Proposal for a Council Decision on the Programme relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality (2001-2005)
Date: 2000-06-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU action, EU initiative, EU policy, EU programme, gender equality

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Proposal for a Council Decision on the Programme relating to the Community framework strategy
on gender equality (2001-2005)

(2000/C 337 E/31)

(Text with EEA relevance)

COM(2000) 335 final (cid:15) 2000/0143(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 7 July 2000)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 13 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of
Committee,

the Economic and Social

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

Whereas:

(1) The principle of equal treatment for women and men is a
fundamental principle of Community law and the
Directives and other acts adopted in keeping with it
have played a major part in improving the situation of
women.

(2) Experience of action at Community level has shown that
promoting gender equality in practice calls for a combi-
nation of measures and, in particular, of legislation and
practical action designed to reinforce each other.

(3) The persistence of

the
continuation and strengthening of Community action in
the field.

inequality

justifies

gender

(4) The European Parliament, in its resolution on the interim
report on the implementation of
the medium-term
Community action programme on equal opportunities
for men and women (1996-2000) (1), has called on the
Commission to submit a proposal
for a fifth action
programme.

(5) The Council, in its conclusions of 22 October 1999 has
stressed the importance of a new action programme to
promote equality for women and men.

(6) The new Community strategy for gender equality (2)

is
embodied in a framework strategy that embraces all
Community policies in its efforts to achieving gender
equality and in this Programme,
that will provide the
structure for the horizontal and coordinating activities
necessary to ensure coherence and to develop synergies
with regard to the gender-related activities of
all
Community policies.

(7) In order to reinforce the added value of Community
in cooperation with the
the
all

the Commission,

action,
Member

ensure,

should

States,

levels,

at

coherence and complementarity of actions implemented
this Decision and other relevant
in the framework of
Community
in
and
policies,
particular those under Articles 125 to 130 of the Treaty
concerning a coordinated strategy for employment, and
under the European Social Fund.

instruments

actions,

(8) It is necessary for the success of any Community action
for the results to be monitored and evaluated against the
aims.

for

(9) In accordance with Article 2 of Council Decision
1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
implementing powers
procedures
conferred on the Commission (3); measures
the
implementation of this Decision should be adopted by
use of the advisory procedure provided for in Article 3
of that Decision.

the exercise of

for

(10) Provision should be made to open up this Programme to
the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in
accordance with the conditions established in the Europe
in their additional protocols and in the
Agreements,
decisions of
to
the respective Association Councils,
Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appro-
to be
in accordance with the procedures
priations
agreed with those countries.

(11) In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and
proportionality as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty, the
the proposed action by the Community,
objective of
namely to promote gender equality, cannot be sufficiently
achieved by the Member States by reason of, inter alia, the
need for multilateral partnerships, transnational exchange
of
information and Community-wide dissemination of
good practice, and can therefore, by reason of the scale
the action, be better achieved by the
and effects of
Community. This Decision
the
confines
minimum required in order to achieve that objective
that
and does not go beyond what
purpose,

is necessary for

itself

to

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Establishment of a Programme

This Decision establishes a Programme to promote gender
equality, hereinafter referred to as ?the Programme@, for the
period from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2005.

(1) A4-0194/99-PE 230 041/DEF, OJ C 279, 1.10.1999, p. 88.
(2) COM(2000) 335 final.

(3) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

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Article 2

Principles

(b) Analysis and evaluation

1.
The Programme is related to the Community’s overall
strategy on gender equality, which embraces all Community
policies geared to achieving gender equality, including gender
mainstreaming policies and specific actions targeted at women.

2.
The Programme shall coordinate, support and finance
horizontal and coordinating activities under the fields of inter-
vention of the Community strategy on gender equality. These
are economic life, equal participation and representation, social
rights, civil life, gender roles and stereotypes. Gender equality
in the enlargement of the Community as well as the gender
dimension of the Community’s external relations and devel-
opment cooperation policies are horizontal issues which will
permeate all areas of intervention of the framework strategy.

Article 3

Objectives

tools

Analysis of factors and policies relating to gender equality,
including the collection of statistics, studies, gender impact
assessment,
of
and mechanisms,
indicators and benchmarks and effective dissemination of
results. This will also include monitoring of the implemen-
tation and application of Community equality law by
evaluating legislation and practice in order to assess their
impact and effectiveness.

development

(c) Capacity building

Transnational cooperation between key players through the
promotion of networking and exchange of experiences at
social
Community level between national
partners and non-governmental organisations.

authorities,

Arrangements for

2.
described in paragraph 1 are set out in the Annex.

the implementation of

the actions

The Programme shall have the following objectives:

Article 5

(a) To promote and disseminate the values and practices

underlying gender equality;

Implementation of the Programme and cooperation with
Member States

1.

