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

In its amended proposal, the Commission adopted a limited number of the amendments proposed by Parliament. These related to the following: - inclusion of a reference to "equality of treatment" alongside the existing references to "equality of opportunities" contained in the proposal, - taking account of the decisions reached at the European Council of Cannes and at the UN's Pekin Conference, - consideration of the phenomenon of the feminization of poverty in the EU, - highlighting the importance of access to education and professional training, as well as the promotion of diversification in the professional choices available to females of all ages and access to information and structures which will enable women to exercise their rights in full, - promotion of an active partnership between the Commission, national and local authorities and female-oriented European NGOs, when drawing up the measures to be adopted, - highlighting the positive actions which the programme can take to promote the cause of women, - as regards the measures to be taken, technical and financial support should be provided for the identification and transfer of good practice in the economic, social and cultural sectors, as well as in other areas which have already been included in the programme, - the programme should also provide support for actions related to equal opportunities, by taking account of national, regional and local differences in order to maximize the impact of the measures adopted, - in implementing the programme, the Commission shall cooperate with social representatives who are involved in promoting equal opportunities, notably NGOs and the relevant authorities at EU and Member State level. �