No L 6/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 1. 79 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 19 December 1978 on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security (79/7/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, Having fegard to the proposal from the Commis- sion (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (?), ‘ Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas Article 1 (2) of Council Directive 76/207/EEC of 9 February 1976 on the implementa- tion of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions (¥) provides that, with a view to ensuring the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment in matters of social security, the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, will adopt provisions defining its substance, its scope and the arrangements for its application ; whereas the Treaty does not confer the specific powers required for this purpose ; Whereas the principle of equal treatment in matters of social security should be implemented in the first place in the statutory schemes which provide protec- tion against the risks of sickness, invalidity, old age, accidents at work, occupational diseases and unem- ployment, and in social assistance in so far as it is intended to supplement or replace the abovemen- tioned schemes ; Whereas the implementation of the principle of equal treatment in matters of social security does not preju- dice the provisions relating to the protection of women on the ground of maternity ; whereas, in this respect, Member States may adopt specific provisions for women to remove existing instances of unequal ~treatment, (1) OJ No C 34, 11. 2. 1977, p. 3. (3 OJ No C 299, 12. 12. 1977, p. 13. (%) OJ No C 180, 28. 7. 1977, p. 36. () OJ No L 39, 14. 2. 1976, p. 40. HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE : Article 1 The purpose of this Directive is the progressive imple- mentation, in the field of social security and other. elements of social protection provided for in Article 3, of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security, hereinafter referred to as ‘the principle of equal treatment’. Article 2 This Directive shall apply to the working population — including self-employed persons, workers and self- employed persons whose activity is interrupted by illness, accident or involuntary unemployment and persons seeking employment — and to retired or inva- lided workers and self-employed persons. Article 3 1. This Directive shall apply to: (a) statutory schemes which provide protection against the following risks : — sickness, — invalidity, — old age, — accidents at work and occupational diseases, — unemployment ; (b) social assistance, in so far as it is intended to supplement or replace the schemes referred to in (a). 2.  This Directive shall not apply to the provisions concerning survivors’ benefits nor to those concerning family benefits, except in the case of family benefits granted by way of increases of benefits due in respect of the risks referred to in paragraph 1 (a). 3. With a view to ensuring implementation of the principle of equal treatment in occupational schemes, the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commis- sion, will adopt provisions defining its substance, its scope and the arrangements for its application.