The Commission shall:

(b) To improve the understanding of issues related to direct and
indirect gender discrimination by determining where it
exists and to what extent and by evaluating the effectiveness
of policies and practice;

(a) ensure the implementation of

the Community actions
covered by this Programme in accordance with the Annex;

(c) To develop the capacity of key players (independent bodies
responsible for the promotion of gender equality, social
partners and non-governmental organisations, especially at
national,
to promote gender
equality effectively,
in particular through support for the
exchange of information and good practice and networking
at Community level.

regional and local

levels)

Article 4

Community actions

1. With a view to achieving the objectives set out in Article
3, the following actions will be implemented within a trans-
national framework:

(a) Awareness-raising

Primarily by emphasising the Community dimension of the
promotion of gender equality and by publicising the results
of
through publications,
in particular
the Programme,
campaigns and events.

(b) regularly exchange views with the Members of

the
Committee referred to in Article 6, with representatives
of social partners at Community level and non-govern-
and
mental
follow-up of the Programme and on related policy orien-
tations.

implementation

organisations

the

on

(c) promote active partnership and dialogue between all the
partners
to
encourage an integrated and coordinated approach to
promote gender equality.

Programme,

involved

in the

inter

alia

The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States,

2.
shall take the necessary steps to:

(a) promote the involvement

in the Programme of all

the

parties concerned;

(b) ensure the dissemination of

the results of

the actions

undertaken within this Programme;

(c) provide appropriate information, publicity and follow-up
with regard to actions supported by this Programme.

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Article 6

Committee

1.
The Commission shall be assisted by a committee
the Member States and
composed of
chaired by the representative of the Commission (hereinafter
referred to as ?the Committee@).

representatives of

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, the advisory
procedure laid down in Article 3 of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 7 thereof.

The Member States shall make all possible efforts to
3.
ensure consistency and complementarity between activities
under
this Programme and those carried out at national,
regional and local levels.

Article 8

Participation of EFTA/EEA countries,
the associated
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus, Malta
and Turkey

This Programme shall be open to the participation of:

The representative of the Commission shall in particular

3.
consult the Committee on:

(a) the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions

established in the EEA Agreement;

(a) the general guidelines

for

the implementation of

the

Programme;

(b) the annual budgets and the distribution of funding between

measures;

(c) the annual plan of work for the implementation of the

Programme’s actions.

(b) the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe
(CEECs) in accordance with the conditions established in
the European Agreements,
in their additional protocols
and in the decisions of the respective Association Councils;

(c) Cyprus, Malta and Turkey,

funded by additional appro-
priations in accordance with procedures to be agreed
with those countries.

4.
The representative of the Commission shall also consult
the Committee on other appropriate matters concerning the
implementation of this Programme.

Article 9

Monitoring and evaluation

5.
To ensure the consistency and complementarity of this
Programme with other measures referred to in Article 7, the
Commission shall keep the Committee regularly informed
about other Community action contributing to promote
the Commission shall
gender equality. Where appropriate,
establish regular and structured cooperation between this
Committee and the monitoring committees established for
other relevant policies, instruments and actions.

Article 7

Consistency and complementarity

1.
The Commission shall, in cooperation with the Member
States, ensure overall consistency with other Union and
Community policies, instruments and actions, in particular by
the
establishing
in
activities of
particular
relating to research, employment, non-discrimi-
nation, social inclusion, education, training and youth policy,
justice and home affairs and in the field of enlargement and of
the Community’s external relations.

appropriate mechanisms
this Programme with relevant

coordinate

activities

to

this Programme

2.
The Commission and the Member States shall ensure
consistency and complementarity between action undertaken
under
relevant Union and
Community actions, in particular under the Structural Funds,
the Community Initiative EQUAL and the Community action
programme to combat discrimination (2001-2006).

and other

The Commission shall regularly monitor this Programme

1.
in cooperation with the committee referred to in Article 6.

the end of

The Programme shall be evaluated by the Commission at
2.
the Programme with the
its mid-term and at
assistance of independent experts. The evaluation will assess
the relevance and effectiveness of actions implemented with
regard to the objectives referred to in Article 2. It will also
examine the impact of
the Programme as a whole. The
evaluation will also examine the complementarity between
action under this Programme and that pursued under other
relevant Community policies, instruments and actions.

The Commission shall

submit an interim evaluation
3.
report by 31 December 2003 at the latest to the European
Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee
and the Committee of Regions.

4.
The Commission shall submit a final evaluation report on
the Framework Strategy and the Programme to the European
Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee
and the Committee of the Regions by 31 December 2006 at
the latest.

Article 10

Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

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ANNEX

I. AREAS OF ACTION

The Programme may operate in one or more of the following fields of intervention:

1. Economic life

The area relates to the remaining gender gaps in the labour market and the ways to tackle them. The aims are to
increase the employment rate of women, to reduce the unemployment rates among women, the gender segre-
gation of the labour market and the gender pay gap.

2. Equal participation and representation

The area addresses the lack of women’s participation in decision-making bodies. The actions deal with strategies
to promote women in political, economic and social decision-making, including activities in external relations and
development cooperation.

3. Social rights

Effective gender mainstreaming needs to be applied to all policy areas which have an impact on women’s daily
life such as transport, public health and the fight against discrimination on other grounds. The actions will aim at
in particular on social protection and in the areas of
improving the application of Community legislation,
parental leave, maternity protection and working time.

