WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1541/98 by Concepció FERRER to the Commission. Equal opportunties policy
C 13/42 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 1. 1999 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (4 June 1998) Regulation (EEC) 2220/85 (1) lays down common detailed rules for the application of the system of securities for agricultural products. In order to take account of the importance of the respective conditions for the release of a security, distinction is made between breaches of primary, secondary or subordinate requirements. The loss of 15 % of the security is a general flat rate which is considered to be a proportional and administrative feasible consequence for non-compliance with a subordinate requirement. The rules further provide for a flat rate forfeiture of 15 % increased by a percentage per day by which the time limit has been exceeded, only where an obligation to respect the time limit for fulfilling a primary requirement has not been complied with. The field of application of these rules is limited to the common agricultural policy. Since these rules already provide for the necessary proportionality the Commission sees no need for introducing further flexibility. (1) OJ L 205, 3. 8. 1985. (1999/C 13/059) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1541/98 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission (18 May 1998) Subject: Equal opportunties policy Since 1975, the Commission has operated a policy of equal opportunity for men and women, with the objective of eradicating the existing inequalities. The European Parliament, fully conscious of the importance of the issue, has undertaken numerous initiatives, calling inter alia for the revision of the 1986 directive with a view to the introduction of a statute for the spouses of self-employed workers › an initiative which, like many others, has not been taken up by the Commission. In this connection, does the Commission have any plans to revise this directive? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (19 June 1998) The Honourable Memberís question refers to Council Directive 86/613/EEC of 11 December 1986 on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity, including agriculture, in a self-employed capacity and on the protection of self-employed women during pregnancy and motherhood (1). Given that this Directive seems not to have had the impact originally hoped for, the Commission, in the context of the fourth medium-term Community action programme for equal opportunities for women and men (1996-2000) (2), took action to organise two round tables in 1997. These round tables took stock of possible measures for improving the situation of the spouses of self-employed workers. As a result of the discussions which took place at these round tables, the Commission opted for a dual approach. Firstly, it will try to target its measures more effectively and, secondly, it undertakes to look into how the various Community policies can be made to interact with optimum effect. The purpose is to improve arrangements and legal instruments aimed at or affecting assisting spouses. (1) OJ L 359, 19. 12. 1986. (2) COM(95) 602 final