Opinion of the Committee of the Regions 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
Date: 2006-12-06
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: decision-making, domestic violence, gender equality, governance, participation of women, position of women, working life

10.3.2007

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the Commission to the
the European Economic and Social Committee and the
Council, The European Parliament,

Committee of the Regions A Roadmap for equality between women and men 2006-2010

(2007/C 57/07)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

Having regard to 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;

Having regard to the decision of the European Commission of 1 March to consult it on the subject, under
the first paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to the decision of its Bureau of 25 April 2006 to instruct its Commission for Economic and
Social Policy to draw up an opinion on this subject;

Having regard to its Opinion on Women and Poverty in the European Union (CdR 151/2005 fin);

Having regard to its Opinion on Modernising Social Protection for More and Better Jobs — a comprehen-
sive approach contributing to making work pay (CdR 94/2004 fin);

Having regard to its Opinion on the Proposal for a Council Directive on Implementing the principle of
equal treatment between women and men in the access to and supply of goods and services (CdR 19/2004);

Having regard to its Opinion on the Process of drawing up a Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Euro-
pean Union (CdR 327/1999 fin);

Having regard to the stated wish of the European Commission to advance gender equality on the basis of
the Roadmap for Gender equality and of the CoR to give practical meaning to the values and aims of this
Roadmap, and in view of the fact that 2007 has been dedicated as the Year of Equal Opportunities for All;

Having regard to its Draft Opinion CdR 138/2006 rev. 2 adopted on 20 October 2006 by its Commission
for Economic and Social Policy (Rapporteur: Ms Claudette Abela Baldacchino, Deputy Mayor, Qrendi
Local Council, MT/PES);

unanimously adopted the following opinion at its 67th plenary session, held on 6 and 7 December
2006 (meeting of 6 December).

1. The Committee of the Regions' views

Targets for the Committee of the Regions

Priorities for the Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the Regions has identified the issue of
1.1
gender equality as one of
the top priorities for 2006. The
launch of a roadmap for gender equality concerns the basis of
the European social model. Promoting equal opportunities and
combating all forms of discrimination are among the CoR's key
policy priorities.

Concrete proposals

should now follow on how to
1.2
achieve gender equality and improve the situation, particularly
of women in the member states, in particular in the context of
the year of equal opportunities for all 2007. The gender pact,
agreed to by the governments of several member states, like the
gender equality road map, sets out a number of targets and
aims, but concrete proposals are now urgently needed on how
these policies can be implemented. However, the nature and
effect of the measures should be sustainable, and, in the context
of the gender equality roadmap 2006-2010, should run over a
longer period.

1.3
Gender equality has to come to be universally espoused
as a desirable objective for citizens using the services provided
by local and regional authorities and a central pillar of policy
for governments and politicians of all persuasions. Regional and
Local authorities have a key role to play in this respect because
they are closest to their citizens and to the issues that concern
them. Therefore they must help to set a positive example of
non-discrimination,
in particular also in their role as major
employers in the EU and as key providers of services which
have a direct impact on gender equality (see below).

1.4
Thus, local and regional authorities should act as cata-
lysts, as supporting and facilitating bodies. Their prime objective
is to strike a balance between genders. Therefore all those who
need it are to be supported with the necessary means to
strengthen their position in society and to gain access to the
labour market.

To adhere to this, the CoR must ensure that there is poli-

1.5
tical commitment for:

1. Decentralisation of Roadmap Objectives

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2. Enabling conditions to reconcile family and work commit-

ments

3. A robust and well-enforced legal framework

4. Gender Equality in Decision-Making

5. Changing cultural norms — Equality

The Committee of
the Regions, and the local and regional
authorities it represents, are ready to make their contribution to
realising these objectives through concrete action. This should
be done with a view to the year of equal opportunities for all —
2007, but the nature and effect of the measures should be
sustainable, and, in the context of the gender equality roadmap
2006-2010, should run over a longer period.

General Remarks on the Six Priorities of the Roadmap

The CoR insists that in these efforts, a strong emphasis
1.9
must be given to involving the regional and local level. Moni-
toring developments at the levels closest to the citizens and
exchanging best practices are key to maximise the impact of the
Institute. To this end, the Gender Equality Institute should be
looking into ways to de-centralise its activities and should be
given the necessary means to do so.

