Gender equality: framework strategy, work programme for 2001

The committee has adopted the report by Mrs Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL, P) on the communication from the Commission on the Work Programme for 2001. It regrets that the fact that the communication was not forwarded to the European Parliament in sufficient time to be fully debated, since such a debate could have led to the adoption of specific improvements for the current year. Moreover, in view of the imprecise nature of the document, the committee asks the Commission to provide detailed information on the actions planned in the five areas for intervention set out in the framework strategy. The rapporteur calls on the Commission to play a more active role in assessing compliance with the resolutions, recommendations and directives that have already been adopted, especially as regards the equal participation of men and women in work and family life. The Commission should also forward assessments of the impact, in terms of sexual equality, of the policies in which equal-opportunities issues are not mainstreamed. Finally, before the end of the year the Commission should submit a communication on the integration of gender mainstreaming into the new programming documents for the Structural Funds. The report urges the Commission to present the 2002 Work Programme in good time, so that the results of the debate within the European Parliament can enhance the content of the programme. �