  MEN  IN  DECISION 
MAKING 

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 Commission's proposal, 

having  regard  to  the  opinion  of 
European  Parliament, 

the 

having  regard  to  the  opinion  of 
Economic  and  Social  Committee, 

the 

having  regard  to 
Committee  of  the Regions, 

the  opinion 

of  the 

legislative 

Whereas  the  Council  has  adopted  a  series 
of 
instruments  and  political 
commitments in the field  of equal  treatment 
and opportunities  for  men  and  women; 

of 

State 

the  Heads 

Whereas 
and 
Government,  meeting  within  the  European 
Council  in Essen  and Cannes,  stressed  that 
equal opportunities for women and men and 
the 
fight  against  unemployment  were 
paramount tasks of the European Union and 
its Member  States; 

Whereas attention was focused  on women's 
access  to  decision-making  in  the  Council 
Recommendation  of  13  December  1984  on 
the promotion of positive action for women, 
in  the  Council  Resolution  of  24  July  1986 
on the promotion of  equal  opportunities  for 
women  and  in  the  Council  Resolution  of 
21  May  1991  on  the  Third  Medium-Term 
Community  Action  Programme  on  Equal 
Opportunities  for  Women  and  Men  (1991-
1995); 

to 

on 

the 

the 

1995 

the  Council  Resolution 

of 
Whereas 
balanced 
27  March 
participation  of  women  and  men 
in 
decision-making  called  on  the  Member 
balanced 
States 
"promote 
participation  of  men  and  women 
in 
decision-making  as  a  priority  objective  in 
the  context  of  their  respective  practices 
regarding  equal  opportunities  for  women 
and men and to adopt this objective  as such 
in  their  government's  programmes"  and, 
moreover,  called  upon  the  Commission  "to 
draw  up  a  draft  recommendation  to  be 
submitted 
the  Council  aimed  at 
promoting  the  balanced  participation  of 
women  and men  in  decision-making"; 

to 

Whereas  the  European  Parliament  in  its 
Resolution of  11 February  1994 "on women 
in  decision-making  bodies"  asked 
the 
Commission  "to step up implementation  of 
the equal  opportunities  policy  ...  to  combat 
individual  obstacles  which  hinder  women 
from taking part in decision-making" and to 
define  "measures  and  actions  to  promote 
in  the 
greater  participation  of  women 
decision-making  process"; 

Whereas the European Commission's Fourth 
Medium-Term  Community  Action 
Programme  on  Equal  Opportunities  for 
Women and Men (1996 to 2000), which has 
been  submitted  to the Council  for  decision, 
the  balanced 
included  promotion  of 
participation  of  women  and  men 
in 
decision-making  as  one  of  its  six  main 
objectives; 

Whereas  the  Declaration  and  the  Action 
Platform  of  the  Fourth  World  Conference 
on Women  stressed  the need to ensure that 
responsibilities,  powers  and  rights  are 
shared  equally, and that the Member  States 
are fully  involved  in the implementation  of 
the platform  for  action; 

Whereas the underrepresentation of women 
in decision-making bodies is largely a result 
of  the  delay  in  women's  attaining  equal 
rights  and  of  obstacles  to  their  gaining 
economic  independence; 

Whereas  women  are  still  underrepresented 
in  such  bodies -  be  they  public  or private, 
political, administrative, economic, social or 
cultural; 

Whereas  women  account  for  over  half  the 
population  and  balanced  participation  of 
women  and  men  in  representation  and 
administration  of  nations  is  a  requirement 
for  democracy; 

Whereas the underrepresentation  of women 
in  decision-making  posts  constitutes  a loss 
for  society  as a whole  and  does  not  allow 
interests  and  needs  of  the  whole 
the 
population  to be catered  for  in  full; 

Whereas the underrepresentation  of women 
in decision-making bodies is largely a result 
of  the  delay  in  women's  attaining  equal 
rights  and  of  obstacles  to  their  gaining 
economic  independence;  as  well  as  of  the 
difficulty  of  combining  the  pursuit  of  a 
career with  family  life: 

