Brussels, 16/02/2004
The ETUC strongly supports the Commission's draft directive on gender equality in the supply of goods and services which will be discussed by the women's rights committee of the European Parliament this week.
For the ETUC, this draft directive is a step in the right direction towards achieving equality between women and men in Europe. The aim of the proposal is to eliminate gender based discrimination as well as harassment and sexual harassment in relation to the access to and supply of goods and services. It touches upon key issues which have a direct impact on the life of all women across Europe (harassment, pension schemes, life insurance, health insurance, housing).
ETUC welcomes the draft directive all the more since no community action has been taken so far to prohibit sex discrimination outside of the labour market, in contrast to the action adopted in 2000 to prohibit racial discrimination in a wide range of areas outside employment, including access to all goods and services available to the public.
Although the ETUC regrets that the proposed Directive has a limited scope focussing on the provision of goods and services only, it strongly supports the proposals in these areas and especially the prohibition of the use of sex as a factor in the calculation of premiums and benefits for the purpose of insurance and related financial services. Prohibiting unequal treatment between women and men in this area really boils down to a political choice that women, both as citizens and consumers expect European governments to make. The ETUC therefore urges the swift adoption of this draft Directive without any further weakening.