Neilson, June
(1991)
European Community policy on the position of women and its effects upon the member states, 1958-1981.
PhD thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Abstract
The areas relevant to the position of women in society were identified and examined in the context of the European Community. Community policy initiatives for women were based upon the founding Treaties. Article 119 of the European Economic Community Treaty covered equal pay and this Article constituted the framework for women's policy to encompass eventually the domains of employment, social security, and education and training. Three Directives were enacted in the fields of equal pay, employment and social security to form a core of Community equality legislation. This legislation was backed up by financial provisions enabling the European Social Fund to be used for the purposes of training women entering or re-entering the labour market. However, not all the initiatives led to legislative success. But, by the end of the period under review, a coherent policy for women was apparent when a comprehensive action programme for women was proposed. The impact of the European Community legislation for women upon the Member States was analysed. Progress was slow and variable. To monitor national developments, the Community devised a number of methods which included working parties, studies and reports, and meetings of experts. Eventually, infringement procedures were commenced to ensure compliance from the Member States. The success of infringement proceedings was demonstrated since a number of national governments were forced to enact legislation which they might not otherwise have considered. The existence of these Directives enabled women (and men) to institute equality cases before the national courts. A number of preliminary rulings before the Court of Justice clarified and extended the principle of equal pay.
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