The gender equality policy of the European Union (EU) is founded on a uniform approach, encompassing:
- legislation,
- mainstreaming and
- specific measures, or so-called affirmative action.
Funding is also available within the scope of action programmes, principally from the PROGRESS and DAPHNE financial programmes and the European Social Fund (ESF).
The EU’s gender equality policy primarily focuses on the gainful employment market, where numerous instruments to accelerate access to the labour market and the elimination of discrimination have been and continue to be provided.
A further area of gender equality policy encompasses measures to reduce the use of gender stereotypes, thwart discrimination against women in advertising and combat violence against women. In these areas, a more consistent and effective approach is required from the EU.
A discrepancy exists between the directives on gender equality and the economic goals of the EU. Indeed, gender mainstreaming is still afforded a somewhat subordinate role within the current Lisbon Treaty and the new economic and growth strategy ‘Europe 2020’. Monetary and stability policy rules are protected by EU laws in which gender equality is not addressed. Macroeconomics is determined to be ‘gender neutral’, accordingly implying a genderless economy, in contrast to labour market policy, which certainly takes a more gender-sensitive approach in its attempt to reconcile work and family life, increase employment rates for women, eliminate the pay gap and promote women in decision-making positions.
Following the last European Parliament elections in 2009, the Standing Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality is again a driving force behind important women’s and gender-equality policy initiatives within the European Parliament. The Committee is actively involved in the present debate on the future gender equality strategy of the EU in pursuing the current Roadmap for Equality. Moreover, the Committee also advocates more consistent consideration of questions of gender equality in EU economic and external policy.
Less forceful in the meantime is the section addressing gender equality within the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. A clear shift of focus towards general diversity and non-discrimination policy has taken place within the Directorate-General, in turn placing greater emphasis on dealing with other forms of discrimination. Nonetheless, the multitude of consultative committees, groups and networks tasked with issues of gender equality and non-discrimination bundle a great deal of expertise within the Commission and the responsible Directorate-General.
An interesting aspect for the future development of gender equality policy in the EU and its member states will be the development of the European Institute for Gender Equality, which, following a lengthy and difficult process, was finally able to commence work in June 2010. Observers will be interested to note whether and in what ways the Institute succeeds in providing new impetus through its work on gender equality in the EU.
Nevertheless, the fear remains that the aim to achieve equality between women and men could become sidelined by an increasingly inconsistent policy and the additional shift of focus towards a more general anti-discrimination policy.
