28. 1. 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 20/35 COMMISSION .COMMISSION DECISION of 9 December 1982 relating to the setting up of an Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (82/43/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Whereas the application in practice of the principle of equal treatment for women and men must be encou- raged by improved cooperation and exchanges of views and experience between those bodies which have special responsibility in the Member States for promo- ting equality of opportunity, and the Commission ; Whereas the full implementation in practice of Council Directives 75/117/EEC of 10 February 1975 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women (), 76/207/EEC of 9 February 1976 on the implementation of the prin- ciple of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions () and 79/7/EEC of 19 December 1978 on the progressive implementa- tion of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security (%) will be speeded up considerably as a result of the assistance of national bodies with a network of specialized information at their disposal ; Taking account of Directive 72/161/EEC of 17 April 1972 concerning the provision of socio-economic guidance for and the acquisition of occupational skills by persons engaged in agriculture (*); Whereas the preparation and implementation of Community measures concerning the employment of women, the improvement of the position of women who are self-employed and those engaged in agricul- No L 45, 19. 2. 1975, p. 19. No L 39, 14. 2. 1976, p. 40. No L 6, 10. 1. 1979, p. 24. No L 96, 23. 4. 1972, p. 15. ture, and the promotion of equal opportunities require close cooperation with the specialized bodies in Member States ; Whereas, therefore, an institutional framework should be set up for the purpose of regular consultations with those bodies, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The Commission hereby establishes an Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, hereinafter called ‘the Committee’. Article 2 1. The Committee shall advise the Commission on the formulation and implementation of its policy to promote women’s employment and equal treatment and ensure the continuous exchange of information on experience gained and measures undertaken in the Community in the fields in question. 2. To achieve the aims referred to in paragraph 1 above, the Committee : — shall exchange information with the Commission on action taken at Community and national level and where appropriate on the follow-up to be given such action, — shall issue opinions or forward reports to the Commission, particularly in regard to the equal opportunities policy, either at the latter’s request or on its own initiative, and to this end shall promote exchanges of information on experience in Member States in sectors within its competence. 3. Procedures for the circulation of the Committee’s opinions and reports shall be determined in agreement with the Commission.