European policy

Later the Commission tentatively addressed areas that were closer to the social sphere such as parental leave and the improvement of working conditions for pregnant women. The 1979 Directive (79/7) focuses on equal treatment with regard to social security; two directives in 1986 focus on the one hand (86/378) on the equal treatment between men and women in terms of social security, the other (86/613) focuses on the protection of independent working women during their pregnancy and their maternity period.

But action is not just taken in the legislative area: work by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has also been decisive. Following work by lawyer and academic Eliane Vogel-Polsky who pleaded for the strict acceptance of article 119 in the courts focusing on the Defrenne case before the ECJ, the latter confirmed that article 119 could be applied directly in 1976. Women who believe themselves victims of unfair treatment can therefore turn to the national courts even if there is no national legislation.

Since the application of the Amsterdam Treaty the promotion of equality between men and women is part of Community work (article 2) and comprises a transversal goal (article 3). Moreover article 13 gives the Commission the right to take initiatives in view of fighting all types of discrimination, amongst other matters that are based on gender. The Fundamental Rights Charter confirms the principle of equality in all domains.

In the Commission's annual reports which it delivers to the Spring European Council (traditionally devoted to monitoring economic and social issues), the trend is to foster the integration of gender equality into the various policies and to help towards achieving the Lisbon objectives.

The Lisbon 2000 Strategy established a number of goals to achieve by 2010 including the need to address inequality between men and women on European labour markets also including the difference in remuneration between the sexes. The Strategy also established the goal of a 60% employment rate for women whilst the European average lies at 51% at present. Europe is therefore extremely active in the area of women's salaries.

To rise to these challenges the Commission started a new strategy for the promotion of equality between men and women in 2006; this includes the instruments for a new roadmap covering the period 2006-2010 and the establishment of a Gender Institute.