Equal opportunities between men and women: 4th action programme 1996-2000

OBJECTIVE: establishment of a Fourth medium-term action programme for Community reflection and exchange concerning all initiatives that promote equal opportunities between men and women in the Union and its Member States. SUBSTANCE: The Fourth framework programme promoting equal opportunities is scheduled to run for five years (1 January 1996 - 31 December 2000) and aims to promote the integration of equal opportunities in the drawing-up, implementation and monitoring of all policies, measures and actions applied at Community, national, regional and local level. - It has the following six priority objectives: . to mobilise representatives from the economic and social sectors with a view to achieving equal opportunities; . to promote equal opportunities in a changing economy; . to reconcile the family life and professional life of men and women; . to promote equal participation of men and women in decision-making; . to strengthen the conditions for the exercise of equal rights; . to support the implementation, monitoring and assessment of actions designed to achieve the above objectives. - The programme is to achieve these objective by way of the following measures: . methodological, technical and financial support for projects which facilitate the development of good practice in the economy and industry, the reconciliation of family and professional life and the participation of women in politics; . the monitoring of relevant policies together with studies on the economic, legal and social aspects of equality; . the monitoring of actions implemented under the programme; . the exchange of information and experience acquired at Community level concerning equal pay and equal treatment as well as the results of the actions undertaken. - The actions must be consistent with those carried out under the Structural Funds and other Community measures associated with professional training. - The Commission is proposing to implement this programme in conjunction with the Member States and all interested parties. In particular, it will consult the Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men. - Part of the initiatives provided for in the programme shall be open to the EEA countries, the associated CEECs, Cyprus, Malta and certain other Mediterranean countries which are in partnership with the Union. - An interim report will be drawn up on the implementation of the programme, to be followed by a final report. - In the financial statement annexed to the proposal, the Commission envisages allocating a total of ECU 60 million for the implementation of the programme over five years. �