Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-29-Speech-1-120"
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"en.20040329.12.1-120"2
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"Commissioner, Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I should like to express my support for Mrs Prets’ report, which is of major importance to women. Indeed, non-discrimination between persons is one of the common principles of the EU and its Member States. We are not asking for money, as many seem to suggest; what we want is respect for European values and for the treaties. Nor – contrary to certain people’s frequent apparent accusations – are we asking for special privileges.
Parliament’s opinion must not be drawn along party political or partisan lines, but must be a political act in the cause of greater respect for gender equality. We had for a long time hoped for a more wide-ranging directive, encompassing numerous fields in which to promote gender equality. The directive before us, however, is somewhat limited, yet is very important for equality between persons, and in itself represents a step forward. We expect that this directive will bring greater solidarity and equality between the sexes.
I should like to emphasise that we must oppose any discrimination based on criteria over which people have no control, such as sex, race, ethnic background and age. This proposal for a directive does not target the calculation of premiums according to risk, but is solely concerned with the inclusion of sex as a factor in this calculation by the insurance companies. Excuse me, but I am a woman and I do not believe that my gender constitutes a risk. Other factors connected with lifestyle, irrespective of gender, can be taken into account in the calculation of certain types of insurance. I should also like to underline that the right to equality between women and men is an individual right that belongs to both women and men as individuals and not as members of a group.
There are those who put forward arguments designed to alarm our female citizens. Before I make a quick synopsis of the possible implications of the directive, I must emphasise that possible, not probable, reductions or increases in certain areas of insurance will only be applicable to new policies and not, as some would have us believe, to existing ones. Furthermore, not only does this directive concern women, it also concerns men. It will therefore affect insurance premium calculations for men, as well as other areas covered by this directive, namely access to and supply of goods and services. Equality in the access to and supply of goods and services is essential. Even today, in our civilised societies, discriminatory practices remain commonplace. It is normal to see posters specifying that an apartment can only be rented either by men or women; and to see places or services that are only accessible to one of the sexes.
We have previously debated the subject of equal treatment between women and men in the field of cooperation and development. The report concerned, which was intended to make it possible to strengthen the role of women and to combat discrimination between men and women in third countries, is an example that we must follow here, in our own back yard.
There are those whose amendments are aimed at removing all of the directive’s substance. I hope that this will not happen when it comes to the vote, and that we will approve this report. I also hope that the EU and the Member States will put this directive in place and enforce it. While EU law lays down the principle of equal treatment between women and men – and a directive has already been adopted to this end – this principle has always proved difficult to implement in practice. Good will is all very well, but there is still disparity between men and women in the job market. Such inequality, however, is now criticised as a hindrance to European competitiveness and to achieving the Lisbon objectives, as stated in the Commission’s latest report on equality between men and women.
Mr President, Commissioner, I hope that during the coming legislature, the Commission will table a directive that plugs the gaps of non-discrimination between women and men in fields not yet covered. I especially hope that tomorrow Parliament will send a strong and clear signal affirming non-discrimination and the equality of women and men."@en1
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