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Gender Equality in European Policies
Stéphane COOLS Assembly of European Regions
(AER) Angra do Heroismo, Terceira
(Açores) November 15-16, 2007 www.aer.eu
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
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The AER Who are we? ? An independent
network of European regions, founded in 1985 ?
The largest interregional co-operation

organization in Europe ? More than 250 member
regions from 32 countries of Europe ? 14
interregional organizations as members
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
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AER Mission The AER is ? the
political voice of the regions ? the key
partner for the European and international
institutions on the core issues of regional
competence The AER promotes subsidiarity and
democratic regional structures and enables the
regions to form the essential link between Europe
and its citizens.
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
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• AER Vision
• A Europe in which
• ? Regions are recognised as pillars of
  democracy and key partners in the European
  project
• Regional governance results in greater autonomy,
  legitimacy and efficiency
• ? Exchange of experience between regions
  contributes to better mutual understanding

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AER Key Objectives ? To promote the
concept of regional democracy and subsidiarity
in Europe ? To promote and lobby for the
interests of regional government at the
national, European and international levels
? To promote excellence and develop
leadership in regional governance ? To
support regional co-operation in Europe (E.g.
Eurodyssey) ? To promote regional
diversity in Europe
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
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• AER Main Values
• ? Democratic accountability and transparency
• The AER is a democratic organization, which
  actively promotes democratic values, including
  freedom of choice, accountability and
  transparency
• ? Regionalism and subsidiarity
• All those activities best carried out at the
  regional level should be under the control of
  regional politicians
• Innovation and excellence
• We always strive to innovate rather than
  just react to the
• circumstances around us. We strive to
  develop excellence in all we
• do
• ? Equality in diversity
• The AER demonstrates respect for political,
  ethnic and cultural diversity

Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
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Statutory Bodies The political structure of
the AER comprises ? President (Riccardo Illy,
Friuli Venezia Giulia) ? Presidium Presidents
of the Committees (including Michèle Sabban,
Vice-President of the AER and Ile-de-France,
President of the Working Group on Equal
Opportunities b/w Women and Men ? Bureau
regional representatives from each country with
AER members ? General Assembly political
representatives of all member regions
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
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AER Committees ? Committee 1 Economy
Regional Development ? Committee 2 -
Social Policy Public Health ? Committee 3 -
Culture, Education Interregional
Co-operation
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Committee 1 Economy and Regional
Development Cohesion policy, economic
development, innovation and research, employment,
new technologies and e-government, knowledge
society, rural development, agriculture, GMOs,
renewable energies and energy efficiency,
environment, quality regional produce, public
transport and transport corridors, tourism
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
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Committee 3 Culture, Education and
Interregional Co-operation Culture,
education, training, youth, media, cultural
heritage, cultural diversity, regional languages,
GATS, Regional Partnerships, Eastern Southeast
Europe, Southern Mediterranean, decentralised
co-operation, co-operation with international
organisations
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Committee 2 Social Policy and Public
Health Social cohesion, social services, equal
opportunities (men and women, disabled,
minorities), migration and mobility of workers,
domestic violence, demographic change, public
health, hospital management, drugs and alcohol
abuse, natural disaster response, emergency
planning
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• Equal Opportunities b/w Women and Men
• 2 working meetings in 2007
• ? Brussels (BE) and Timisoara (RO)
• 80 participants, 30 regions, 22 countries
• ? Information, exchange of experiences and
  debates, project building and visits to womens
  associations

Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
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AER Priorities on Gender Equality
(Barcelona 2002) I. Democracy grounded in
parity in European Regions. II. Elimination of
gender related stereotypes in society (basic
foundation of misogyny and homophobia) III.
Achievement of equal economic independence for
men and women IV. Eradication of sex-related
violence and trafficking in human beings
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
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• The EU and Gender Equality
• EU policy on equality between women and men a
  comprehensive approach that includes
• Legislation,
• Gender mainstreaming,
• Positive actions and financial support (via an
  action program)
• Key objective to eliminate inequalities and
  promote gender equality throughout the European
  Community
• in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 of the EC
  Treaty (gender mainstreaming), Article 141
  (equality between women and men in matters of
  employment and occupation) and Article 13 (sex
  discrimination within and outside the work
  place).

