Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on  the "Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions 'Towards a Community framework Strategy on gender equality' (2001-2005)"
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU programme, equal treatment, fundamental rights, gender equality, job access, participation of women

16.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 144/47

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on:

— the ‘Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions “Towards a Community
framework Strategy on gender equality” (2001-2005)’, and

— the ‘Proposal for a Council Decision on the programme relating to the Community

framework strategy on gender equality (2001-2005)’

(2001/C 144/14)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘Towards a Community framework
Strategy on gender equality’ (2001-2005) and the Proposal for a Council Decision on the programme
relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality (2001-2005) (COM(2000) 335 final);

having regard to the report from the European Commission on the implementation of Recommendation
96/694 on the balanced participation of women and men in the decision-making process (COM(2000)
120 final);

having regard to the Council Presidency Report 11829/1/99 of 8 November 1999 reviewing
implementation by the Member States and the European institutions of the Beijing platform for action;

having regard to the decision of the Council of 24 July 2000 to consult the Committee of the Regions on
the subject, under Article 265 § 1 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

having regard to the decision of its Bureau of 13 June 2000 instructing Commission 5 ‘Social Policy,
Public Health, Consumer Protection, Research and Tourism’
in cooperation with Commission 7
‘Education, Vocational training, Culture, Youth, Sport & Citizens’ Rights’ to draw up an Opinion on the
subject;

having regard to the Supplementary Opinion of Commission 7 on the subject (Rapporteur: Christine May
(UK-PSE) (DI CdR 315/2000);

having regard to the draft opinion (CdR 233/2000 rev. 2) adopted by Commission 5 on 23 October
2000 (Rapporteur: Diane Bunyan (UK-PSE),

adopted the following Opinion unanimously at its 36th plenary session (meeting of 13 December 2000).

The Committee of the Regions

is still being undermined by the fact that women and men do
not enjoy equal rights in practice’.

1.
Strongly welcomes the European Union’s long-standing
commitment to gender equality and the extension of the equal
opportunities competence in the Treaty of Amsterdam.

3. Welcomes the broad strategy contained within the
framework but considers that the Communication does not
contain enough detailed information about the way in which
the strategy is to be implemented.

Agrees with the European Commission assertion that
2.
‘considerable progress’ has been made in the promotion of
equal opportunities but that ‘gender equality in day-to-day life

4.
Acknowledges the action taken to date by the implemen-
tation of past Community Programmes, legislation, and the
development of co-operative polices which have made a major
contribution towards human rights for women and feels that
further action should be taken.

C 144/48

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16.5.2001

5. Welcomes the mainstreaming approach adopted in the
Communication. The COR stresses the importance of a
gender equality dimension across all Community policies but
emphasises the need for the monitoring and evaluation of all
Community policies in terms of gender equality.

males from social groups with low expectations for work and
inclusion, along with the problem of the generally lower
educational attainment of boys. In addition, the low edu-
cational attainment of boys needs to be readdressed. It is
important that values and attitudes in education systems are
revised to reduce gender gaps.

6.
Believes that mainstreaming could be more easily achiev-
ed in the European Commission if the gender Equality Unit of
the European Commission was relocated to a more strategic
place within the Commission structure.

Accepts the need for further strategic interventions in
7.
the areas of: economic life, equal participation and presen-
tation, social rights, civil life and gender roles and stereotypes.

8.
Considers that the actions and budget outlined in the
action programme are inadequate to tackle the problems
associated with gender equality; underlines the role of local
and regional authorities, which represent the foundation of a
democratic society, and which are essential to decision-making
processes and the implementation of policies for equality.

9.
Expresses deep concern about the small number of
references to local and regional government in the European
Commission Strategy and at the lack of inclusion of their
actions. It should be recognised that collectively, local and
regional authorities are the largest employer and has a major
representative role in the European Union across all the
member states. They have an important function in decision
making which affects the everyday lives of millions of women
and men. They have a key role as providers of education,
training and economic development within the European
Union and the capacity to have a major impact.

10.
Regrets that the involvement of trades unions and non-
governmental organisations in gender equality work has
been omitted. Trades unions and NGO’s work closely with
government at all
levels, many have research officers and
facilitators and are able to bring their expertise to this work.
Social Partnership working should be considered to promote
and develop the strategy.

12.
Emphasises the important role played by education and
training in the promotion of equal opportunities and welcomes
progress made in the training and education of women
through the structural funds, Leonardo, Socrates and Women
into Science programmes and recognises the need for funding
to be increased and widened to ensure the continued effective-
ness of such programmes.

13.
Believes that many women may face other forms of
discrimination, due to other factors as set out in Article 13 of
the Treaty. The COR is disappointed that the new anti-
discrimination programmes have not been integrated with the
new gender equality strategy and feels that such links must be
developed if
the European Commission is to develop a
mainstreaming approach.

