Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions A Roadmap for equality between women and men 2006-2010 COM(2006) 92 final
Date: 2006-09-13
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU action, gender equality, labour market, participation of women, position of women, social security, women's rights

23.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 318/173

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the
Commission to the Council,
the European Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions A Roadmap for equality between women and men
2006-2010

the European Parliament,

COM(2006) 92 final

(2006/C 318/29)

On 1 March 2006 the Commission decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee,
under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for preparing the
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 13 July 2006. The rapporteur was Grace Attard.

At its 429th plenary session, held on 13-14 September 2006 (meeting of 13 September 2006), the Euro-
pean Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 175 votes to 11 with nine absten-
tions.

1. Conclusions and recommendations

develop marketable skills and to facilitate their access to
employment;

1.1
The EESC welcomes the Commission's political will to
keep gender equality high on its agenda for the period 2006-
2010. It appreciates President Barroso's personal commitment
to its adoption and agrees with the importance of involving all
stakeholders in the implementation of its priorities.

1.2 The EESC:

— acknowledges that common priorities in the coordination of
employment policies are necessary to increase the female
participation rate;

— finds that national governments, national equality bodies
and the social partners of all Member States have a clear
obligation to ensure that the pay systems they put in place
do not lead to pay discrimination between women and men;

— recommends that with regard to women entrepreneurs, stra-
tegies should aim at improving women's access to bank
credits and bank services;

— recommends that

the national curricula should include
entrepreneurship education at secondary and tertiary levels,
especially among females, and that measures be taken to
make more women graduate in scientific/technical disci-
plines in order to address the employment gender gaps that
exist
in technical areas like engineering and ICT-related
services;

— proposes that strategies with regard to gender equality in
social protection and the fight against poverty should be
stepped up to ensure that
taxation and social security
systems address the needs of women at risk of poverty,
particularly single mothers; there should also be concrete
policy proposals aimed at encouraging single parents to

— believes that the national strategies for health and long term
care should include integrated policies that address women
health standards at work;

— calls for increased consideration, investigation and analysis
of the impact of the demands for caring for others and the
resulting drain on women's physical and mental health;

— submits that the open method of coordination should be
applied to the field of health care and incorporate gender
equality objectives;

— acknowledges the phenomenon of feminisation of migration
and recommends that gender equality be fully mainstreamed
into EU policy and actions at each stage of the migration
process;

— recognises the importance of developing measures, including
the setting of precise targets and indicators, to ensure the
provision of care for children as well as for dependent
elderly and disabled;

— recommends the introduction of targets and deadlines in
order to increase female participation in all forms of deci-
sion-making;

— recommends the development of a European Action Plan on

Violence Against Women;

— calls for Member States to ensure that measures are imple-
mented in order to grant victims of trafficking for sexual
exploitation increased rights and support;

— recommends the development of pan-European awareness
actions on zero-tolerance for sexist insults and degrading
images of women in the media;

C 318/174

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.12.2006

— finds that Member States should ensure that audiovisual
commercial communications do not include any discrimina-
tion on grounds of race, sex or nationality, as recommended
in the Directive proposed by the Commission on the coordi-
nation of certain provisions concerning the pursuit of televi-
sion broadcasting services (1);

— recommends the introduction of gender training modules in
media-training institutions and strong mechanisms aimed at
gender balance at all decision-making levels within the
media industry;

— recommends that the EU in the context of the EU Develop-
ment Policy women should have adequate access to EU
financial assistance channelled particularly through national
projects carried out by women's organisations;

— calls

for

the European Commission Humanitarian Aid
(ECHO) policy to prioritise aid and financial assistance for
women in gender-based
during
conflicts;

violence perpetrated

— believes that improving governance for gender equality is
crucial to the success of the Roadmap; it recommends the
strengthening of mechanisms for dialogue and consultation
with organised civil society, in particular with women's orga-
nisations at national level;

— calls for the setting-up of a Gender Budgeting Working
Group within the Commission's DG Budget and the
carrying-out of a separate gender impact assessment of the
EU budget on an annual basis.

2. Reasons

2.1 Gist of the Commission Communication

for

specific measures

2.1.1
The EU has made significant progress in achieving
gender equality, thanks to equal treatment legislation, gender
the advancement of
mainstreaming,
women, action programmes, social dialogue and dialogue with
civil society. Nevertheless, inequalities remain and may widen, as
increased global economic competition requires a more flexible
and mobile labour force. This can impact more on women, who
are often obliged to choose between having children or a career,
due to the lack of
flexible working arrangements and care
services, the persistence of gender stereotypes, and an unequal
share of family responsibilities with men.

