Equal opportunities for women and men in the European Union

European Commission Directorate-General For Employment Social Affairs And Inclusion

Description

Annual Report 1997
Social policy
Fundamental rights

Sujets

• Egalitarianism
• Women's rights
• Sociologie, société et politique

Informations

• Publié par: EUROPEAN-COMMISSION-DIRECTORATE-GENERAL-FOR-EMPLOYMENT_SOCIAL-AFFAIRS-AND-INCLUS
• Nombre de lectures: 7
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 29 Mo

Extrait

Equal Opportunities
for Women and Men in the European Union
Annual Report 1997
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Employment & social affairs
European Commission Equal Opportunities
for Women and Men in the European Union
Annual Report 1997
Employment Ik social affairs
Equality between women and men
European Commission
Directorate-General for Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs
Unit V/D.5
Manuscript completed in March 1998 The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the European Commission,
Directorate-General for Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs.
A short version of this report is available free of charge in 11 languages from the Representation of the
Commission in your Member State.
A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed
through the Europa server (http://europa.eu.int).
Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1998
ISBN 92-828-3931-1
© European Communities, 1998
Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged.
Printed in Italy
PRINTED ON WHITE CHLORINE-FREE PAPER FOREWORD
This is the second Annual Report of the European Commission on "Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the
European Union". The first Report, covering developments in 1996, presented a general overview of current activities and
issues. It reviewed progress on the main lines of action set out in the Fourth Medium Term Community Action Programme
on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men. In addition, there was a strong focus on the UN Fourth World Conference
on Women at Beijing and on the commitments made there by the European Union and the Member States.
The 1997 Report essentially follows the same structure. In its opinion on the 1996 Report, the European Parliament had
recommended that these reports be used to promote and develop analytical work, to follow-up on ongoing developments and
to raise awareness of emerging issues. The 1997 Report has sought to take on board the Parliament's views in this regard. I
would urge those readers who are seeking an analysis of current problems and practices to pay particular attention to the
lengthy appendix to the main report. This comprises six chapters. The first chapter analyses progress in developing the policy
of mainstreaming at European and national levels. Chapter two presents new trends in employment and in particular draws
on the new European Employment Sttategy agreed at the extraordinary European Council held in Luxembourg in November
1997. Chapter three is devoted to progress in the reconciliation of work and household life. A fourth chapter analyses recent
progress in the field of decision making. Chapter five outlines new legal instruments available to promote equal opportunities.
Finally, there is a review of developments in Member States in pursuit of the commitments made during the Fourth World
Conference in Beijing.
This appendix contains a wealth of material which highlights both the progress made and the gaps which persist in equal
opportunities between women and men. I hope that it will serve as a useful resource to researchers, activisists and policy
makers in this field.
As will be seen in the Report, 1997 saw a number of developments - for example the new Amsterdam Treaty; the placing
of equal opportunities at the very heart of the new Employment Strategy; and ongoing progress on mainstreaming - which
augur well for the future. I hope that future annual reports will record how the potential created by these developments has
been turned into real achievement, to the benefit of the women and men of Europe.
Pddraig Flynn CONTENTS
FOREWORD - Pádraig Flynn
Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the European Union
Annual Report 1997
[Report adopted by the European Commission on 13 May 1998 (COM(98) 302 final)]
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5
SECTION 1 MAINSTREAMING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 11
SECTION 2 WOMEN AND MENIN THE LABOUR MARKET 14
SECTION 3 LIVING AND WORKING IN EUROPE -THE CARE AGENDA 17
SECTION 4 PROMOTING A GENDER BALANCE IN DECISION-MAKING 19
SECTION 5 EQUALITY RIGHTS - PROGRESS IN 1997 22
SECTION 6FOLLOW-UP TO THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION 24
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION SERVICES 27-140 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Commission considers that these aspects EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
of the new Treaty are to be welcomed, particular­
ly because they raise the status of the principle of
equal treatment and secure the basis for future
initiatives on a number of fronts.
This Annual Report on Equal Opportunities
for Women and Men in the European Union pre­
sents an overview of the main developments New Employment Strategy
which have had an impact on equal opportunities
In November 1997, there was agreement by
at Community and at national level during 1997.
Heads of States and Governments at the special
While important issues arose across a range of
Jobs Summit in Luxembourg to a new European
areas, three developments deserve to be particu­
employment strategy. The Summit recognised
larly highlighted:
that the position of women on the labour market
merits particular attention. • the Amsterdam Treaty was agreed with new
powers relating to equal opportunities;
It is partly by achieving a higher participation
rate of women in the labour market that the • the Member States jointly decided to put in
European Union can contribute in a decisive place a new employment strategy, for immedi­
manner to the employment growth that it needs
ate implementation, in which equal opportuni­
to secure its future, maintain its prosperity and
ties is an explicit and important component;
social systems. The Jobs Summit recognised at
• progress was made in integrating equal oppor­ the highest level that equality of opportunity is a
matter of economic interest. tunities for women and men into other policy
areas, building on the commitments as regards
The establishment of the new employment
mainstreaming.
strategy means that progress on equal opportuni­
ties in the labour market will be scrutinised at the
highest level every year from now on. Equal Opportunities
Subsequently, in December 1997, the Council in the Amsterdam Treaty
adopted employment guidelines for 1998.
1997 saw the adoption of the Amsterdam
These guidelines set out targets and objectives
Treaty. In 1998 the process of ratification com­
in four areas: entrepreneurship, employability,
mences. This Treaty has confirmed the impor­
adaptability in the labour force and workplace
tance of equal opportunities in the European
and equal opportunities.
integration project and has opened up new possi­
bilities fot advancement. Equality between The Member States will submit action plans by
women and men has always been a founding April 1998 in which they detail the action they
principle of the successive Treaties and is con­ are taking to implement the guidelines. The
firmed as such in the new Article 2 of the new European Council will carry out a first review in
Treaty. Article 3 assigns to the Community the Cardiff in June 1998. A joint evaluation of the
duty to eliminate inequalities and to promote plans will be undertaken by the Commission and
the Council for consideration at the Vienna equality in all its activities - this is the underpin­
Summit in December 1998 by the Heads of ning that is needed to advance further on the
States and Governments. mainstreaming strategy.
New Article 13 will permit appropriate action
Mainstreaming to combat all discrimination, including discrimi­
nation based on sex and sexual orientation.
Mainstreaming - the strategy of integrating the
Article 141 extends the scope of the former equal opportunity dimension into all major poli­
Article 119 and gives equality of treatment cy areas - saw significant progress during 1997.
between women and men a specific legal base.
This provision deals with key aspects relating to
employment and occupation. It also confirms the
right of Member States to take measures provi­
ding for specific advantages in order to make it
easier for the under-represented sex to pursue a
vocational activity or to prevent or compensate 'Arricie 141 of the future EC Treaty incorporates and extends
Article 6§3 of the Social Protocol. for disadvantages in professional careers.' EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EQUALITY PROVISIONS IN THE AMSTERDAM TREATY
Article F
The Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule
ofUw, principles which are common to the Member States.
Article 2
The Community shall... promote... a high level of Employment and social protection, equality between men and women, the
raising of the standard of living and quality of life, and economic and social cohesion and solidarity among Member States.
Article 3
In all activities referred to in this Article, the Community shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promo