1. EU-Commission supports gender equality
Gender inequality in the EU will be tackled by 21 specific activities over the next five years. Proposed Commission activities in the ‘Roadmap for equality between men and women 2006-10’ include helping set up a European institute for gender equality, reviewing existing EU gender equality law and ensuring gender equality is considered in all policies.
The roadmap – adopted in view of the International women’s day on 8 March – 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.
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.
2. Expert Meeting on Equal Opportunities through and in Sport
As a follow-up to the European Year of Education through Sport the European Commission has held an Expert meeting with government representatives on Equal Opportunities through and in Sport. The aim of this meeting was to present and disseminate examples of good practice of participation in sports with regard to gender and people with disabilities.
A report of the conference as well as a summary of data received from Member States is available on the web site of the EU-Office of sports.
3. Political agreement on the driving licence directive – sport position fully considered
The Council of (Transport) Ministers reached a political agreement regarding the European driving licence. Common European rules will facilitate the free movement of EU drivers. A single model in credit card format will replace the more than 110 different models currently in circulation.
During the long ongoing discussion sport organisations in Europe had clearly taken position against a tightening of currently valid weight regulations for trailers in category B driving licences. This had been intended by the European Commission in its original text proposal from 2003. However Members of the European Parliament were successfully sensitised to the concerns of sport. The Council approached the European Parliament in this point and thus agreed upon the following rule on vehicle-trailer combinations in category B which even improves the current situation:
Further on trailer-vehicle combinations up to 3500 kg will still be allowed, respecting type-approval rules. Moreover there will be an option for vehicle-trailer combinations up to 4250 kg in category B if a training / test (> for combinations between 3500 and 4250 kg) has been passed.
The sport organisations concerned – which are those whose members need to tow equipment (such as boats, gliders, horses) on a trailer behind their car in order to be able to practice their sport – reacted relieved.
Following the political agreement, the formal adoption of the directive by the European Parliament will be effective later this year in a second reading. Here no amendments are expected. Then the directive would enter into force by the end of 2006 and therefore be applicable at the latest at the end of 2012.