(1) Proposal for a Directive of

the European Parliament and of the
Council amending Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordination of
certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative
action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broad-
casting activities (COM(2005) 646 final).
URL:
proposal_2005/com2005-646-final-en.pdf.

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/avpolicy/docs/reg/modernisation/

2.1.2
for EU action on gender equality for the period 2006-2010:

The Commission's roadmap outlines six priority areas

— equal economic independence for women and men;

— reconciliation of private and professional life;

— equal representation in decision-making;

— eradication of all forms of gender-based violence;

— elimination of gender stereotypes;

— promotion of gender equality in external and development

policies.

For each area, priority objectives and actions are identified. The
Commission cannot achieve these objectives alone, as in many
areas the centre of gravity for action lies at Member State level.
Thus, the roadmap represents the Commission's commitment to
driving the gender equality agenda forward, reinforcing partner-
ship with the Member States and other actors.

2.1.3
In order to improve governance for gender equality, the
Commission also sets out a number of key actions and commits
itself to monitor progress closely.

2.2 General comments

2.2.1
The EESC welcomes the Commission's political will to
keep gender equality high on its agenda for the period 2006-
2010. It appreciates President Barroso's personal commitment
to its adoption and agrees with the importance of involving all
stakeholders in the implementation of its priorities.

Gender equality is a fundamental

2.2.2
right, a value
common to both the EU and its Member States and a necessary
condition for the achievement of the EU's objectives of growth,
employment and social cohesion, which also constitute the
main bulwarks of the Lisbon Agenda. The EESC supports the
Roadmap's strategy based on the dual approach of gender
equality mainstreaming and specific actions.

Progress made by women, including in key areas such
2.2.3
as education and research, are not fully reflected in women's
position in the labour market. The EU simply cannot afford not
to maximise on its human capital. At the same time, demo-
graphic change leading to low birth rates and a shrinking work-
threaten the EU's political and
force are challenges
economic role.

that

23.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 318/175

The EESC also welcomes the Commission's objective to
2.2.4
address and eliminate gender-based violence and trafficking.
These are barriers to the achievement of gender equality and a
violation of women's human rights.

EESC welcomes the setting up of the European Institute for
Gender Equality, however
adequate human and financial
resources are necessary for its effective functioning (2).

2.2.5 Moreover,
the Commission's
the EESC supports
commitment to address global challenges and to safeguard and
integrate women's human rights into all relevant EU external
policies, actions and programmes.

2.3.3.1.3
The Committee acknowledges that common priori-
ties in the co-ordination of employment policies are necessary
to increase the female participation rate. In assessing National
Reform Programmes,
the Commission needs to ensure that
gender gaps are given priority and that the necessary action is
taken.

2.3 Specific comments to Part I: Priority Areas of Action for Gender

Equality

The EESC believes

2.3.3.1.4
that national governments,
national equality bodies and the social partners of all Member
States have a clear obligation to ensure that the pay systems
they put in place do not lead to pay discrimination between
women and men.

2.3.1
Success in tackling the priority areas identified by the
Roadmap requires integrated strategies as well as ensuring that
gender equality is explicitly addressed and included in all poli-
cies, at the appropriate EU and national levels. EU mechanisms
and resources need to be strengthened to ensure effective gender
mainstreaming at national
in the Gender
Equality Pact agreed upon in the Spring Council 2006.

level, as set out

2.3.3.1.5
The Committee is concerned that certain new form
of work organisation can result in exploitation of workers and
in precarious jobs often carried out by women, and firmly
believes that a balance should be struck between flexibility and
security.

2.3.2
Concrete monitoring of the Roadmap needs to be done
in cooperation with the Member States. Although indicators to
monitor progress already exist,
to develop
comparable data at EU level.

is important

it

The EESC believes that gender based reliable and comparable
data relating to obstacles to employment
for women with
disabilities is crucial for their integration in the labour market.

2.3.3 Achieving Equal Economic

Independence

for

2.3.3.2 Eliminating the gender pay gap

Women and Men

2.3.3.1 Reaching the Lisbon employment targets

2.3.3.1.1
for a 60 %
The Lisbon employment targets call
employment rate for women by 2010. Despite the commit-
ments undertaken by the Member States with regard to the
Lisbon Strategy, the Growth and Jobs Agenda and the existence
of a binding set of EU rules concerning gender equality in
employment, serious gender gaps still remain. There is a lower
employment rate for women (55.7 % against 70 % for men)
which is much lower (31.7 %) for older women between 55
and 64 years of age. Women also have a higher unemployment
rate than men (9.7 % against 7.8 %). The gender dimension of
the Lisbon strategy for jobs and growth must be strengthened.