1.10
Another key aspect to improve gender equality policy at
EU level is the need to improve governance of the EU institu-
tions working in this field. This concerns in particular the
the
improvement of coordination between different parts of
Commission to strengthen the implementation of gender main-
streaming across policy areas. It also requires efforts to improve
training and education for officials as well as for trainers and
educators at all levels to sensitise them to gender equality issues.
This should include the language used in all documents, particu-
larly that referring to women as minorities, making such docu-
mentation more reflective of a gender neutral regime.

the initiative of

The CoR welcomes

the European
1.6
Commission to launch a new roadmap for equality among
genders which follows a series of other documents setting out
the general aims of European policy to achieve gender equality.
In a previous opinion (1) the CoR has expressed the need for a
coherent and inclusive strategy to combat gender inequalities
throughout the European Union. Gender equality is a funda-
mental right and a common value, it is not subject to any nego-
tiations or restrictions. It does require, however, also concrete
political action at all levels of governance to be realised.

1.7
It is generally agreed by the European institutions that
the success of the European project depends on the ability of
the EU and its institutions to address people's concerns at grass-
root level. Hence the success of the Roadmap depends greatly
on the ability of EU institutions to mobilize to its advantage the
intimate expertise and resources of regional and local govern-
ments in its implementation. There are a number of examples
of successful local and regional level equality initiatives that are
worth disseminating. This appears to be lacking from the
present Roadmap strategy.

Improving Governance for Gender Equality

The CoR welcomes the Roadmap vision to support the
1.8
European Institute for Gender Equality. The CoR would like to
follow the debate on the exact mandate for this new agency and
how it is supposed to translate the general policy aims into
concrete action. The Committee of the Regions stresses the need
for reliable and comparable scientific data on the situation
regarding gender equality at the different levels of governance,
and believes that the Institute for Gender Equality will have an
important function as a tool to create networks for the collec-
tion and exchange of such data. It also believes that another
important function of this institute would be to monitor gender
education policies and practices across the EU and to make
recommendations and offer suggestions for improvement.

(1) CdR 151/2005 fin; Opinion on Women and Poverty in the European

Union.

Decentralisation of Roadmap Objectives

A re-examination of the hierarchy of the priority areas
1.11
as defined by the Commission should be considered. An effec-
tive roadmap focus on both economic and social equality to
address the glaring inequalities that still exist today in gender
participation in decision making and political
life generally.
There is a growing understanding across Europe that gender
equality is vital for Europe's economic well-being as well as
being an important goal in its own right. For example, despite
the fact that Europe today boasts a standard of living that is a
model for the rest of the world, it is also true that not every-
where in the EU has economic well-being been translated into
gender equality or greater well-being for women. For this reason
it is important to stress that it does not follow automatically
that economic well-being will automatically result in gender
equality. A direct route is needed, as well as the necessary
means,
if Europe is to reach its final destination of gender
equality.

Regional and Local Authorities, being closest to the
1.12
people and responsible for most of
their important social,
educational and economic aspects of their daily lives, have the
capacity to translate the values and structures inherent in the
Roadmap into effective reality. The European Commission, too,
recognises this in its endorsement of the European Charter for
Equality of Women and Men in Local Life, which was drawn up
by the CEMR within the context of the European Commission's
Fifth Community Action Programme. The values of
the
Roadmap must become an integral part of policies being imple-
mented at Regional and Local level. The aim to eliminate gender
stereotypes in education, training and culture and the strength-
ening of governance for gender equality can be best achieved at
this level as much as the effective monitoring of the process.

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There is tendency for institutions of the EU, National,
1.13
Regional and Local
level to discuss gender issues merely in
terms of statistics. While reliable and comparable statistics are
useful and necessary to understand today's situation, there is a
danger that statistics may be used to justify policies which are
mere ‘tokenism’. It is therefore necessary to ensure the accurate
interpretation of statistics in order to translate them into appro-
priate concrete action. A breakdown of statistics by gender will
allow for a better evaluation of data and the current impact, or
lack of, gender policies being pursued across the EU and at
Regional and Local Government levels.

Enabling conditions to reconcile family and work commitments

1.14
It also appears that it would be at the Regional and
Local level that new funds and other initiatives can be employed
effectively towards the implementation of the values and the
provision of the necessary structures for the realization for the
Roadmap. The development of ‘Social Community Plans’ can be
a management tool to assist Regional and Local authorities to
examine the needs of the local community, and based on scien-
tific research, address the needs of
targeted disadvantaged
groups.

It is clear that the attainment of the Lisbon objectives
1.15
required the contribution of both sexes, not least women. This
includes their participation in the labour market, greater family
responsibility to be assumed by men, and the possibility for
both men and women to reconcile family and work commit-
ments, which is likely to have a decisive impact on the future
demographic development in the EU.

1.16
In order to achieve this, one crucial aspect is the need
for effective measures that would encourage men to assume an
equal share of family responsibility, and for better and more
childcare facilities which are accessible and affordable for those
who need use them. Many EU Member States need to make
greater efforts to achieve the Barcelona 2002 targets in this
respect and they should work closely with their local and
regional authorities towards this goal.

