European Parliament resolution on the Commission report on the implementation of Council Recommendation 96/694 of 2 December 1996 on the balanced participation of women and men in the decision-making process (COM(2000) 120 — C5-0210/2000 — 2000/2117(COS))
Date: 2001-01-18
Institutions: Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, European Parliament
Subjects: electoral system, equal treatment, gender equality, political representation, position of women

C 262/248

Official Journal of the European Communities

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18.9.2001

Thursday 18 January 2001

13.
Considers that the allocation of infrastructure construction and maintenance costs as a component
of fares can meet the need to involve private capital in the construction of infrastructure, using, inter alia,
the Design, Build, Finance and Operate principle (DBFO); considers that, where public financial support is
needed for the provision of infrastructure, it should be provided in a transparent way;

14.
Takes the view that exemptions could be made from charging users, with consequent recourse to
general taxation, in cases where there are social benefits, for example to tackle problems in peripheral
areas or to prevent social exclusion; considers that this is a decision for national, regional and local autho-
rities to determine;

15.
Points out that, in the development of the methodology for transport infrastructure charging, it
should be considered that any surplus revenue over infrastructure construction and maintenance costs
could be used for reducing external costs within the mode of transport from which they arise or in other
modes in a way which helps to attain the objective of a sustainable transport sector;

16.
Points out that the viability of mechanisms for transferring resources in a socially and economically
efficient way towards more environmentally sustainable transport sectors depends crucially on the exis-
tence of a level playing field between transport modes with viable alternatives for users;

17.
Draws attention to the gradual liberalisation of transport modes currently taking place, for example
in rail transport, and to the need to take measures of a regulatory and investment support nature designed
to encourage modernisation and greater interoperability of the networks concerned and to increase the
quality of services;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission and the Govern-

18.
ments of the Member States.

7. Balanced participation of women and men in the decision-making process

A5-0373/2000

European Parliament resolution on the Commission report on the implementation of Council
Recommendation 96/694 of 2 December 1996 on the balanced participation of women and men
in the decision-making process (COM(2000) 120 , C5-0210/2000 , 2000/2117(COS))

The European Parliament,

2 having regard to the Commission report (COM(2000) 120 2 C5-0210/2000),

2 having regard to Council Recommendation 96/694/EC,

2 having regard to Articles 2, 3(2), 13, 137(1) and 141(4) of the EC Treaty,

2 having regard to its resolutions based on reports from the Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal
Opportunities since 1984 and especially its resolution of 2 March 2000 (1) on women in decision-
making,

2 having regard to the final declaration of the UN Conference in Mexico in 1975,

2 having regard to the Vienna Conference on human rights and the Platform for Action following the

Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing on 15 September 1995,

(1) OJ C 346, 4.12.2000, p. 82.

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2 having regard to the Council Resolution of 27 March 1995 (1) on balanced participation of women

and men in decision-making,

2 having regard to the ministerial declaration of 17 April 1999 in Paris on women and men in power,

2 having regard to its resolution of 11 February 1994 (2) and its opinion of 24 May 1996 (3) on women’s
representation in decision-making based on reports from its Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal
Opportunities,

2 having regard to the work done by the European Network ‘Women in Decision-Making’ during the

years 1992-1996,

2 having regard to the European Third and Fourth Action Programmes (1991-2000) for equal opportu-

nities between men and women,

2 having regard to the final document of the UN Conference ‘Beijing+5’ in New York, June 2000,

2 having regard to Rule 47(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

2 having regard to the report of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities (A5-0373/

2000),

A. whereas women’s rights are an integral part of human rights,

B. whereas women make up at least half of the electorate in almost all countries and have attained the
right to vote and hold office in almost all UN Member States, but continue to be seriously under-
represented as candidates for public office,

C. whereas it is important not only to increase women’s participation in decision-making processes but

also to widen their role in society,

D. whereas women must cope with the dual burden of, on the one hand, attending to their family tasks

and responsibilities and, on the other, of pursuing their professional careers,

E. whereas inequality between women and men, and the prevailing gender roles are rooted in obsolete

structures and traditional attitudes,

F. whereas it is admitted that the under-representation of women in decision-making bodies represents
an important obstacle to the democratic development of the European Union, to its cohesion and
globally to its competitiveness,

G. whereas the proportion of women in decision-making positions within European industry and the
trade union movement is alarmingly low, which undoubtedly contributes towards inequality on the
employment market,

H. whereas the need to promote women’s participation in the decision-making process as a condition for

democracy has been fully recognised both at national and European level,

I. whereas public and private institutions should set realistic targets for correcting gender imbalances,

and support equality of opportunities for men and women,

J. whereas this inequality and discrimination both in politics and in the public and private institutions
persists, despite the numerous political statements, declarations and commitments made at national,
European and international level,

K. whereas the Amsterdam Treaty provided the legal basis and allows for positive actions and horizontal
gender-mainstreaming measures in order to continue the fight against inequalities in all policy fields,

(1) OJ C 168, 4.7.1995, p. 3.
(2) OJ C 61, 28.2.1994, p. 248.
(3) OJ C 166, 10.6.1996, p. 269.

