Promoting equality between women and men is recognised as one of the Community's essential tasks (Article 2 of the EC Treaty). The Community must aim to eliminate inequalities and promote equality between women and men in all its activities (Article 3(2) of the EC Treaty). The incorporation of equal opportunities between women and men in all the Community's policies and actions is commonly known as 'gender mainstreaming'. From here you can access key legal and policy documents.

EU policy as regards equality between women and men takes a comprehensive approach which includes legislation, mainstreaming and positive actions. Financial support is also available via an action programme. The key objective is to eliminate inequalities and promote gender equality throughout the European Community in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 of the EC Treaty (gender mainstreaming) as well as Article 141 (equality between women and men in matters of employment and occupation) and Article 13 (sex discrimination within and outside the work place).

This brochure first explains the tools Europe uses to promote equality between women and men, and then goes on to look at the gender dimension in a number of key policy sectors, including examples of what the European Commission is doing in each area. Finally, it looks to the future and the way forward for European gender equality policy, including initiatives like the European Institute for Gender Equality. The publication is available in English, French and German.

A comparative review of 30 European Countries. The increasing labour market participation of women, changing family forms and the demographic pressure from an ageing population have made the reconciliation of work and family one of the major topics on the European social agenda. Yet countries differ in their policy responses, sometimes stressing the need for more flexible working hours, sometimes encouraging the supply of public and private services and sometimes focussing on a more equal distribution of paid and unpaid work. This report contains an overview of policies targeted towards the reconciliation agenda of the 25 EU Member States. In addition, information is provided for three EEA countries, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, and two Candidate countries, Bulgaria and Romania.

The EQUAL transnational European partners are all working to promote gender sensitive careers counselling within non-traditional careers, and have produced this booklet to share practical ideas of how to challenge barriers and overcome occupational segregation. The booklet sets the scene for careers guidance and counselling within the partner countries, and includes case studies of girls and women who have made a non-traditional career choice.