2.3.3.1.2
The Commission focuses on compliance with equal
treatment legislation, effective use of the new Structural Funds
and making work pay in particular through the individualisation
The
of

systems.

benefit

linked

rights

and

tax

to

2.3.3.2.1
Despite EU legislation on equal pay, women earn
an EU average of 15 % less than men (3) and this gap is
decreasing at a much slower pace than the gender employment
gap. Its persistence results from direct and indirect discrimina-
tion against women and structural inequalities, such as segrega-
tion in sectors, occupations and work patterns, career breaks for
child and other family care, access to education and training,
biased evaluation and pay systems and stereotypes. Technical,
human and financial resources are not necessarily available in
all Member States.

In its forthcoming communication on the gender
2.3.3.2.2
pay gap and the involvement of social partners, the Commission
should ensure that there is greater consistency in national legal
provisions on equality rights, together with ease of access to
avenues of redress.

(2) EESC opinion of 28.9.2005 on the ‘Creation of a European Institute
for Gender Equality’, rapporteur: Ms Štechová (OJ C 24, 31.1.2006,
pp. 29-33).
URL:. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?textfield2=24&year=2006&-
Submit=Search&serie=C.

(3) Unadjusted gap.

C 318/176

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.12.2006

2.3.3.3 Women entrepreneurs

2.3.3.3.1 Women constitute on average 30 % of entrepre-
neurs in the EU. They often face greater difficulties than men in
starting up business and in accessing finance and training. The
EU Entrepreneurship Action Plan needs to be further imple-
mented and made more gender-sensitive. Promoting entrepre-
neurship, information and initial support to facilitate the crea-
tion and development of new firms using a variety of techniques
including easier access to finance for start-ups are necessary.
Strategies should improve access of women to bank credits and
bank services. Furthermore,
female entrepreneurs should be
enabled to network with financial institutions in order to create
tailor-made support packages, particularly with regard to micro-
financing.

2.3.3.3.2
The national curricula should include entrepreneur-
ship education at secondary and tertiary levels, especially among
females to promote a culture of women's participation in setting
up of innovative ideas in this area. However, not all women
want to be self-employed. National curricula should, therefore,
also inform students on their rights relating to employment and
encourage them to take up work in ‘non-traditional’ sectors.

2.3.3.3.3
A specific, but integrated female entrepreneurship
policy would serve in particular to address the employment
gender gaps that exist in technical areas like engineering, ICT-
related services and skilled jobs.

The EESC proposes that strategies with regard to
2.3.3.4.3
gender equality in social protection and the fight against
poverty should be stepped up to ensure that taxation and social
security systems address the needs of women at risk of poverty,
particularly single mothers. There should also be concrete policy
proposals aimed at encouraging single parents to develop
marketable skills and to facilitate their access to employment. In
particular, there is the need to overhaul the current low differen-
tials between unemployment benefits plus supplementary allow-
ances for dependents and the national minimum wage which is
felt more acutely in some Member States.

2.3.3.4.4
In practice, the enhancement of work attractiveness
should not be limited exclusively to the remuneration package
but also to other non-fiscal incentives such as job flexibility and
training opportunities for low-skilled workers. Adequately subsi-
dised childcare facilities for those families — whether one- or
two-parent families — at risk of poverty with two and more
offspring should be provided.

2.3.3.4.5
The risk of poverty is highest among single parent
households (35 % of the EU average), 85 % of which are headed
by women. Women aged over 65 years are also at high risk of
poverty. Low-skilled women are at risk of being forced out of
work before retirement age.

2.3.3.4 Gender Equality in social protection and the fight

against poverty

2.3.3.5 Recognising the gender dimension in health

2.3.3.4.1
Social protection systems should remove any disin-
centives for women and men to enter and remain in the labour
market, allowing them to accumulate individual pension entitle-
ments. Women should be able to benefit from pension rights
and alternative models should be found to guarantee entitlement
for women. Women are still more likely to have shorter or
interrupted careers and therefore fewer rights than men. This
increases the risk of poverty, especially for single parents, older
women or women working in family-based business such as
agriculture and fisheries and the retail and manufacturing
sectors. Member States should also ensure the protection of
migrant women from exploitation in these sectors.