(new) 
Whereas  the  aim  of  improving  women's 
participation in the decision-making process 
cannot be divorced from employment policy 
to  women  of 
given 
continuing segregation  in the labour market 
and  the  increasing  casualization  of  female 
labour: 

the  disadvantage 

(new) 
Whereas measures aimed at achieving equal 
participation  of  women  and  men  in  the 
decision-making  process in all  sectors must 
go  hand 
the  goal  of 
mainstreaming  a gender perspective  into all 
Community  policies: 

in  hand  with 

Whereas  a' balanced  participation  of  men 
and  women  in  decision-making  is  likely  to 
ideas,  values  and 
give  rise  to  different 
behaviour  which  will  result  in  more justice 
and equality  in the world for  both  men and 
women; 

Whereas  the  Member  States,  the  social 
partners, political  parties and organisations, 
NGOs  and  the  media  have  a  key  role  to 
play  in  creating  a society  where  public and 
private,  economic,  political  and  domestic 
responsibilities  are  shared  equally  by 
women  and men; 

Whereas,  in  conformity  with  the  principle 
of subsidiarity and proportionality  as set out 
in Article 3B  of the Treaty  establishing the 
European  Community,  the  aim  of  the 
-the  balanced 
present  Recommendation 
participation  of  women  and  men 
in 
decision-making-  can  be  pursued  more 
effectively  by  the  exchange  of  information 
and  examples  of  good  practice  within  a 
common framework  for  all  Member States; 
it  is  therefore  appropriate  to  propose,  at 
Community  level,  guidelines  to  promote  a 
balanced  representation  of  women  and men 
in  decision-making  bodies;  whereas  the 
present  recommendation  is  limited  to  the 
minimum  necessary  to obtain this  objective 
and  does  not  exceed  what  is  necessary; 

Whereas,  in  conformity  with  the  principle 
of subsidiarity and proportionality  as set out 
in Article 3B  of the Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Community,  the  aim  of  the 
-the  balanced 
present  Recommendation 
participation  of  women  and  men 
in 
decision-making-  can  be  pursued  more 
effectively  by  the  exchange  of  information 
and  examples  of  good  practice  within  a 
common  framework  for all  Member States; 
it  is  therefore  appropriate  to  propose,  at 
Community  level,  guidelines  to  promote 
balanced  participation  bv  women  and  men 
in  decision-making  bodies  with  a  view  to 
achieving  equality  between  women  and 
men:  whereas  the  present  recommendation 
is  limited  to  the  minimum  necessary  to 
obtain  this  objective  and  does  not  exceed 
what  is  necessary; 

Whereas the Treaty does not confer,  for the 
this 
purpose 
Recommendation,  any  other  powers  that 
those  set  out  in article  235, 

adoption 

the 

of 

of 

RECOMMENDS  THAT  THE  MEMBER 
STATES: 

I. 

2. 
a) 

comprehensive 
strategy  designed 

Adopt 
a 
and 
to 
integrated 
promote  balanced  representation  of 
women and men in places of power, 
influence  and decision,  and  develop 
or  introduce  suitable  legislative  or 
regulatory  measures or incentives  to 
achieve this. 

Highlight  in  school  textbooks  and 
curricula  and 
in  education  and 
training at all  levels the role and the 
contribution  of  women  in  society 
and stress the importance of  sharing 
both 
private 
responsibilities between women and 
men, 

public 

and 

b) 

c) 

d) 

3. 
a) 

Take  suitable  steps  so  that  the 
image  of  women  and  men  in  the 
advertising  neither 
media  and 
reinforces 
consolidates 
nor 
unjustified  stereotyping of men's and 
women's  responsibilities, 

c) 

Devise,  encourage  and  propagate 
public  campaigns  to  alert  public 
opinion 
the  usefulness  and 
advantages for  society  as a whole  of 
balanced  participation  by  women 
and men  in  decision-making, 

to 

Devise,  encourage  and  propagate 
public  campaigns  targeted  at  men 
and  women  to  raise  awareness  of 
the  usefulness  and  advantages  for 
society  as  a  whole  of  balanced 
participation  by  women  and men in 
decision-making,  including  among 
others campaigns run in conjunction 
elections.  Ensure  proper 
with 
evaluation  of  these  campaings  to 
guarantee  their  effectiveness: 

to 

the  media 

Alert  the  social  partners,  political 
parties and groups,  associations  and 
NGOs  and 
the 
importance  of  a  balance  between 
women and men in decision-making 
bodies,  and  encourage 
to 
develop  equal  opportunities  plans 
with  measures  to  ease  access  to 
decision-making  for  women. 

