European Commission adopts 1999 annual report on equal opportunities for women and men

Citation

(2000), "European Commission adopts 1999 annual report on equal opportunities for women and men", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 24 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.2000.00324fab.008

European Commission adopts 1999 annual report on equal opportunities for women and men

European Commission adopts 1999 annual report on equal opportunities for women and menKeywords European Union, Gender, Equal opportunities

The European Commission has adopted its fourth Annual Report on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the European Union (EU). The report gives an overview of the main developments and trends in gender equality policy at European and national levels in 1999 and outlines the perspectives for the year 2000. It notes that the Community strategy of combining the integration of a gender perspective into all of EU policies and programmes with specific actions in favour of women was sustained in 1999 and progress made in crucial areas such as employment, structural policies, research, education, development co-operation and the fight against violence. Significantly, commitment to equality between women and men was enhanced in 1999 with the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May. The ability of the new Structural Funds (2000-6) to promote equality between women and men is likewise a significant advance.

The report contains five sections setting out developments in the following areas:

1. 1.

   gender mainstreaming and specific actions;

2. 2.

   gender equality in the European Employment Strategy;

3. 3.

   promoting a gender balance in decision making;

4. 4.

   gender equality legislation; and

5. 5.

   a gender perspective in the European Union's external relations.

The report takes stock of the progress achieved in mainstreaming in a range of strategic areas such as employment, structural policies, research, education and development co-operation.