2.3.3.5.1 Women and men are confronted with specific
issues and practices impacting on their
health risks, diseases,
health. This includes environmental issues such as chemicals, as
tackled by the REACH proposal, and pesticides that are often
transmitted through breast feeding. Current medical research
and health and safety standards relate more to male-dominated
work areas. Knowledge and research in this field and statistics
and indicators should be further developed from the female
perspective also.

2.3.3.4.2
Strategies should be stepped up to ensure that
women at risk of poverty whether in the labour market or not
develop marketable skills that will guarantee their future finan-
cial independence (4).

(4) EESC opinion of 29.9.2005 on ‘Poverty among women in Europe’,

rapporteur: Ms King (OJ C 24 of 31.1.2006, pp. 95-101).
URL:. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?textfield2=24&year=2006&-
Submit=Search&serie=C.

2.3.3.5.2
In the context of action to improve women's occu-
pational health and safety in areas where women are most
numerous, the national strategies for health and long term care
should include integrated policies that address health standards
at work for women farmers and the health of women in
farming families generally, as well as repetitive strain in industry.
This should also include information and education for empow-
erment.

23.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 318/177

Furthermore,

increased
the EESC also calls for
2.3.3.5.3
consideration,
investigation and analysis of the impact of the
demands for caring for others and the resulting drain on
women's physical and mental health.

2.3.3.5.4
The EESC agrees with the EU gender equality objec-
tives and submits that the Open Method of Coordination should
be applied to the field of health care and incorporate gender
equality objectives and include the strengthening of preventive
programmes. In addition, there is the need to intensify gender-
sensitive initiatives that address sexually transmitted diseases
(including HIV/AIDS) and sexual and reproductive health issues.

2.3.4 Enhancing Reconciliation of Work, Pr ivate and

Family Life

The EESC recognises the importance of developing
2.3.4.1
measures, including the setting of precise targets and indicators,
to ensure the provision of childcare facilities from birth to
mandatory school age and affordable and accessible care services
for other dependent persons, as this impinges directly on female
participation in paid work. After-school services for children
throughout
life, matching the parents' working
hours should, also be introduced.

their school

2.3.3.6 Combating multiple discrimination, in particular against

immigrant and ethnic minority women

2.3.3.6.1 Women members of disadvantaged groups are
often worse off than their male counterparts. They often suffer
from multiple discrimination. The promotion of gender equality
in migration and integration policies is necessary to ensure
women's rights and civic participation to fully use their employ-
ment potential and to improve their access to education and
training.

The EESC regrets

2.3.3.6.2
that The Hague Objectives,
adopted by the European Council to be implemented in the area
of Freedom, Security and Justice during 2005-2010, do not
address the specific situation of migrant women. It acknowl-
edges the phenomenon of feminisation of migration and recom-
mends that gender be fully mainstreamed into EU policy and
actions at each stage of the migration process, in particular at
the stage of admission and integration into host societies.

Transposition and implementation of

2.3.3.6.3
existing
asylum-related instruments, in particular temporary protection
and minimum standards for reception conditions, are consistent
with the obligations stemming from international conventions
on human rights and the 1951 Geneva Convention. Moreover,
asylum policies should reflect the nature of gender-based perse-
cution of women who flee their country for this reason.

The EESC agrees with the importance of striking a
2.3.4.2
balance between personal and professional
life and acknowl-
edges that the benefits of flexible working arrangements are still
not as widely resorted to as they should be. The Committee is
concerned that certain new forms of work organisation can
result in exploitation of workers and in precarious jobs often
carried out by women, and firmly believes that a balance should
be struck between flexibility and security.

2.3.4.3
The EU has recognised the importance of achieving a
balance in private and working life for women and men (6). The
gendered division of domestic and caring tasks in the home
needs to be changed to achieve an equal sharing between men
and women. The role of men within the household needs to be
enhanced. Moreover, within the context of the current discus-
sions on the revision of the working time Directive, there is the
need to establish working timetables which are socially compa-
tible with family responsibilities.

The EESC recognises the importance of developing measures,
including the setting of precise targets and indicators, to ensure
the provision of care for children as well as for dependent
elderly and disabled.