them 

of 

in 

publication 

Develop  or  promote  the  production 
and 
statistics 
illustrating how men and women are 
decision-making 
represented 
circles  in  general  and  in  political 
and  administrative  domains,  public 
c o m m i t t e e s, 
c o u n c i ls 
and  management 
administrative 
boards  at  national,  regional  and 
local  level  and  in  the  economy  and 
social  and cultural  life  in particular, 

and 

b) 

c) 

4. 
a) 

b) 

Support,  develop  and  encourage 
quantitative  and  qualitative  studies 
on  women  and  men  in  decision 
making  and  especially  on  the  legal, 
social  or  cultural  obstacles 
to 
decision-making 
for  persons  of 
either  sex,  on  ideas  and  concepts 
which  are  likely  to  enhance  the 
concept  of  a democratic  partnership 
between  women  and  men  and  on 
strategies to  bring about  equality  in 
decision-making, 

Support  and  encourage  initiatives 
creating  examples  of  good  practice 
in  the  various  areas  of  decision 
making and develop programmes for 
the"dissemination  and  exchange  of 
to 
experience  with 
propagating  such  practice. 

view 

a 

Promote  a  better  balance  between 
women  and  men  at  all  levels  of 
government, 

Introduce or pursue active measures, 
such  as  mentorship  activities  and 
target  figures,  to  promote  a balance 
between women and men in political 
representation  at  national,  regional 
and  local  level,  including  advisory 
bodies  which  contribute  to  public 
decision-making. Particular attention 
should  be  paid  to  the  promotion  of 
in 
a 
and 
committees, 
working  groups  at  national  as  well 
as European  level. 

commissions 

composition 

balanced 

b) 

Introduce or pursue active measures, 
such  as  mentorship  activities  and 
target  figures  with  timetables  and 
effective  monitoring of these targets. 
to  promote  women's  access 
to 
political  representation  with  a  view 
to  achieving  equal  representation  of 
women  and  men  at  national, 
regional  and  local  level,  including 
advisory  bodies  which  contribute  to 
public  decision-making,  and  ensure 
are 
that 
monitored, 
and 
evaluated. Particular attention should 
be  paid  to  the  promotion  of  a 
balanced composition in committees, 
commissions  and working groups at 
national  as well  as European  level. 

such  measures 
documented 

all 

4b(a)(new) 

Review  the  differential 
impact  of 
electoral  systems  on  the  political 
representation  of  women  in  elected 
consider,  where 
bodies 
appropriate, 
the  adjustment  or 
reform  of  these  systems. 

and 

c) 

d) 

e) 

or 

and 

develop 

Implement 
equal 
opportunities  plans  for  the  public 
sector  incorporating  the  concept  of 
balanced  participation  in  decision 
making, 
ensure,  when 
recruitment  competitions take place, 
that  women  and  men  are,  as  far  as 
possible,  represented  equally  in  the 
committees 
for 
preparing  competitions  and  in  the 
selection  boards, 

responsible 

levels 

Encourage  the  private  sector  to 
increase  the  presence  of  women  at 
all 
of  decision-making, 
notably  by  the  adoption,  or  within 
the  framework,  of  equality  plans or 
positive  action  programmes, 

4d(a)(new) 

for 
to 

programmes 
promote 

and 
Provide 
measures 
female 
entrepreneurship  and  give  women 
greater  access  to the  professions. 

radio 

press, 

Encourage 
and 
television  organisations  to  adopt 
to  promote  balanced 
measures 
participation  by  women  and  men  in 
production,  management 
and 
decision-making  bodies, 

AND  THEREFORE  CALLS  ON  THE 
COMMISSION: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

to  step  up  its  efforts  to  provide 
information,  alert  public  opinion, 
encourage  research  and  promote 
pilot  activities  to  achieve  balanced 
participation  by  women  and men  in 
decision-making, 

to  encourage  and  organise, 
in 
conjunction with the Member States, 
systematic  pooling  of  experience 
and 
policies 
implemented  to  achieve  a  balance 
in 
between  women 
decision-making, 

assessment 

and  men 

of 

to  submit  a  report  to  the  Council, 
within  three  years  of  adoption  of 
this  Recommendation,  on  progress 
achieved  in  implementing  it  on  the 
basis of information provided by the 
Member  States. 

to  submit  a  report  to  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council,  within 
three  years  of  adoption  of  this 
Recommendation, 
progress 
achieved  in  implementing  it  on  the 
basis of information  provided by the 
Member  States. 

on 

10 

X 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 252  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

04  05 

Catalogue number  :  CB-CO-96-264-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-05191-8 

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