Methodological framework

• Author: Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (European Commission), EY
• Pages: 35-42

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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4 METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK

The study relies on desk and field research as detailed in the following sections.

4.1 Desk research

The desk research relied on the available documents at EU and nati onal level in the

field of social security. Furthermore, it included relevant literature on the national and

European legal framework of reference, previous studi es on the topic and national

implementation reports submi tted to the European Commissi on by Member States as per

Articles 8 and 9 of the Directive.30

4.1.1 Literature on gender equality in social security

As regards gender equality in social security matters, th e selected literature focused on

the evolution of national social security systems. An initial in put on the importance given

to the gender dimension in public policies came from the analysis of recent reforms

implemented in social securit y systems, particularly as concerns the factors impacting

gender gaps.

This preliminary insight found confirmati on in the extended literature review on the topic,

as presented in Annex 9.3. This includes academic articles, scientific papers, economic

studies carried out by the CESifo Group31 and by Eurostat, and the experts’ reports

published by the European Commission, by the EU Council and by other r elevant

international organisations – e.g. the OECD,32 the International Labour Organization

(ILO).

Among the main sources, the Commission's European Network of Legal Experts in

Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination33 Report of 2010 34 provided information on

direct and indirect discrimination in the statutory and occupational old-age pensi on

30 Article 8(2) of the Directive states that “Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of

laws, regulations and administrative provisions which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive, including

measures adopted pursuant to Article 7(2)”. The timeframe of this requirement is set by Article 9 stating that

“Within seven years of notification of this Directive, Member States shall forward all information necessary to

the Commission to enable it to draw up a report on the application of this Directive for submission to the

Council and to propose such further measures as may be required for the implementation of the principle of

equal treatment”.

31 The CESifo Group is a research group consisting of the Center for Economic S tudies (CES), the Ifo Institute

and the CESifo GmbH (Munich Society for the Promotion of Economic Research). The adopted approach

integrates the theoretically and empirically oriented economic research, with a constant attention to the

international environment.

32 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

33 The European Network of Legal Experts in the Field of Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination helps to

monitor the implementation of the EU acquis related to the principle of equal treatment between women and

men in the EU countries and to develop new legal initiatives in this specific field . For more information, please

refer to: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/tools/legal-experts/index_en.htm

34 European Commission (2010). Direct and Indirect Gender Discrimination in Old-Age Pensions in 33 European

Countries, Directorate-General for Justice Unit JUST/D/2.