1.17
The value of the long term political objectives would
depend on the drawing up of concrete policies, with appropriate
funds, where every member of the community would be appre-
ciated and benefits. Alongside, new initiatives to eliminate
gender stereotypes in working, private and political
life also
need to benefit and be encouraged.

1.18
The CoR believes that the fundamental task is to ensure
that concrete opportunities exist which would make gender
equality a reality. It is the existence of opportunities that will
ultimately make the difference. The market is concerned with

profits and pricing policies, but also with the quality of provided
services. Gender equality can only be achieved when essential
services, that is good quality services, are available to all citizens.
The social agenda of the EU should consider these aspects.

A robust and well-enforced legal framework

1.19
It is now several decades ago that Europe agreed on
equal pay legislation. Today we are still a long way from
equality (2). There must be a strong political commitment by the
EU institutions to enforce already existing legislation/directives,
even to the extent of taking court action, against Member States
which continue to ignore present and future legislation/direc-
tives. The EU must take note of present circumstances and work
from EU member states to gender
for a firm commitment
equality. The gender equality has to become a real priority in all
Member States. This would also increase EU's position when
addressing gender issues in international fora.

1.20
The same is true also for the urgent need to reinforce
action against human trafficking. Regional and local authorities
must be helped to combat the scourge of human trafficking and
the economic abuse of irregular immigrants. Human trafficking
has become a problem of vast proportions and must receive
attention quickly. Attention is also required to ensure that illegal
immigrants, but especially women and children, held in deten-
tion have
respected. The
Committee of the Regions will make it its aim to work to
encourage and increase greater cooperation among its members
in the fight against these abuses. This will increase the effective-
ness of EU cooperation against these grievous crimes which
inflict extreme suffering and hardship and are an affront to
human dignity. It will also provide a stronger base for interna-
tional cooperation at all levels of governance, which should be
increased.

their dignity and their

rights

integrity. The most

involves disseminating

Sex-related violence is usually a matter of male violence
1.21
against women. This is a serious societal problem and a threat
to women's and children's health, welfare and lives. It is a crime
against the fundamental right to life, security, freedom, dignity
and physical and emotional
important
and
preventive measure
working actively on values and attitudes. By working actively for
greater equality we can create societies in which boys and girls
are given the same chances and rights, one in which girls and
women are not subjected to male violence. Local and regional
authorities, which are the level closest to citizens, have a major
responsibility in these areas, but they also have a lot of experi-
ence, with best practice and programmes targeting both the
victims and the perpetrators of crime.

expertise

(2) Gurmai, Z. (2006). Roadmap has no fast lane. PES Statement.

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Gender Equality in Decision-Making

To achieve genuine gender equality,

1.22
the problem of
under-representation of women in political and economic deci-
sion making must be tackled. Local and regional authorities
have a key role to play here because gender equality in participa-
tion in politics and in economic life should be built from the
bottom up. In this context, the CoR suggests that the idea of
quota systems should be discussed at the different levels of
governance. However quotas by themselves cannot solve the
problem of inequality and discrimination, but they may be one
element of a broader and integrated strategy to break up existing
structures which exclude women from decision making at the
moment.

Considering that

1.23
the upcoming year is dedicated to
‘Equal Opportunities for All’, the CoR must stress on Members
States the obligation to ensure parity in national delegations
represented in the CoR.

The political groups in the CoR are encouraged to take
1.24
active part in the discussion regarding gender equality. As part
of its commitment to the ‘Year’ the CoR itself should draw up a
strategy detailing how it will work with national delegations and
political groups to address the issue of gender imbalance within
the membership of the CoR.

1.25
The CoR, through its commissions, should also commit
itself in ensuring that future opinions of this body are based on
equal input and participation from both women and men and
that parity in all work of the Committee of the Regions should
be its aim.

Changing cultural norms — Equality in a Gender Neutral fashion

1.26
Local and regional authorities throughout the Member
States and non Member States vary in size but not in mission,
in their enactment dates but not in principle. Above all, they are
a change agent because they have the knowledge about local
and regional needs and are in pivotal positions to ensure that
services provided are designed around the needs
the
enhancement of the well being of their communities.

for

1.27
A key challenge lies in having an open debate for all
citizens, as this concerns both men and women, and in the
concrete steps towards gender equality.

1.28
From their end local and regional authorities should
seek to promote equality between women and men through
projects financed by either themselves or through the avail-
ability of funds by the EU at the early stages of primary schools,
even by sharing success stories achieved between different coun-
tries.

levels have the potential to
1.29
change the dominant discourse and thus the cultural norms.

