WRITTEN QUESTION P-2406/00 by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission. Enlargement: Poland's position on women's rights and equal opportunities.
Date: 2000-07-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Poland, accession negotiations, employment policy, enlargement of the Union, equal treatment, social policy, women's rights

C 113 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

(2001/C 113 E/091)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2406/00

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Enlargement: Poland(cid:146)s position on women(cid:146)s rights and equal opportunities

At the UN(cid:146)s Special Session held from 5 to 9 June 2000 under the title (cid:145)Women 2000: Gender Equality,
Development and Peace for the Twenty-first Century(cid:146), the Portuguese Minister for Equality, representing
the EU(cid:146)s Presidency-in-Office, spoke on behalf, not only of the fifteen existing Member States, but also of
all the applicant countries, with the one exception of Poland.

On the initiative of Parliament(cid:146)s Committee on Women(cid:146)s Rights and Equal Opportunities, meetings were
held in New York, with the support of the Council and Commission, bringing together the women MEPs
present as well as national parliamentarians from the fifteen Member States and the applicant countries,
with the aim of reaching an understanding of circumstances in Poland and reminding the Poles of the need
to accept the acquis communautaire in its entirety, including those parts of it that relate to equality and
women(cid:146)s rights. The replies received were highly negative and disturbing.

Can the Commission state whether the enlargement talks with Poland have included discussion of the
acquis communautaire in relation to women(cid:146)s rights or of the prospects opened up by the Treaty of
Amsterdam? Can it also state what positions Poland has adopted in the course of these negotiations with
the Commission?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

The Commission confirms that the acquis in relation to women(cid:146)s rights and equal opportunities is
discussed in the context of accession negotiations with the candidate countries, including Poland. Equality
of treatment for men and women is indeed an important area covered by negotiations under chapter 13,
social policy and employment. Poland accepts the acquis and has not requested any transitional periods in
this area. Consequently, Poland is expected to be able to meet its declared objective to implement the
related acquis by 31 December 2002. The Commission has not received any information from Poland
indicating changes in this respect.

As a matter of principle in the negotiations, the Community underlines the importance of the social
dimension as reinforced under the Amsterdam Treaty, and emphasises that from the date of accession,
timely and complete transposition and implementation of the social policy and employment acquis will be
it should be noted, that as regards equality of treatment for women and men,
required. In addition,
particular attention is given to practical aspects of actual enforcement of these rights, such as effective
access to information on existing legal rights and number of discrimination cases going to the Court of
Justice.

The Commission continues to follow progress in transposition and implementation of the acquis in this
area, as well as the development and strengthening of related institutions. This monitoring will continue
throughout the whole negotiating process.

(2001/C 113 E/092)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2420/00

by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Council

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Europol and European Union Police force

Can the Council answer the following questions:

1. What is the current number of police officers employed by Europol?

2. How many of those Europol officers are British subjects?