Draft Charter of Fundamental Human Rights

14.
Believes that gender equality is a fundamental human
right and that this right should be incorporated into the Draft
Charter of Fundamental Human Rights. The COR entirely
supports the Commissions’ proposals to promote women’s
rights as human rights in the section of the strategy promoting
gender equality in civil life.

Mainstreaming

15. Welcomes the commitment to mainstreaming in the
Communication and the move away from the past practice of
compartmentalising activities; however, the Committee of the
Regions recalls that mainstreaming can best achieve results
when accompanied by positive actions. Mainstreaming policies
require strong leadership, determination and the recognition
of the need to address gender equality issues. All actions need
to be accompanied by extensive training so that staff without
a background in equal opportunities can integrate equality
into their policies.

Generally supports the emphasis on greater oppor-
11.
tunities for women but stresses the fact that boys and men
need to be considered in the strategy; Gender equality concerns
the relationship between the sexes as groups in society and it
is therefore important to highlight this relationship and the
conditions experienced by both sexes in all spheres of life. For
instance, attention needs to be paid to the situation of young

16.
Considers that good practice needs to be identified and
work on policies in European, national, local and regional
government needs to be carried out to ensure gender main-
streaming is included. In addition, the Commission is encour-
aged in all areas to develop gender mainstreaming approaches
which are not solely policy-based.

16.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 144/49

17.
Considers that good practice may be achieved by the
setting of small achievable goals, in stages, which will lead to
the ultimate goal of full participation of women and men
which can be obtained over a period of time and at the pace
which best suits different Member States.

inscribe equal opportunities in their policies, particularly
in the area of employment and vocational training. The
use of the structural funds, and in particular the European
Social Funds via the implementation of the Equal pro-
gramme, should strengthen the support for local initiat-
ives promoting this equality.

Believes that some Directorates General have made
18.
excellent progress in mainstreaming e.g. DG Research’s Initiat-
ive ‘Women in Science’, but a determined commitment is now
needed to be made by all Directorates-General.

Social Inclusion

Labour Market Issues

19. Welcomes the inclusion of equal opportunities actions
in the Guidelines for the European Employment Strategy and
National Employment Action Plans, and the recognition of the
work of regional and local government in promoting local
entrepreneurship and enterprise. However, the European Com-
mission has identified large gender gaps in national employ-
ment policies and strategies which indicate that a number of
Member States have a great deal of work to do in the
promotion of equal opportunities in national labour markets.

20. While recognising the progress that has been made in
the integration of equal opportunities within the structural
funds, it would like to emphasise the importance of Member
States annual implementation reports in terms of monitoring
progress in equal opportunities.

Recalls moreover that, in spite of legislative progress, there is
still a need for initiatives in favour of women in the area of
employment, particularly in order to:

— obtain employment and preserve it,

— have equal access to vocational training and professional

promotions,

— ensure the reconciliation of work and family life for both

men and women,

— have a balanced representation in different occupations
as well as among the different levels of responsibility,

— encourage entrepreneurial undertakings by women,

— have the same working conditions, notably equal pay for

work of equal value,

— have a working venue, organisation and conditions that

are equally adapted to women and men,

— underlines that all levels of decision-making — European,
local and intermunicipal — must

national, regional,

21.
Considers that many groups of women who cannot be
active in the labour market or are single parents, without
adequate support facilities, experience high levels of social
exclusion. Acknowledging that the EU is currently developing
its policy on social inclusion and many Member States are
refining their national policies, the COR believes that the
promotion of gender equality in civil life and the equal access
and full enjoyment of civil rights are important aspects in
ensuring that women feel socially included.

22.
Considers that policy makers should recognise the
social exclusion faced by many groups of women, including
those who are in the groups set down in Article 13 of the
Amsterdam Treaty, and promote gender equality in policies
devised to promote social inclusion. These objectives are key
parts of the strategy and the COR supports the actions under
these objectives. In particular, the Committee of the Regions
stresses the importance of the STOP and Daphne programmes.

23.
Urges the European Union to integrate equal oppor-
tunities into its revised public procurement Regulations as a
way of promoting women’s employment and recognises the
role of women in local government in this process.

Governance

24. Welcomes the Council Recommendation (96/964/EC)
on the balanced participation of women and men in the
decision making process. The Commission’s implementation
report on this recommendation states that the under-represen-
tation of women in decision making bodies ‘is a persistent
phenomenon requiring long-term and multi-faceted strategies’.
The commitment to funding the European Women’s Lobby in
the action programme is welcomed, but the Committee of the
Regions feels that the framework needs to consider more
actions to promote gender balance in decision-making, includ-
ing the local and regional spheres of governance.

C 144/50

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16.5.2001

25.
Recognising barriers to women’s access to decision
making posts at all levels and in all areas of political activity
and the need to tackle the obstacles (for example lack of
support, lack of information, inaccessible meeting times) as
part of the strategy, emphasises that the continued under-
representation of women — who constitute over half the
population — in political life in all spheres of governance is
unacceptable in modern democracy.

