Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs

Gender equality and non-discrimination

Photo: Tomas Andersson/Folio

Anti-discrimination directive

In July 2008 the Commission presented a proposal for a directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The aim is to combat discrimination in areas of society outside the field of employment by ensuring the same level of protection against discrimination irrespective of the grounds of discrimination. The Community law protection against discrimination on grounds of sex, race or ethnic origin is currently more far-reaching than the corresponding protection when the grounds of discrimination are religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
 

Self-employed activities directive and maternity leave directive

In October 2008 the Commission presented a proposal for a directive on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity and assisting spouses. At the same time, a proposal was made to repeal Directive 86/613/EEC on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity, including agriculture, in a self-employed capacity, and on the protection of self-employed women during pregnancy and motherhood.
 
The Commission’s ambition is to make it easier for women to start and run a business and to improve the position of assisting spouses. The backdrop to the proposal is that the implementation of the present directive has not worked very well and the position of assisting spouses has hardly improved. The European Parliament has therefore called upon the Commission to review the present directive, in particular to improve the position of assisting spouses in agriculture. In order to adopt a decision on a new proposal, the Council must reach agreement with the European Parliament.
 
Work is also in progress at present on amendments to a directive (92/85/EEC) that concerns measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding (the Maternity Leave Directive).
 

Gender equality and growth (Lisbon post 2010)

In the autumn of 2009, focus will be directed on the importance of gender equality for employment and economic growth. To ensure growth and development, the EU must become better at making use of the potential of both women and men. This should be reflected in the next EU growth strategy, which will follow the previous Lisbon strategy.
 
Sweden will hold a conference in Stockholm in October aimed at strengthening the gender equality dimension in continued EU cooperation to promote economic growth, increased employment and enhanced competitiveness. The conclusions from the conference and other relevant reports will provide the basis for Council conclusions that are expected to be adopted in December 2009.
 

Council follow-up of UN action plan for gender equality (the Beijing Action Platform)

The Council conducts an annual review of how the EU Member States and institutions are implementing their commitments under the 1995 UN action plan for gender equality, also known as the Beijing Action Platform. Since 1999, the country holding the Presidency has developed indicators and progress reports in areas such as women and men in decision-making positions, reconciling professional and family life, gender pay differentials, violence against women and women and armed conflict. The indicators are also used to follow the development of gender equality at EU level. The current statistics for each indicator are presented in the Commission’s annual gender equality report to the European Council.
 
As the country holding the Presidency, Sweden will compile a follow-up report in 2009 that will present developments in the EU over the past five years in the areas included in the Beijing Action Platform. The report will be discussed by the Council, which is expected to adopt Council conclusions in December.
 
 

From healthcare abroad to working conditions

Meeting around three times a year, this Council addresses issues such as working conditions, increased equality, patients’ access to treatment in other EU countries, and strengthened consumer legislation. The items on the agenda determine which ministers meet. During the first month of the Swedish Presidency, this configuration meets for informal meetings in Jönköping, first with the health ministers, then with the ministers for employment and social security.

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