WRITTEN QUESTION P-0404/00 by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Equal treatment for men and women.
Date: 2000-02-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Scotland, carrier, competence of the Member States, economic consequence, fisherman, free movement of goods, infringement of EU law, labour dispute, road transport

C 280 E/212

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.10.2000

(2000/C 280 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0404/00

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Equal treatment for men and women

(8 February 2000)

According to the Eurostat report for 1999, it will be a long time before women at the European workplace
obtain the same remuneration as men, conditions for Greek women being the least favourable among
those of women in Europe.

What measures will the Commission take to secure compliance with, and implementation of, the principle
of equality and equal remuneration for men and women doing the same or equivalent jobs in all Member
States, particularly in Greece?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2000)

The principle of equal pay for male and female workers for the same work or work of equal value has
been laid down in Community law since the Treaty of Rome (Article 141 (ex-Article 119) of the EC Treaty).
It was also the subject of a specific directive, Council Directive 75/117/EEC of 10 February 1975 on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the application of the principle of equal pay
for men and women (1), which was transposed in all the Member States, including Greece.

These various provisions resulted in an extensive case law of the Court of Justice, which gave a very wide
interpretation of the concept of (cid:145)pay(cid:146). Despite these provisions and case law it is well known, as the
Honourable Member emphasised, that pay inequalities between men and women are still considerable.
That is why the Commission adopted a Code of Conduct in 1996 with the aim of improving conditions in
order to ensure equal pay. This Code is meant to be instrumental in promoting the principle of equal pay
in practice.

The Commission would also point out that the Court has recognised for quite some time that Article 141
of the EC Treaty has direct effect, enabling any female worker who considers herself to be a victim of
discrimination to refer to this article before a national court.

Consequently, as a result of the current problems, and taking into consideration all the juridical guarantees
already afforded by Community law, the Commission does not envisage at present any other legislative
initiatives with regard to the principle of equal pay.

The Commission would, however, once again like to point out to the Honourable Member that since 1999
the objective to reduce pay inequalities between men and women has been an integral part of the
guidelines for the Member States(cid:146) employment policies. Within this context, the latter have undertaken to
adopt measures aimed at promoting equal pay for men and women.

(1) OJ L 45, 19.2.1975.

(2000/C 280 E/252)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0413/00

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 February 2000)

Subject: French lorry drivers(cid:146) industrial action

Industrial action by French lorry drivers is severely threatening Scottish fishermen, as the goods need to
reach their market in fresh condition, preferably within hours of being caught. Once again, however, the
French Government seems to sit idly by while the British rural community suffers.