Introduction

• Author: Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (European Commission), EY
• Pages: 15-16

EVALUATION ON THE APPLICATION OF DIRECTIVE 79/7/EEC ON THE PROGRESSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF

THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL TREATMENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN MATTERS OF SOCIAL SECURITY

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1INTRODUCTION

1.1Objective and scope of the study

The objective of the study is to conduct an external evaluation on the application of Directive

79/7/EEC on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and

women in matters of social security (hereinafter: "the Directive").

The evaluation is performed in the context of the Regulatory Fitness and Performance

Programme (REFIT)3 and follows the European Commission (EC) approach to evaluation

studies. It addresses the following evaluation criteria: effectiveness, efficiency, coherence,

relevance, sustainability and EU added-value.

Based on the results of the analysis, the study provides policy recommendations on what

kind of interventions could be considered, including possibilities for the modernisation of

the Directive to ensure the proper functioning of the gender equality principle.

The scope of the evaluation is defined as follows:

Legislation: Directive 79/7/EEC and its implementation;

Timeframe: from 1983– though the Directive entered into force in 1979 – until today.

The first available data dates back to 1983, when the first European Union (EU)

Implementation Report4 was delivered. In addition, national legislation that dates back to

the Directive’s implementation has been taken into account when relevant for the analysis;

Territory: the 28 Member States (MS), where the equal treatment for men and women in

matters of social security is to be achieved;

Stakeholders: relevant Ministries, experts/academics, national equality bodies and other

national institutions administering statutory social security schemes and, where relevant,

private companies administering statutory social security schemes covered by the

Directive.

1.2Contents of the report

This report is structured in eight main chapters.

The current Chapter oneintroduces the objectives and scope of the study as well as the

contents of the different sections.

Chapter two outlines the background of Directive 79/7/EEC, by providing an overview on the

relevant EU legislative context. It also introduces the Directive with its provisions and

intervention logic.

Chapter three sketches the evaluation questions of this study, framing them in relation to the

evaluation criteria that guided the assignment.

3 REFIT is the European Commission's Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme. Action is taken to make EU

law simpler and to reduce regulatory costs, thus contributing to a clear, stable and predictable regulatory framework

supporting growth and jobs. See http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/refit/index_en.htm

4 In order to fulfil theobligation set by the Directive, the European Commission drew up an interim report in 1983

(COM(83)793) and a synthesis report in 1988 (COM(88)769) toassess the problems raised by the requirements to

make laws, regulations and administrative provisions compliant with the Directive.