Overview of European initiatives and regulations

• Author: Haq, G.; Ortega Hortelano, A.; Tsakalidis, A.; Gkoumas, K.; Pekár, F.; Balen, M. van; Grosso, M.
• Pages: 8-10

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2 Overview of European initiatives and regulations

2.1 Gender equality in the EU

During earlier years of t he European Community, the concept of equal opportunities for men and women was

limited to the principle of equal pay. However, the issue of e quality of opport unity between men and women

was later enshrined in the objectives of the Treaty of Amsterdam (1999) (European Commissio n, 1999).

In 1996, the EC set out its strategic approach to mainstreaming equal opportunities between men and women.

It aimed to incorporate equal opportunities into all European policies and activities (European Commissi on,

1996) such a s t he 1998 new employment strategy (European Commission, 1997). This was followed by a

number of policy initiatives related to gender equality. The following sections highlight those initiatives that are

relevant for transport research and innovation.

2.2 Promoting gender equality within the European science and research

The EC included the concept of equal opportunities in its Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) for research and

technological development (1998-2002), where it emphasised the participation of women in European research

(European Commission, 1998). In a 1999 Communication (COM(1999)76) on women and science, the EC aimed

to increase female participation in Community programmes and set up a women an d science working group.

Within the FP5 key action on sustainable mobility and Intermodality, researchers were encour aged to:

“… take into account the needs of women, where they are specific, when carrying out research on the impact of

transport policies and projects. In research relating to accessibility, fares policy and urban public transport,

assessment will include the question of whether different social groups, including gender, are fairly treated and

havefairaccesstothesesystems”(EuropeanCommission,1999).

On 20 May 1999, a Council Resolution on women and science recognised the need for equal opportunities and

increased female participation in research (Council of the European Union, 1999). In the same year, the

Commission established the Helsinki Group on Gender in Research and Innovation as an advisory group to assist

in tackling disadvantages women faced in the fields of research and science (ERA, 2019).

Gender equality was included as one of the strategy points of the Science and Society Action Plan presented in

Communication COM(2001)714 final. Specific actions were proposed to: establish a European platform of

women scientists; monitor progress towards gender equality in science; mobilise women scientists in the private

sector; and promote gender equality in European science (European Commission, 2001). The same principles

were also included in the 2002 EC Society Action Plan (European Commission, 2002).

The 2005 Commission staff working document “Women and Science: Excellence and Innovation - Gender

Equality in Science” provides an overview of women an d science actions implemented at the European level. It

focuses on EC activities to promote gender equality through the research framework programmes and the

progress made in increasing the participation of women in science (European Commis sion, 2005).

The EC GreenPa per entitled “The European Research Area: New Perspectives”(CO M(2007)0161) and the

accompanying staff working document (SEC(2007)0412) sets as one of the European Resea rch Area’s (ERA)

targets the creation of equa l opportunities and attractive working conditions for both men and women in

research careers (European Commission, 2007).

The EC report“The G ender Challenge in Research Fun ding  Assessing t he European National Scenes” focuses

on research funding across Europe, mainly from a gender perspective, and analyses the gender dynamics within

the funding processes and the role of key funding organisations in promoting gender equality in research

(European Commission, 2009a).

In 2009, the EC published a report on gender equality and education, entitled “Gender, Education, and

Employment  lessons from research fo r policy makers”(EuropeanCommission, 2009b). A year later in May

2010, the Council of the European Union in its conclusions concerning various issues related to the development

of the ERA recognised the negative effects of gender stereo typing in the work environment and acknowledge d

the work of the Helsinki Group (Council of the European Union, 2010).

In the EC reportentitled“RealisingtheNewRenaissance– Policy proposals for developing a world-class research

and innovation in Europe 2 030 – Second report of the European Research Area Board – 2010”,theERA Board

recommends that half of all scientists and research policy makers, across all disciplines and at all levels of the

science system to be women by 2030 (European Commission, 2010a).