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• DG EMPL
• Employment, Social Affairs Equal Opportunities
  Directorate-General (DG)
• Two Units deal with Gender Equality issues
• The "Equal Opportunities for Women and Men
  Strategy and Program" Unit
• The "Equality of treatment between Women and Men
  Legal Questions" Unit

Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
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Improving governance for gender
equality Important steps undertaken in
2006 - European Institute for Gender Equality
(Vilnius 2008) - Roadmap for Equality btw Women
and Men 2006-2010 - Pact for Gender Equality
(European Council) - PROGRESS
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• The Roadmap for Equality btw Women and
  Men 2006-2010
• 6 priority areas for EU action on gender
  equality for the period 2006-2010
• I. Equal economic independence for women and
  men
• II. Reconciliation of private and professional
  life
• III.Equal representation in decision-making
• IV. Eradication of all forms of gender-based
  violence
• V. Elimination of gender stereotypes
• VI. Promotion of gender equality in external and
  development policies.

Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
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• Economic independence
• Reaching the Lisbon employment targets 60
  female employment rate.
• 2005 Women - 56.3, Men - 71,3
• Eliminating the gender pay gap Women make 15
  less than men
• Women entrepreneurs
• 32 of managers are women
• Management boards 1 woman / 10 men (50 biggest
  companies).
• Combating multiple discrimination, in particular
  against immigrant and ethnic minority women

Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
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• Reconciliation of Work, Private Family
  Life
• Flexible working arrangements for both women and
  men
• Employment rate of women having a child -15
  pts.
• 32.9 women, 7.7 men have part-time jobs.
• Increasing care services are needed.

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• Promoting Equal Participation in
  Decision-Making
• Women's participation in politics
• 33 in European Parliament
• 24 on average in National Parliament
• 8 women out of 27 European Commissioners
• 9 women out of 74 Directors general and Deputy
  Directors general in the EU Commission
• Women in economic decision-making

Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
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of elected women Council /
Parliament Government Sweden 48
41 Finland 42 60 Spain 37
41 Belgium 35 20 European
Parliament 33 - National Parl. (aver.)24
- Portugal 26 12 UK 20
25 AER 19 20 Azores 17.3
9 Greece 14 15 Cyprus 14
0 Romania 11
0 http//ec.europa.eu/employment_social/women_men
_stats/index_en.htm
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
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2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for
All seeks to make people in the
European Union more aware of their rights to
equal treatment and to a life free of
discrimination - irrespective of gender, racial
or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability,
age and sexual orientation
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• Activities organized around four 4
  objectives
• Rights Raising awareness on the right to
  equality and non-discrimination and on the
  problem of multiple discrimination
• 2) Representation Stimulating debate on ways to
  increase the participation of groups in
  society which are victims of discrimination
  and a balanced participation of men and women
• 3) Recognition facilitating and celebrating
  diversity and equality
• 4) Respect Promoting a more cohesive society

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F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
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Timisoara Conference (2007)
European Year of Equal Opportunities for all in
Romania Mrs. Sorina VLAS, State Secretary and
President of ANES, Agentia Nationala pentru
Egalitatea de Sanse (ANES) in charge of
implementing the program in Romania.
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
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• Romania
• Sexist stereotypes in society
• Segregation
• Low representation of women in politics and
  administration (management)

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F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
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• Romania
• Round table with the mass-media
• Seminar for spiritual leaders
• Competition for High-School Students
• Saptamina Diversitatii

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F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
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Timisoara Conference (2007)
Prostitution and trafficking Mrs. Adela DINU,
Psychologist and Director of the Association for
the Promotion of Women from Romania Mr. Vasile
MOLDOVAN, Psychologist, APFR Mrs. Mariana
PETERSEL, President of the Association Generatie
Tanara (Young generation) Mrs. Rodica NEGREA,
Director of DG Social Affairs and Childrens
Protection
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
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AER Observatory on Migrant Women I.
Experts network II. Web Portal Display examples
of good practice Links and useful addresses QA
(Forum) Main themes (Timisoara
Declaration) Hearings III. Training Seminar(s)
on Micro-credit IV. AER Award for Project
Recognition Will reward a woman who has been
successful in using micro-credit.

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F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
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More information on EU and Equal
Opportunities between Women and
Men http//ec.europa.eu/employment_social/gender
_equality/index_en.html 2007 European Year of
Equal Opportunities for all http//ec.europa.eu/e
mployment_social/eyeq/index.cfm AER activities
on Equal Opportunities between Women and Men
http//www.a-e-r.org/main-issues/equal-opportun
ities.html
Assembly of European Regions, 6 rue Oberlin,
F-67000 Strasbourg, Tel. [phone],
www.a-e-r.org