2.3.5 Promoting Equal Par ticipation of Women and

Men in Decision-Making

2.3.3.7 The key actions set out by the Commission in this area

2.3.3.7.1
The EESC endorses the key actions set out by the
Commission, in particular where it gives priority to monitoring
and strengthening gender mainstreaming.
It agrees with the
initiatives to streamline the open method of coordination
covering, inter alia, pensions, social inclusion, health and long
term care. The main focus here must be on promoting equality
between men and women (5).

2.3.5.1
The under-representation of women in politics,
economic decision-making and in science and technology is still
not being effectively dealt with. The proposed key actions of the
situation.
Commission aim to address
However, commitment by Member states to take the necessary
measures is still very weak. Segregation is visible in both the
public and private sectors. Women are under-represented in top
level and decision-making posts in both the public and private
sector.

this undemocratic

(5) Please see point 5.2.2 of the EESC opinion of 20 April 2006 on the
Strategy for open coordination on social protection; rapporteur: Mr
Olsson (OJ C 185 of 8.8.2006, p. 87).
URL:
field2=185&Submit=Search.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOIndex.do?year=2006&serie=C&text-

(6) Resolution of the Council and of the ministers for employment and
social policy of 29 June 2000 on the balanced participation of
women and men in family and working life (2000/C 218/02).
URL:
c_21820000731en00050007.pdf.

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2000/c_218/

C 318/178

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.12.2006

The Committee is therefore recommending the intro-
2.3.5.2
duction of targets and deadlines for the attainment of equity in
order to increase female participation in all forms of decision-
making, since it believes that these could effectively boost the
representation of women in political leadership, economic deci-
sion-making, science and technology.

Trafficked women should not be subjected to invo-
2.3.6.3
luntary deportation, as they may be in danger from traffickers
in their home countries if they are forced to return. Instead they
should be granted right of residence in the country to which
they have been brought, with due safeguards against possible
abuse of such a right being introduced.

Furthermore, all European institutions should effec-
2.3.5.3
tively implement positive action measures at all
levels where
women are under-represented in decision-making in accordance
with Article 1d (77) 96 of the Staff Regulations of Officials of
the European Communities of 1.5.2004 (7). The outcome of
such positive action measures should be regularly monitored
and published.

The Committee calls for Member States to insure that
2.3.6.4
measures are implemented in order to grant women victims of
trafficking for sexual exploitation increased rights and support.
There is the need to address the escalating demand for sexual
services by increasing awareness campaign especially targeting
clients. This should be part of a wider educational initiative to
expand people's access to alternative jobs and finance.

2.3.6 Eradicating Gender-based Violence and Traf-

f icking

2.3.6.1
The Commission is committed to combat all forms
of violence. Women are the main victims of gender-based
violence. The EESC has recently addressed this issue in an own-
initiative opinion on domestic violence against women (8).
Domestic violence against women hinders their social inclusion
and in particular their inclusion in the labour market, resulting
in marginalisation, poverty and financial and material depen-
dency. There is the need for the development of a European
Action Plan on Violence against Women.

Trafficking in human beings cannot be dealt with on
2.3.6.2
its own. It is an integral component of organised crime and
requires the cooperation of all Members States for a more
consistent security policy and a common legal framework to be
able to operate effectively in this field. The Hague programme (9)
and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Orga-
nised Crime (10) define the objectives of the EU in this area. The
EESC has adopted an opinion, which stresses the importance of
an effective security protecting citizens in a free and open
society within a framework of justice under the rule of law (11).

(7) See:

http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/personnel_administration/

statut/tocen100.pdf.

(8) EESC opinion of 16.3.2006 on ‘Domestic violence against women’,

rapporteur: Ms Heinisch (OJ C 110 of 9.5.2006, p. 89).
URL:
field2=110&Submit=Search.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOIndex.do?year=2006&serie=C&text-

(9) See

http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/information_dossiers/

the_hague_priorities/index_en.htm.

Consideration should be given by Member States to
2.3.6.5
the criminalisation of the buying of sexual services or, at the
very least, to the greater protection of trafficked or otherwise
unwilling participants in the sex trade.

2.3.7 Eliminating Gender Stereotypes in Society

The EESC agrees with the Commission that

the
2.3.7.1
media play a key role in forming attitudes and behaviour. The
proposed actions covering the elimination of gender stereotypes
in education, in the labour market and in the media deal with
these issues and provide direction for Member States.

2.3.7.2 While acknowledging that,
in the case of women,
access to the media and especially to decision-making positions
in the media is still lacking, the EESC agrees that policies need
to be formulated in relation to gender equality and the media.
The EESC therefore recommends:

(a) The development of pan-European awareness actions on
zero-tolerance for sexist insults and degrading images of
women in the media.

