COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 12 July 1982 on the promotion of equal opportunities for women

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNTIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to the draft resolution presented by the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),

Whereas various actions have already been undertaken at Community level to promote equal opportunities for women, in particular the adoption, by the Council, on the basis of Articles 100 and 235 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, of Directives 75/117/EEC (4), 76/207/ EEC (5) and 79/7/EEC (6) concerning equal treatment for men and women;

Whereas all these actions, including those supported by the European Social Fund, have played an important part in improving the situation of women;

Whereas, despite the efforts so far made at both Community and national level, actual inequalities in employment persist and may well become worse in the present economic and social conditions;

Whereas, in a period of economic crisis, the action undertaken at Community and national level should be not only continued but also intensified, in particular in order to promote the achievement of equal opportunities in practice through the implementation of inter alia positive measures,

Notes the Commission communication concerning a new Community Action Programme on the promotion of equal opportunities for women (1982 to 1985), which covers "the achievement of equal treatment by strengthening individual rights" and the "achievement of equal opportunities in practice, particularly by means of positive action programmes" ; Welcomes the initiative taken by the Commission;

Approves the general objectives of this communication, namely the stepping up of action to ensure observance of the principle of equal treatment for men and women and the promotion of equal opportunities in practice by positive measures ; Expresses the will to implement appropriate measures to achieve them;

Notes also the comments which have been made on the Commission communication by the various delegations within the Council and which reveal inter alia certain characteristics peculiar to national systems ; Asks the Commission to take account of them in the initiatives which it takes within the framework of its powers;

Recalls the efforts which have been and are still being made in this area in the Member States;

Notes that the Commission communication defines specific objectives and joint courses of action, most of which fall within the follow-up to the implementation of the Directives adopted by the Council in the field of equal treatment for men and women;

Considers that, with due regard to the courses of action proposed, these objectives should guide the Community and the Member States in their efforts to apply on a broader basis and to realize in practice, the principle of equal opportunities without discriminating against women whatever the economic situation obtaining;

Emphasizes the importance, to this end, of strengthening or setting up national bodies for the promotion of women's employment and equal opportunities ; Recalls the responsibilities which, in the pursuit of these objectives, also devolve upon workers'and employers'organizations;

Confirms the need to take steps to increase public awareness and disseminate information to support the change in attitudes to sharing occupational, family and social responsibilities ; Asks Member States to cooperate fully with the Commission in steps to increase public awareness;

Reaffirms the need to promote the employment of both men and women in all sectors and occupations and a more balanced representation of women at different levels of responsibility at both national and Community level ; Considers that the public sector, (1) OJ No C 22, 29.1.1982, p. 7. (2) OJ No C 149, 14.6.1982, p. 54. (3) OJ No C 178, 18.7.1982, p. 22. (4) OJ No L 45, 19.2.1975, p. 19. (5) OJ No L 39, 14.2.1976, p. 40. (6) OJ No L 6, 10.1.1979, p. 24. including the Community institutions and bodies, should set an example in this respect;

Underlines the desirability of avoiding special rules for the protection of women on the labour market and eliminating such rules in cases where originally well-founded concern for their protection is no longer justified;

Considers that account should be taken of the equal-opportunities dimension in preparing and implementing Community policies likely to affect it;

Asks the Commission to present an interim report by 1 January 1984 on progress achieved and on implementation under the new programme, based in particular on information obtained from the Member States, together with, if appropriate, suitable proposals;

Asks the Member States to send a first report to the Commission by 1 January 1985 on progress accomplished at national level ; Notes the undertaking by the Commission to present an initial survey of the action undertaken before the end of 1985.