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L. whereas women’s salaries continue to be lower than men’s for work of equal value,

M. whereas women’s representation in elected political assemblies has proved to be positively influenced

by the electoral system of proportional representation as compared to the majority system,

N. whereas, at European level, the balanced participation of women and men in positions of power and
centres of decision-making is regarded as a matter of democratic principle and is included in the
Charter of Fundamental Rights,

O. whereas the representation of women in the political sphere has progressed modestly since the 1999
European elections; whereas, however, women are still under-represented in both the administrative
and the political decision-making spheres of the EU institutions,

P. whereas the example of the European Parliament, where female representation among its Members has

increased steadily and, since the last elections, accounts for almost 30 %, should be welcomed,

Q. whereas the full establishment of democracy presupposes collaboration and joint decision-making by

the two sexes in all spheres, on an equal and mutually supportive basis,

R. whereas women’s equal participation in decision-making is not only a demand for justice or democ-
racy but also a necessary condition for women’s interests, gender-specific concerns and experiences to
be taken into account,

S. whereas women could participate more in public life if the burden of work and parental responsibil-

ities were more fairly shared between women and men,

T. whereas the consideration of women’s different set of principles, ideas, values and experience can
contribute to redefining political priorities, placing new items on the political agenda and provide
new perspectives on mainstream political issues,

1.
Reiterates Council Recommendation 96/694/EC of 2 December 1996 concerning the necessity of
establishing integrated action to fight unequal gender-representation in the EU institutions and in every
decision-making body, and the invitation to establish an integrated and specific European strategy and
common approach to achieve such a result;

Reiterates its abovementioned resolutions of 11 February 1994 and 2 March 2000 and its opinion of

2.
24 May 1996;

Reiterates the need for a comprehensive, integrated EU strategy and positive measures for the pro-

3.
motion of gender-balanced participation in democratic institutions and in all decision-making centres;

4.
Reiterates the need to mobilise all those involved in economic and social life so as to achieve an
equal share of responsibility between men and women in the public and private domains and in economic,
political and family life;

5.
Reiterates the importance of achieving the goal of equal participation of men and women in the
decision-making process so as to strengthen democracy, by taking account of the interests of the whole
of society, and promote its proper functioning;

6.
Calls for the promotion and systematic collection and publication of comparable statistics at national
and European level and the harmonisation of the Member States’ research methods to give a clearer picture
of male/female representation in decision-making, since dissemination of these statistics contributes to
developing awareness of gender issues and helps progress;

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Calls for the promotion of a gender balance in all policy fields and all committees at EU, national and

7.
international level, whereby the representation of either gender should not fall below 40 %;

Thursday 18 January 2001

Reiterates the importance of tackling gender stereotypes at a very young age, and for both girls and
8.
boys to have the opportunity, throughout education, of discussing gender roles; reiterates also the impor-
tance of women being trained in leadership and decision-making, public speaking and self-assertion; also
stresses the need to undertake awareness campaigns and encourage women’s participation in the political
arena;

Stresses the need to involve men in working towards greater equality, since equality in decision-mak-

9.
ing can only be achieved by both sexes cooperating;

Emphasises the need to establish common structures and strategies for enforcing equal opportu-

10.
nities (e.g. Ministry for Equal Opportunities);

11.
Reiterates the importance of there being more women in decision-making positions in companies
and trade unions; therefore calls on European industry and the trade union movement to take an active
part in supporting women who want to make a career in these fields, and to combat stereotyping at work;

Calls for the creation of a European Network to promote women in decision-making and a network

12.
of national committees on equal opportunities;

13.
Calls on the governments, especially those of countries where women’s participation in decision-
making bodies is lower than 30 %, to review the differential impact of electoral systems on the political
representation of women in elected bodies and to consider the adjustment or reform of these systems and,
if needed, take legislative measures or encourage political parties to introduce quota systems, such as the
zipper system, and/or take other measures so as to promote a balance in participation;

Stresses the need to review parties’ structures and procedures to remove all barriers that directly or

14.
indirectly discriminate against the participation of women;

15.
Recognises that countries with transitional economies and a fledgling democratic culture, such as
many of the applicant countries, require particular attention and support owing to the disproportionately
negative impact of the transitional process on women’s lives;

16.
Calls on the governments and the EU institutions to take due account of gender balance when
appointing representatives and setting up international organisations or mediation and negotiating com-
mittees, particularly in peace processes or the settlement of conflicts;

17.
Points to the absolute necessity to take appropriate measures to reconcile family and professional
life for men and women, through flexible management of working time and improved care provision for
children and other dependants;

Calls on both sides of industry to promote the participation of women in their structures and in

18.
senior positions of responsibility;

Calls on the Member States to propose at the next IGC amendments to the Treaty which promote

19.
gender balance in the EU institutions and all decision-making bodies;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the other EU

20.
institutions, and the government and parliaments of the Member States.