(b) As recommended in the Directive proposed by the Commis-
sion on the coordination of certain provisions concerning
the pursuit of
television broadcasting services, Member
States should ensure that audiovisual commercial communi-
cations do not include any discrimination on grounds of
race, sex or nationality (12).

(10) See http://www.unodc.org/unodc/crime_cicp_convention.html.
(11) EESC opinion of 15.12.2005 on the ‘Communication from the
Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: The
Hague Programme: Ten priorities for the next five years — the Part-
nership for renewal in the field of Freedom, Security and Justice’,
rapporteur: Mr Pariza-Castaños(OJ C 65 of 17.3.2006, pp. 120-
130).
URL:. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOIndex.do?year=2006&serie=C&text-
field2=65&Submit=Search.

(c) Encouraging the introduction of gender training modules in
media-training
strong
institutions, while
mechanisms aimed at gender balance at all decision-making
levels within the media industry.

developing

(12) COM(2005) 646 final. See footnote 2.

23.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 318/179

(d) The development of public broadcasting as an independent
media tool with a public service mission to safeguard
human rights and gender equality.

The EESC agrees with the proposed action to raise
2.3.7.3
‘Democracy,
awareness through the Commission's plan for
Dialogue and Debate’ (13)
(‘Plan D’), as well as the activities
related thereto that are organised by its respective Representa-
tion Offices in the Member States.

2.3.8 Promoting Gender Equality outside the EU

2.3.8.1
cing women's rights in an international context.

The EESC supports the Commission's role in advan-

EU external and development polices must relict the
2.3.8.2
fact that women play a key role in the elimination of poverty,
and that
their economic, educational, political and sexual
empowerment affects not only them, but their families and the
community.

The EU must, furthermore, guarantee that women's
2.3.8.3
needs and perspectives are mainstreamed and monitored, at
both national and EU level, and ensure that women have
adequate access to EU financial assistance in the context of the
EU Development Aid Policy.

2.3.8.4
In situations of crisis intervention, there is the need
to mainstream a gender perspective in the European Security
and Defence Policy (ESDP) in line with UN Resolution 1325 (14)
and the European Resolution on the participation of women in
peaceful conflict resolution of November 2000.

The

2.3.8.5
European Commission Humanitarian Aid
(ECHO) policy should prioritise aid and financial assistance for
women in gender-based violence perpetrated during conflicts
periods and to seek redress through the mechanisms of interna-
tional law in the aftermath of armed conflict.

Brussels, 13 September 2006.

2.4 Part II: Improving Governance for Gender Equality

the highest political

Gender equality can only be achieved with a clear
2.4.1
commitment at
level. The Commission
promotes gender equality within its own ranks (15) and supports
a number of structures working on gender issues, which have
led to significant progress. However, major progress still has to
be achieved in the key areas identified in the Roadmap and this
requires better governance at all levels: EU institutions, Member
States, parliaments, social partners and civil society. At national
level, the support of gender equality Ministers is essential.

The EESC recommends the reinforcement of existing
2.4.2
structures at Commission level
to promote gender equality,
through improved consistency and networking systems, as well
as the strengthening of mechanisms for dialogue and consulta-
tion with organised civil society. There should be more support
with and recognition of women's organisations at national level,
as well as enhanced synergies based on the principle of partici-
pative democracy.

Furthermore,

2.4.3
the EESC advocates the setting up of
mandatory gender mainstreaming and gender awareness training
within the EU's institutional set-up.

The EESC also recommends the setting up of a Gender
2.4.4
Budgeting Working Group within the Commission's DG Budget
and the carrying out of a separate gender impact assessment of
the EU budget on an annual basis.

The EESC believes that monitoring progress in the
2.4.5
implementation is crucial to ensure that the objectives set out in
the Roadmap are reached. The mid-term review to be carried
out in 2008 should also serve to further develop appropriate
measures, if necessary, other than those in the policy areas so
leading up to 2010 and the follow-up of this
far identified,
Roadmap.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND

(13) Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European
Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of the Regions — The Commission's contribution to the
period of reflection and beyond: Plan-D for Democracy, Dialogue
and Debate (COM(2005) 494 final).
URL:
com2005_0494en01.pdf.

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2005/

(14) See http://www.peacewomen.org/un/sc/1325.html

(adopted on 31

October 2000).

(15) Annex III to the Communication.