26.
Acknowledges the role of local and regional govern-
ment as an important point of access to decision making
processes for women and urges the European Commission to
instigate a qualitative examination of decision making by
women and men in all spheres of governance (European,
national, local and regional), to identify how women and men
are impacting on decision making processes and to draw up a
strategy to address imbalances. To recommend this practice to
all members of social partnerships i.e. trades unions, NGO’s
and enterprises.

27.
Calls on the Member States to fully apply the European
Council’s Recommendation of 2 December 1996 on the
balanced representation of women/men in decision making in
all spheres of governance.

28.
Underlines the importance of the exchange of experi-
ence and best practice between representatives of local and
regional authorities in attaining equality at sub-national level.

decision-making at all
levels, and to ensure effective and
efficient monitoring, these to be determined in a staged fashion
to ensure maximum participation and encouragement.

Action programme

32.
Expresses concern at the limited nature of the action
programme both in terms of the type of activity that will be
eligible under the programme and the size of the budget. The
Committee of the Regions is particularly concerned that the
majority of the budget is devoted to awareness raising and
regrets that, after four EU equal opportunities programmes,
this should still be the focus of activity, e.g. the funding of the
Presidency events, an Annual European Week and meetings of
experts.

33.
Expresses concern that many actions in the programme
seem to concentrate on dealing with elites instead of facilitating
the development of gender equality at grass-roots level. Calls
on the Commission to strengthen the strategy by upgrading
the evaluations of the consequences of policy measures in
order to convert these into strategic interventions rather than
comments on the status quo.

34.
Believes that the focus of the programme should be on
capacity building, partnerships, exchange of experience, and
on support for innovative projects which can demonstrate
transferability across the EU Member Sates.

29.
Undertakes to produce or commission a comparative
study into gender-balance in decision-making in local and
regional government in the applicant countries and in the
existing Member States, with a view to identifying best practice
and stimulating exchange of experience, to be published by
mid-2001 as a contribution to the enlargement process.

Calls on the Commission to evaluate the educational
35.
attainment of women, their choice of education and their
opportunities to participate on an equal footing with men in
working life and in the political decision-making process.

Indicators, monitoring and evaluation

30. Welcomes the proposal to adopt a performance man-
agement approach in the Framework Strategy characterised by
clear assessment criteria, monitoring tools, benchmarks, gen-
der proofing and evaluation. The COR believes that these
techniques must be rigorously applied if gender equality is to
be a reality rather than just a policy aspiration.

Targets

31.
Agrees that common indicators and benchmarking
need to be developed to improve the gender balance in

36.
Calls on the Commission and the Member States in
particular to see how new sectors, such as information and
communications, can create new job opportunities for women.
However recognises that educational opportunities need to be
considered as well as an information campaign to encourage
more women to enter this sector.

37.
Acknowledges that men have a major role to play in
the equal opportunities process on many levels. Beginning
with home responsibilities as a first step, for example, sharing
child-care, promoting and taking up the opportunities offered
in work-life balance strategies. Calls on the Member States to
establish more equitable entitlements to paid parental leave, to
enable fathers to play a more supportive role in parenting.
Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that
legislative measures do not have adverse implications for the
involvement of women in the labour market.

16.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 144/51

38.
Considers that the actions outline in Strands 1 and 2
are extremely ambitious in view of the budget that is available.
For instance, the budget for the annual European Week is
only EUR 1 million. In addition, Strand 1 will only fund
transnational initiatives of no more than EUR 250 000 in the
five-year programme. The gender equality policy area is a large
one and the Committee of the Regions regrets that the action
programme does not outline in greater detail the areas that it
wants to develop in term of awareness raising.

a number of project grants under the fourth action programme
which successfully took forward the issue of mainstreaming
and came up with extremely practical ways of improving
gender equality at the local and regional level. However, the
new action programme marks a distinct move away from small
innovative projects to much larger projects. In supporting the
actions of Member States, the European Commission needs to
ensure that projects in the new programme includes players at
regional and local levels.

39.
Strongly supports the actions in Strand 2 to improve
the collection of data and the development of benchmarking
so that equal opportunities policies can be compared across
the European Union. However, the Committee of the Regions
is concerned that the budget allocated to this Strand may not
be sufficient to carry out the important actions in this part of
the programme. The COR would like to work closely with the
European Commission in the creation of benchmarks and
performance indicators.

Implementation

41.
Calls on the Commission to invite a representative of
local and regional government to participate in any expert
or consultative groups in the design,
implementation and
evaluation of actions associated with the programme.

The Committee of the Regions

Expresses deep concern about the European Com-
40.
mission’s change in attitude to the funding of gender equality
projects. Local and regional partners were the beneficiaries of

42.
Reaffirms its earlier resolutions on gender-balance in
the composition of national delegations to the COR; equal
opportunities in the COR secretariat; and mainstreaming
equalities issues in the work of its commissions.

Brussels, 13 December 2000.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Jos CHABERT