Date of release : 04-02-2005

Policy area : Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs

Event : Ministerial Meeting Beijing + 10

The Member States of the European Union, the accession and candidate countries, as well as Iceland and Norway, met from 2 to 4 February 2005 to discuss the future strategies regarding equality between women and men as part of the follow-up to Beijing+10.

During the press conference following the ministerial meeting, Marie-Josée Jacobs, Minister for Equal Opportunities, stated that "since 1995, the European Union has been committed to implementing equal rights and opportunities, and now has at its disposal an important framework for implementing its equality policies."

"European legislation on equality between women and men forms one of the cornerstones of the acquis communautaire", said the Minister. "The European Union has developed the most comprehensive legal framework to promote equality between women and men in developed countries." She referred to the Treaty of Amsterdam, which entrusted the Community with the task of promoting equality between men and women (Article 2) and seeking to eliminate inequality in all its actions. She also cited the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which in Article 23 recognises the principle of equality between men and women, as well as the future Constitutional Treaty which acknowledges equality between men and women as a European value and defines gender equality as an objective. "The directives to be enforced by the Member States have also helped change national legislation, and have influenced attitudes and day-to-day practice", she stated.

Marie-Josée Jacobs added that "the European Union has developed institutional mechanisms which are vital to implementing the Beijing action platform and promoting the policy on equality between women and men". She remarked that the European Union "plays a pioneering role in developing these mechanisms." National mechanisms (ministries) and other government bodies (committees, councils, competence units, etc.) have been instituted. Instruments and techniques have been developed, including the adoption of national action plans, gender training for actors at all levels of policy implementation and the integration of the gender dimension in budgetary processes.

"The European Union also plays a key role in formulating indicators aimed at implementing specific objectives regarding policies on equality between women and men in developed countries. The use of indicators and performance-evaluation criteria and the open coordination method are indispensable for both developing and monitoring policy evolution."

Marie-Josée Jacobs outlined the elements of the ministerial declaration adopted towards the end of the Conference by the Member States, candidate countries and associated partners (Iceland and Norway).

This ministerial declaration will be a key element of the Presidency’s report included on the agenda of the Employment, Social Policy and Consumer Affairs Council of 2 and 3 June 2005.

Replying to the question on the main problems facing women in the European Union, the minister cited "balancing family, professional and even political life; women’s access to the top jobs; the difference in salary between equally qualified women and men; access to professions not considered ‘typically feminine’, such as those in the high-tech sector, and domestic violence."