The roadmap aims to, inter alia, tackle the pay gap between men and women,
support better work/life balance, eliminate violence and trafficking, support
gender budgeting and promote gender equality both within and outside the EU.
EU Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Commissioner,
Vladimír Špidla, said with view to his visit to Turkey on 4-7th March that,
while we must promote gender equality to those outside the EU, much remains to
be done inside the Union. 'Women in the EU are still not getting a fair deal,
particularly in the workplace. One in three of working women is confined to part
time work. Gender equality isn't just a good idea – it liberates people's
potential and plays a key role in making the EU more competitive. We need not
only more jobs, but better jobs and to help women into them, while ensuring both
women and men can balance work and private life.'
The roadmap sets
out six priority areas for action in the 2006-2010 period: Achieving
equal economic independence for women and men;
Enhancing reconciliation of
work, private and family life;
Promoting equal participation of men and
women in decision-making;
Eradicating gender-based violence and trafficking;
Eliminating gender stereotypes in society and;
Promoting gender equality
outside the EU.
Each objective is followed by specific key actions
designed to bring the goal nearer. Actions include increasing awareness of
gender equality in schools, promoting female entrepreneurship, establishing in
2007 an EU network of women in economic and political decision-making positions,
publishing a Communication on the gender pay gap and highlighting gender issues
during the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for all.
As agreed
at the occasion of last year’s International Women’s Day, the new European
institute for gender equality should be operational by 1 January 2007. If
approved, it will have a €52.5million budget for the period until 2013. The
institute will be a centre of excellence for gender equality issues, providing
expertise and improving knowledge. Its tasks will include raising awareness
among European citizens of EU gender equality policy, gathering and analysing
objective, reliable data that can be compared at EU level and the developing new
methodological tools.
As well as the funds for the new gender institute,
the proposed new €650 million PROGRESS programme will fund some of the
activities outlined in the roadmap. EU Structural funds and financial programmes
in various policy areas will also help to provide funding for both roadmap and
other EU gender equality activities.
The new network of national gender
equality bodies will be established under the provisions of EU gender equality
Directive 2002/73. They promote, analyse, monitor and fight discrimination on
grounds of sex in Member States, by providing assistance to victims of
discrimination and helping them to pursue their complaints.
The review
of existing gender equality legislation is in line with 'legislate less but
better' drive of President Barroso. It will ensure that all legislation is up to
date and can provide the best possible framework for ensuring equal
opportunities for men and women throughout the EU.
The roadmap was
adopted in view of the International women's day on 8 March. Find more
information on:
europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/