4. Civil life

The area addresses the enforcement of the human rights of women. The actions will promote the recognition of
human rights of women, enforce equal opportunity rights and strengthen the fight against gender-related violence
and trafficking in women.

5. Gender roles and stereotypes

The area addresses the stereotyped images of women and men and the need to change behaviour, attitudes,
norms and values which define and influence gender roles in the society. The actions cover gender main-
streaming, in particular in education, training, culture, science, media and sport policies.

II. TYPES OF ACTION

The following measures may be supported by the Programme, in a transnational framework:

Strand 1 (cid:15) Awareness raising

1. The organisation of conferences, seminars and events at European level;

2. The organisation of a European Equality week at Community level and in each Member State at the same time
under the same topic coordinated by the Commission and conducted by the responsible authority in each
individual Member State;

3. The organisation of European media campaigns and events to support the transnational exchange of information
and the identification and dissemination of good practice, including the award of an annual prize to companies
successful in promoting gender equality and with a view to strengthen the visibility of gender issues;

4. The publication of materials to disseminate the results of the Programme,

including the construction of an
Internet site providing examples of good practice, a forum for the exchange of
ideas and a database of
potential partners for transnational exchange actions as well as e-links to the existing relevant websites in the
Member States;

5. The implementation of transnational initiatives such as meetings, seminars, campaigns, etc., on particular topics
approved annually, after discussion with the Committee of the Programme. The aim of these activities is to
support and improve the synergy among national policies on gender equality and to develop a Community added
value;

6. Organisation of seminars in support of the implementation of Community law in the field of gender equality.

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Strand 2 (cid:15) Analysis and evaluation

1. The development and dissemination of comparable statistics, broken down by sex, statistical series on women and

men’s situation in different policy areas;

2. The development and dissemination of methodologies and indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of gender

equality policies and practice (benchmarking);

3. The analysis of women’s situation in the labour market, implementation of equality legislation in the Member
States, influence and impact of social protection and taxation on women and mens and advancement of women
in decision-making levels will be carried out and the results and lessons learned will be disseminated;

4. The collection and evaluation of updated information and experience on successful

initiatives, methods and
including overcoming gender stereotypes and promoting

techniques related with women and the media,
positive portrayals of women and men in the media;

5. The publication of an Annual Report on Gender Equality in the European Union, including the progress towards

reaching the benchmarks and the evaluation of the results achieved;

6. The realisation of thematic studies on the target areas comparing and contrasting approaches within and across

Member States and applicant countries.

In implementing this strand the Commission will, in particular, ensure consistency and complementarity with the
activities conducted by other Commission services or by European agencies; in particular, the European Foundation
for the Improvement of working and living conditions and the Community RTD Framework programme.

Strand 3 (cid:15) Strengthening capacity

The following measures may be supported in order to improve the capacity and effectiveness of key players involved
in promoting gender equality:

D Transnational exchange actions, involving a wide range of players, to transfer information, lessons learned and
good practice. These activities may be conducted by NGOs or social partners at European level and transnational
networks of regional or local authorities and of organisations which aim to promote gender equality.

D These activities may include comparison of the effectiveness of processes, methods and tools related to the
chosen themes, mutual transfer and application of good practice, exchanges of personnel, joint development of
products, processes, strategy and methodology, adaptation to different contexts of methods, tools and processes
identified as good practice, and/or dissemination of results, profile-raising materials and events.

III. METHOD OF PRESENTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT

Strand 1: Actions (2), (3) and (4) of this strand will be implemented in response to open calls for tenders. Actions (5)
and (6), to be implemented by the Member State authorities in charge of gender equality or by equality bodies, may
be subsidised in response to restricted calls for proposals addressed to the Member States.

Strand 2: Actions under this strand will be implemented via the Commission, normally in response to calls for
tenders. Action (1) will be implemented following the relevant Eurostat procedures.

Strand 3: Strand 3 will be implemented in response to open calls for proposals organised by the Commission, which
will vet the proposals. The actions may be implemented by NGOs or social partners at European level, transnational
networks of regional or local authorities or by transnational networks of organisations, which aim to promote
gender equality

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IV. CARRYING OUT THE ACTIONS

1. The actions to be taken may be funded by service contracts following calls for tender or by subsidies for joint
financing with other sources. In the latter case, the level of financial assistance by the Commission may not
exceed, as a general rule, 80 % of the expenditure actually incurred by the recipient.

2. In carrying out the Programme, the Commission may require additional resources, including recourse to experts.
These requirements will be decided in the context of the Commission’s ongoing assessment of resource allocation.

3. In carrying out the Programme, the Commission may have recourse to technical and/or administrative assistance,
the beneficiaries, related to identification, preparation,

the Commission and of

to the mutual benefit of
management, monitoring, audit and control.

4. The Commission may also undertake information, publication and dissemination actions. It may also undertake

evaluation studies and organise seminars, colloquia or other meetings of experts.

5. The Commission will prepare annual work plans setting out the priorities and actions to be undertaken.
Moreover, it will also specify the arrangements and criteria to be applied in selecting and financing actions
under this Programme. In so doing, it will seek the opinion of the Committee mentioned in Article 6.

6. Actions undertaken will fully respect the principles of data protection.