Political authorities at all

This could be achieved by strategies which would include
targeting the community through educators, employers and
employees, national and international institutions and above all
the media for a more effective realisation of gender equality. In
concrete terms, this means for local, regional but also national
and EU institutions that gender equality should become an
element of all their own communication with the citizens. This
in turn requires appropriate education and training of those
responsible within the institutions, but also of media representa-
tives to sensitise them to gender issues. In the context of the
ongoing debate about the future of Europe under the Commis-
sion's plan ‘D’ for democracy, debate and dialogue, to which the
Committee of the Regions wishes to add the fourth ‘D’ for
decentralisation, gender equality issues should be included as a
crucial element of bringing Europe closer to its citizens.

2. The Committee of the Regions' recommendations

2.1
In addition to an exploration of educational, economic
and social factors, the EU would need cooperate closely with the
media and show itself willing to establish codes of practice
which, while
and creativity
leaving established freedoms
untouched, roots out those elements which defeat the priorities
set out in the roadmap. The media may be a means for dissemi-
nating the values of the roadmap but entrenched vested interests
have the potential of covertly putting obstacles in its path. Thus,
fulfilling the objectives of the roadmap may ultimately be a test
of the ability of the EU to create a European society which pays
more than just lip service to gender equality.

2.2
Democracy, to be effective and meaningful must ensure
the possibility of full participation by citizens over the final
binding decisions that touch on their everyday life. As long as
gender inequality in decision making remains, democracy within
the EU will also remain not fully attainable. CoR and EU institu-
tions must engage together to speed up the reform of demo-
cratic processes in member states and propose ethical standards
of political governance for an increasingly globalised world.
Gender equality is one such ethical standard.

2.3
The issue of domestic violence and especially of men
against women needs to be addressed also at EU Commission
level in an effort that greater cooperation between members will
facilitate prosecution of individuals accused of domestic violence
even if they have changed their country of residence.

2.4
Gender equality may well be harder to achieve until
services which allow women to take their rightful place in deci-
sion making structures are made widely available. If the aims of
the roadmap are achieved, women will have a better chance of
entering the job market and enhancing their chances of being
economically independent.

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Regional and local authorities in their role as major
2.5
employers should lead by setting high standards of gender
equality. One way of ensuring this would, in many cases, be to
ensure gender equality on recruitment panels. This is very often
ignored as a crucial element in decision making.

2.6
A further step in this direction is to seek that the CoR
should project itself as a role model to local, regional, national
and European institutions, whereby ensuring that recruitment
policies take full recognition of the understanding of gender
issues by future applicants and in sensitising current employees
even through training and retraining.

for

local

and regional government

2.7
The CoR does not have gender balance among its
membership and therefore can not be seen as a model of good
in the EU.
practice
Using 2007 ‘The European Year of Equal Opportunities for all’
as the catalyst it should work with National delegations and
political groups represented in the CoR to draw up a strategy of
how it will work towards achieving gender parity and publish
that strategy in 2007.

2.8
Other areas in which gender inequalities have a negative
impact on the attainment of agreed objectives by their tendency
to delay or obstruct full and equal women participation in every
life need to be addressed firmly. Glaring examples
sphere of
may be found in many areas of social policy, which include
health, education, social security and housing, etc., which are
not sufficiently sensitive to gender based differences.

For more family-friendly measures to ensure that women
2.9
and men alike have equal access to paid employment and
services, local and regional authorities can seek to embark on

Brussels, 6 December 2006.

partnership initiatives with private and public entities that would
seek to further access childcare facilities, for which funds could
be attained through structural funds and/or the new Progress
programme. The Committee of the Regions should serve as a
role model, both for its political structures and employees. In
order to do this it needs to become a leader in the provisions of
child care facilities given that its premises are in constant use by
its employees, associations of every sort and political people.

2.10
It is for these reasons that great consideration should be
given to the potential of local and regional authorities as they
are in a better position to implement
the roadmap while
keeping in full view the cultural and socio-economic milieu in
which it has to be implemented. This opinion is of the view that
the aims of the Roadmap cannot succeed if the process of
gender equality is not worked from the bottom-up with the full
participation of citizens at the regional and local level. In this
context, a useful reference point for all local and regional autho-
rities is provided by the CEMR's Charter for Equality of Women
and Men in Local Life, which gives a concrete structure to the
objectives of the Roadmap, in accordance with the competences
of
local and regional authorities. Indeed, Regional and Local
governments should not only be directly involved through a
decentralised roadmap. The CoR and its members must
promote, support and act as guardians of gender equality.

2.11
If agreed by the CoR's budgetary authorities, the CoR
should organise an annual Equality Forum in order to bring
together local and regional, public, private and voluntary sector
powers to engage in exchanges of methodology, expertise and
experience. Costs should be kept down in order to encourage
broad participation.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Michel DELEBARRE