COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 22 June 1994 on the promotion of equal opportunities for men and women through action by the European Structural Funds (94/C 231/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

1. RECALLS that the principle of equal opportunities for men and women on the labour market is an objective of the European Union and that structural action must contribute to the achievement of that objective, within the meaning of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 24 June 1988 on the tasks of the Structural Funds and their effectiveness and on coordination of their activities between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments (1);

2. RECALLS that the adoption of measures intended to support the promotion of equal opportunities for men and women on the labour market shall be undertaken in accordance with the responsibility of Member States arising from the rules in force concerning the Structural Funds;

3. RECALLS that the promotion of equal opportunities for men and women on the labour market is one of the four measures under Objective 3 throughout the European Union, as provided for in Article 1 (1) (d) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4255/88 of 19 December 1988 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the European Social Fund (2);

4. RECALLS that women experience serious and particular difficulties in the labour market;

5. CONFIRMS its wish that the declared principle of equal opportunities for men and women should be promoted, in particular through all the structural measures taken in the Member States;

6. INVITES the Member States:

(a) to contribute towards ensuring that due account is taken of promoting the principle of equal opportunities for men and women on the labour market in measures co-financed by the European Structural Funds, in particular the European Social Fund;

(b) to contribute to the adoption of appropriate measures to support the promotion of equal opportunities for men and women on the labour market in the measures financed by the European Structural Funds so as to enable women to take advantage of the prospective benefits on an equal footing with men;

(c) to help to ensure that specific measures targeted at women are laid down with appropriate financial appropriations with the aim of improving the position of women, and to promote at local, regional, national and transnational level, equal opportunities for men and women in every sector of economic activity and in all areas linked directly or indirectly to the labour market, by making use, in particular, of the achievements of the Community initiative NOW;

(d) to use every appropriate means to inform, mobilize and encourage competent bodies and social and economic partners, within the meaning of Article 4 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88, so that full account is taken of the dimension of equal opportunities for men and women in measures co-financed by the European Structural Funds;

(e) to use every appropriate means to define and promulgate the policy of promoting equal opportunities for men and women through the action of the European Structural Funds;

(f) to help to ensure that the present point is implemented, within the existing national monitoring and assessment structures.

7. INVITES the Commission:

(a) to continue its efforts to put into effect the policy of promoting equal opportunities for men and women through action by the European Structural Funds, in particular by the European Social Fund and Community initiatives;

(b) to facilitate implementation of this policy by means of technical assistance, in particular within the framework of the principle of partnership;

(c) to take all appropriate measures to further this policy;

(d) to take account of the objectives mentioned in point 6 when implementing Community initiatives.

(1) OJ No L 185, 15. 7. 1988, p. 9. Regulation as amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/93 (OJ No L 193, 31. 7. 1993, p. 5).

(2) OJ No L 374, 31. 12. 1988, p. 21. Regulation as amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2084/93 (OJ No L 193, 31. 7. 1993, p. 39).