WRITTEN QUESTION No. 762/99 by Anna KARAMANOU Balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures
29. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 341/143 (1999/C 341/203) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0762/99 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission (11 March 1999) Subject: Balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures In view of the lack of progress in implementing the Council Recommendation of 2 December 1996 on the balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures, will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to remedy this situation? In view also of Article 141 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, what positive actions does the Commission intend to promote in favour of the under-represented sex (namely, women)? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (9 April 1999) The Commission has taken a wide range of measures to realise the goals laid down in the Council Recommendation of 2 December 1996 referred to by the Honourable Member. Hence, for example, the Commission has encouraged the Member States to take the necessary measures to implement the Council Recommendation by organising a seminar for senior government officials in May 1998. It has also supported actions proposed by the Member States or by non-governmental organisations designed to promote the balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures. These include a high-level conference to be hosted by the French authorities in Paris in April 1999, in which Member State ministers will be participating. Finally, the Commission has, in line with the Recommendation, requested the Member States to transmit a report before the end of May 1999 on the measures taken to implement the Recommendation. On the basis of the replies to the questionnaire circulated to the Member States, the Commission will prepare a report and transmit it to the Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee before year’s end. As regards the application of the Recommendation to its own administration, the Commission has since 1995 adopted annual targets for the appointment of women to management posts. Hence there has been a clear increase in the percentage of women over the years, notably at director level (19 female directors in December 1998 as opposed to four in January 1995) and at middle management level (heads of unit and advisers) (the percentage of women rose from 8,3 % to 11,4 % in the A category and from 28,2 % to 38,7 % in the LA category during the same period). On average women occupy 13,3 % of management posts in the Commission. The Honourable Member is also invited to consult the Commission’s answer to Written Question E-4089/98 by Mr Blak (1). As regards Article 141 of the post-Amsterdam EC Treaty, the Commission is currently studying the consequences of the entry into force of the Treaty and possible future developments. (1) OJ C 297, 15. 10. 1999. (1999/C 341/204) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0781/99 by Sören Wibe (PSE) to the Commission (22 March 1999) Subject: EU aid for company relocation Lear, the US motor vehicle components giant received a SKR 20 million subsidy when it opened a plant in Bengtfors, Sweden. The company has now decided to transfer part of its manufacturing activities to Portugal after securing about SKR 75 million worth of EU subsidies and SKR 75 million worth of tax breaks from Portugal. At least 350 people, mainly sewing machine operators, will lose their jobs at Bengtfors, where the workforce is up in arms. Should EU subsidies really be used to lure jobs away from one EU Member State to