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

- OBJECTIVE: establishment of a Fourth medium-term Community action programme for the promotion of equal opportunities between men and women which is designed to incorporate the principle of equal opportunities in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of all Community and Member State policies and measures, while respecting the latter's various responsibilities. - COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 95/593/EC on a medium-term Community action programme for equal opportunities between men and women (1996-2000). - SUBSTANCE: The programme is scheduled to run for a period of 5 years (01.01.1996-31.12.2000) and is to pursue the following 6 priority objectives: . to promote the principle of equal opportunities in all policies and actions (principle of "mainstreaming"), . to mobilize representatives from the economic and social sectors with a view to achieving equal opportunities; . to promote equal opportunities in a changing economy (education, training, the job market); . to reconcile the family life and the 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. - The programme is to achieve these objectives by way of the following measures: . in order to permit the exchange of information and experience on good practice, methodological and/or technical and/or financial support is to be given to projects which facilitate the identification and development of good practice and the transfer of information and experience, . the examination and monitoring of relevant policies and the carrying out of studies in this area, . the rapid dissemination of the results of initiatives which have been launched and of all relevant information. The annex to the decision specifies the measures for which Community support could be given and the criteria for the selection of such actions. As regards the support of projects, the Community's financial contribution may, in general, constitute a maximum of 60% of the project cost, or a higher proportion in certain exceptional circumstances; the other actions would receive 100% funding from the Community. - Annex: the measures eligible for support should be associated with one or more of the following areas: . "mainstreaming", by the promotion and development of methods, strategies, models and studies, . employment and professional life (mainly: education, training and continuing education, and the promotion of equal opportunities at the workplace; access and working conditions; equal pay, etc.), . promotion of equal participation of men and women in decision making, including high-level decision taking, . information and research aimed at promoting a favourable attitude towards equal opportunities, . better use of gender-based statistics. - Coherence and complementarity: the Commission and the Member States shall ensure that the actions taken within the programme are consistent and complementary with those undertaken under the Structural Funds and other Community measures associated with education and professional training, and with those measures taken by the Member States. - Implementation: the Commission, in conjunction with the Member States, shall ensure that the programme is carried out. It will be assisted in this by a management committee. - Participation of other countries: Part of the initiatives provided for in the programme shall be open to the EEA countries, the associated CCEE, Cyprus, Malta and certain other Mediterranean countries which are in partnership with the EU. - Financing: the Council has assigned a total sum of ECU 30 m for the implementation of the programme over 5 years. The annual appropriations are authorized within the limits of the budget perspectives. - Reports: an interim report on the implementation of the programme shall be drawn up by 31.12.1998, to be followed by a final report (by 31.12.2001) which is to be presented to the Council, to Parliament and to the ESC and the Committee of the Regions. - ENTRY INTO FORCE: 22.12.1995. �