WRITTEN QUESTION No. 762/99 by Anna KARAMANOU Balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures
Date: 1999-03-11
Institutions: European Parliament, KARAMANOU
Subjects: civil servant, decision-making, gender equality, institutional structure, participation of women, power to appoint

29.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 341/143

(1999/C 341/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0762/99

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(11 March 1999)

Subject: Balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures

In view of the lack of progress in implementing the Council Recommendation of 2 December 1996 on the
balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures, will the Commission say what
measures it intends to take to remedy this situation?

In view also of Article 141 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, what positive actions does the Commission intend to
promote in favour of the under-represented sex (namely, women)?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 1999)

The Commission has taken a wide range of measures to realise the goals laid down in the Council
Recommendation of 2 December 1996 referred to by the Honourable Member.

Hence, for example, the Commission has encouraged the Member States to take the necessary measures to
implement the Council Recommendation by organising a seminar for senior government officials in May
1998. It has also supported actions proposed by the Member States or by non-governmental organisations
designed to promote the balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures. These
include a high-level conference to be hosted by the French authorities in Paris in April 1999, in which Member
State ministers will be participating.

Finally, the Commission has, in line with the Recommendation, requested the Member States to transmit a
report before the end of May 1999 on the measures taken to implement the Recommendation. On the basis of
the replies to the questionnaire circulated to the Member States, the Commission will prepare a report and
transmit it to the Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee before year’s end.

As regards the application of the Recommendation to its own administration, the Commission has since 1995
adopted annual targets for the appointment of women to management posts. Hence there has been a clear
increase in the percentage of women over the years, notably at director level (19 female directors in December
1998 as opposed to four in January 1995) and at middle management level (heads of unit and advisers) (the
percentage of women rose from 8,3 % to 11,4 % in the A category and from 28,2 % to 38,7 % in the
LA category during the same period). On average women occupy 13,3 % of management posts in the
Commission.

The Honourable Member is also invited to consult the Commission’s answer to Written Question E-4089/98
by Mr Blak (1).

As regards Article 141 of the post-Amsterdam EC Treaty, the Commission is currently studying the
consequences of the entry into force of the Treaty and possible future developments.

(1) OJ C 297, 15.10.1999.

(1999/C 341/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0781/99

by Sören Wibe (PSE) to the Commission

(22 March 1999)

Subject: EU aid for company relocation

Lear, the US motor vehicle components giant received a SKR 20 million subsidy when it opened a plant in
Bengtfors, Sweden. The company has now decided to transfer part of its manufacturing activities to Portugal
after securing about SKR 75 million worth of EU subsidies and SKR 75 million worth of tax breaks from
Portugal. At least 350 people, mainly sewing machine operators, will lose their jobs at Bengtfors, where the
workforce is up in arms. Should EU subsidies really be used to lure jobs away from one EU Member State to