European Policies targeting
equality between women and men
The founding principle of the equal treatment of women and men is included in the Rome Treaty and has been defended by the European Union from its very beginning. To achieve this goal the EU has established legal (directives) and political tools and has created an institution as well as networks for the exchange of good practice. Moreover gender has been integrated into all sectors of European and national political processes as a whole.
1 - Legislation in support of equality between women and men
1. The first measures in support of gender equality aimed to reduce the differences in the treatment of men and women in the workplace in terms of wages, access to employment and training etc.
These policies were vital in the workplace notably due to continued discrimination between the sexes – this is why the EU introduced a great number of directives.
- Directive 75/117 EEC of the Council of 10th February 1975
- Directive 76/207/EEC of the Council of 9th February 1976
- Directive 97/81/EC of the Council of 15th December 1997
- Directive 2000/78/EC of the Council of 27th November 2000
- Directive 2002/73/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23rd September 2002 modifying the Council's directive 76/207/EEC
- Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 5th July 2006
2. The European Union also introduced directives that aimed to promote gender equality in the social area such as in social security, maternity and parental leave.
- Directive 79/7/EEC of the Council of 19th December 1978
- Directive 86/378 of the Council of 24th July 1986
- Directives 86/613 of the Council of 11th December 1986
- Directive 92/85/EEC of the Council of 19th October 1992
- Directive 96/34/EEC of the Council of 3rd June 1996
- Directive 97/75/EC of the Council of 15th December 1997
3. In 1997 the EU introduced a directive that harmonised procedures in the event of gender based discrimination and which applied to all areas mentioned previously.
- Directive 97/80/EC of the Council of 15th December 1997
- Directive 98/52/EC of the Council of 13th July 1998 which extended the previous directive to the UK.
2 - Jurisprudence in support of equality between women and men
In the Bilka Kaufhaus v. Weber von Hartz, C. 170/84 decision, the Court of Justice gave women the right to turn to national courts if they believed that they were the victims of discrimination even if national legislation did not make any provision for discrimination like this.
This jurisprudence harmonised women's rights across the EU.
3 - The principle of equality between women and men in all areas
The Fundamental Rights Charter of 2000 sanctioned the principle of gender equality in all areas. Now part of the Lisbon Treaty it is a constitutional value.
4 - Policies integrating equality between women and men
1. The Lisbon Strategy: specific goals for 2010 to reduce gender inequality (employment rate of 60% for women etc ...)
2. In 2006, the Strategy for the promotion of equality between men and women with a roadmap brought together six priority action areas (women's economic independence, reconciliation between professional, family and private life, equal representation in decision making processes, the eradication of violence and the trafficking of women, the elimination of stereotypes and the promotion of gender equality exterior to the EU).
3. The Strategy for equality between women and men covering the period 2010-2015 takes up themes laid down in the roadmap 2006-2010.
5 - The creation of a European institution devoted to gender equality
The European Institute for Gender Equality was inaugurated on 1st January 2007 in Vilnius.
6 - Gender equality is a horizontal priority defended in all European policies and aid
For example, the PROGRESS programme which supports the implementation of EU goals in terms of employment and social affairs devoted 12% of its budget to projects that aim to reduce inequality between women and men. This is equal to 753.25 million euros over seven years.
7 - The EU aims to counter gender inequality in the decision making process
To palliate the under-representation of women in positions of responsibility the EU is encouraging the States to adopt legislative, regulatory measures the aim of which is to promote more balanced participation between the sexes in the decision making process.
- In June 2008, the European Commission established a network to boost women in power that aims to encourage debate, the exchange of information and good practice.
- In this context on 1st March 2011 Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship met with European business leaders to debate women's participation on companies' boards.
