EU Rights Institutions
European Institute for Gender Equality
The European Institute for Gender Equality assists the European institutions and the EU countries with integrating the principle of equality into their policies and with combating discrimination based on sex. The Institute also informs European Union (EU) citizens about this issue.
Gender equality is a fundamental right under the Treaty of Lisbon and a priority policy of the European Union (EU). However, further progress must be made in order to achieve real gender equality in the spheres of both professional and private life.
In this respect, the European Institute for Gender Equality plays a significant role in providing the expertise needed to develop gender equality policies across the EU.
Aims of the Institute
The Institute brings its technical expertise to the European institutions and the EU countries in order to help to:
promote and strengthen gender equality;
include gender mainstreaming in all EU policies and resulting national policies;
fight discrimination based on sex;
raise EU citizens’ awareness, specifically through conferences and publicity campaigns.
The Institute bases its work on objective, comparable and reliable data at European level. It is responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating this information.
It also analyses information collected from international organisations and non-EU countries. Lastly, it contributes to integrating the principle of gender equality into European external policy.
The Institute promotes the exchange of experience and dialogue between all relevant stakeholders, specifically the social partners, non-governmental organisations and research centres.
Operation
The Institute performs its tasks in an independent and transparent manner. It is led by a Management Board, with the support of a Director and is assisted by an Experts’ advisory forum. Its seat is in Vilnius (Lithuania).
In particular, it cooperates with the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training.
Application & Background
It entered into force on 19 January 2007.
ACT
Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on establishing a European Institute for Gender Equality (OJ L 403, 30.12.2006, pp. 9–17)
The successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 on establishing a European Institute for Gender Equality
It establishes the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) which assists the European Union institutions and the EU Member States with integrating the principle of gender equality into their policies and with combating discrimination based on sex.
Aims of EIGE
The institute brings its technical expertise to the European Union (EU) institutions and the Member States in order to help to:
promote and strengthen gender equality;
include gender mainstreaming in all EU policies and resulting national policies;
fight discrimination based on sex;
raise EU citizens’ awareness about gender equality and the need to address violence against women.
EIGE’s work
The institute bases its work on objective, comparable and reliable data at European level.
It is responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating information on gender equality.
It develops:
methods to improve the objectivity, comparability and reliability of data at European level by establishing criteria to improve the consistency of information and take into account gender issues when collecting data;
dialogue and cooperation with non-governmental and equal opportunities organisations, universities and experts, research centres, social partners and related bodies actively seeking to achieve equality at national and European level.
It develops, analyses, evaluates and disseminates methodological tools to support gender mainstreaming in all EU and national policies.
It carries out surveys on the gender equality situation in Europe.
It organises meetings of experts to support the institute’s research work, encourages information-sharing among researchers and promotes the inclusion of a gender perspective in their research.
It disseminates information regarding positive examples of non-stereotypical roles for women and men in every walk of life, and presents its findings and initiatives designed to publicise and build on these success stories.
To raise EU citizens’ awareness of gender equality, it organises conferences, campaigns and meetings at European level, and sets up documentation resources accessible to the public.
Operation
The institute performs its tasks in an independent and transparent manner.
It is steered by a Management Board, headed by a director and assisted by an Experts’ Forum.
Its seat is in Vilnius (Lithuania).
In particular, EIGE works closely with the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (see summary), the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (see summary), the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (see summary) and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (see summary).
Budget
Each year, the institute draws up an estimate of all the revenue and expenditure, which must be in balance. This estimate, which must include a draft establishment plan, is forwarded by the Management Board to the European Commission by 31 March at the latest. The estimate is then forwarded to the EU’s budgetary authority (comprising the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union), together with the preliminary draft budget of the EU. On the basis of this estimate, the Commission enters in the preliminary draft general budget of the EU the estimates it deems necessary for the establishment plan and the amount of the subsidy to be charged to the EU’s general budget, which it then submits to the budgetary authority.
In accordance with the multiannual financial framework for the period in question, the budgetary authority authorises the appropriations for the annual subsidy from the EU’s general budget and adopts the establishment plan.
EIGE’s budget is adopted by its Management Board and becomes final following final adoption of the EU budget. It is adjusted accordingly where necessary.
EIGE’s other sources of revenue may include payments received for services rendered, any financial contributions from international organisations or non-EU countries, and any voluntary contribution from the Member States.
Application & Background
It has applied since 19 January 2007.
Gender equality is a fundamental right under the Treaty of Lisbon and one of the EU’s priority policy areas. However, further progress must be made in order to achieve real gender equality in the spheres of both professional and private life. In this respect, EIGE plays a significant role in providing the expertise needed to support the development of gender equality policies across the EU.
For further information, see:
Our work (European Institute for Gender Equality).
MAIN DOCUMENT
Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on establishing a European Institute for Gender Equality (OJ L 403, 30.12.2006, pp. 9–17).
Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Regulation (EU) 2019/126 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 January 2019 establishing the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 2062/94 (OJ L 30, 31.1.2019, pp. 58–73).
Regulation (EU) 2019/127 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 January 2019 establishing the European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions (Eurofound), and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 (OJ L 30, 31.1.2019, pp. 74–89).
Regulation (EU) 2019/128 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 January 2019 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 (OJ L 30, 31.1.2019, pp. 90–105).
Council Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 of 15 February 2007 establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (OJ L 53, 22.2.2007, pp. 1–14).
Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women
Establishment of the EU’s Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men — Decision 2008/590/EC
It sets up a committee to ensure regular consultations and exchanges between bodies and institutions that promote equal opportunities between women and men in EU countries.
The Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men is intended to help the European Commission formulate and implement measures to promote equal opportunities for women and men. It does this by encouraging the exchange of relevant experience, policies and practices between EU countries and the various parties involved.
The Committee has 70 members with a 3-year renewable term of office comprising:
—1 representative from each EU country appointed by its government from a ministry or government department responsible for promoting equal opportunities,
—1 representative from each EU country appointed by the Commission from among the members of a national committee or body responsible for equal opportunities upon a proposal from the organisation concerned,
— 7 members representing employers’ organisations at EU level, and
— 7 members representing employees’ organisations at EU level.
The European Women’s Lobby is represented at committee meetings by 2 members as observers. Representatives of international, professional and membership organisations may also be admitted as observers following a reasoned request made to the Commission.
The Committee elects a Chairperson and 2 Vice-Chairpersons from among its members for a period of 1 year.
The Chairperson may invite any person who is specially qualified in a particular subject on the agenda to take part in the work of the Committee as an expert.
The Committee is brought together by the Commission and meets at least twice a year at the Commission’s headquarters. The Committee’s discussions are based on requests for opinions made by the Commission and on those delivered on its own initiative. They are not followed by a vote.
Application & Background
Commission Decision 2008/590/EC codifies and repeals Decision 82/43/EEC which originally set up an Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men and which was amended several times.
For more information, see Gender equality on the European Commission’s website
ACT
Commission Decision 2008/590/EC of 16 June 2008 relating to the setting up of an Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (Codified version) (OJ L 190, 18.7.2008, pp. 17–21)
Successive amendments to Decision 2008/590/EC have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated version is for reference only.
Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)
Article 214 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Article 196 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Article 214 provides the main legal basis for European Union (EU) humanitarian aid. It authorises the EU to provide assistance, relief and protection to victims of natural or man-made disasters for people in non-EU countries.
Article 196 gives the EU competence to support and complement the actions of EU countries in the field of civil protection.
The Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) of the European Commission is responsible for the delivery of aid to the victims of crises and natural or man-made disasters.
ECHO also manages the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.Most recently, in 2016, ECHO became responsible for managing emergency support within the EU.
Humanitarian aid
Based on international principles enshrined in the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid, the EU provides needs-based humanitarian assistance. Its focus is on the most vulnerable victims.
ECHO funds humanitarian aid on the basis of the 1996 Humanitarian Aid Regulation, which allows for financing of operations outside the EU to provide assistance, relief and protection to people affected by natural or man-made disasters and similar emergencies. ECHO intervenes in partnership with organisations such as non-governmental organisations; the funds, programmes and specialised agencies of the United Nations; the Red Cross and Red Crescent and EU countries’ specialised agencies.
Emergency support within the EU
Regulation (EU) 2016/369 allows the EU to provide emergency support to EU countries affected by exceptionally serious man-made or natural disasters giving rise to severe wide-ranging humanitarian consequences, such as earthquakes, floods and industrial accidents. It is to be brought into play only when other instruments prove insufficient and is designed to support and complement the actions of the affected EU country/countries.
Civil protection
ECHO is also active in the event of natural or man-made disasters both inside and outside the EU through the EU’s civil protection mechanism which seeks to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the EU and EU countries in the field of civil protection. Certain non-EU countries can also participate under specific conditions.
Its main objective is to improve the effectiveness of systems for preventing, preparing for and responding to natural and man-made disasters of all kinds within and outside the EU.
The mechanism has a 24/7 hub, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre, which coordinates operations, as well as an Emergency Response Capacity (‘voluntary pool’) which brings together a range of relief teams, experts and equipment that are kept on standby in the EU countries in which they are based.
Although its focus is on protecting people, it also covers the environment and property, including natural heritage.
Application & Background
For more information, see:
‘About EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection’ on the European Commission’s website.
MAIN DOCUMENT
Article 214 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, p. 143)
Article 196 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 135-136)
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid (OJ L 163, 2.7.1996, pp. 1–6)
Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 have been incorporated in the basic text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, pp. 924–947)
Council Regulation (EU) 2016/369 of 15 March 2016 on the provision of emergency support within the Union (OJ L 70, 16.3.2016, pp. 1–6)
EU Aid Volunteers
This European Union (EU) regulation sets up the EU Aid Volunteers initiative as a tangible expression of the EU’s humanitarian values, strengthening the EU’s capacity to provide needs-based humanitarian aid and support the resilience of vulnerable communities.
ACT
Regulation (EU) No 375/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (‘EU Aid Volunteers initiative’)
The EU Aid Volunteers initiative is designed to empower Europeans from different backgrounds to jointly demonstrate solidarity with the victims of disasters (natural disasters or provoked by human activity outside the EU). By means of disaster preparedness, reducing disaster risk and reinforcing the links between relief, rehabilitation and development, the initiative seeks to increase the EU’s capability worldwide to:
preserve lives;
alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity;
strengthen the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities;
support capacity building of humanitarian organisations contributing to effective humanitarian action.
Participants
EU citizens aged 18 or older are eligible to participate in the initiative. Citizens from a range of associated states, including candidate countries and partner countries of the EU Neighbourhood policy, may also participate. The participation is based on bilateral agreements between the EU and these non-EU countries, which also financially contribute to the initiative.
Training and deployment of volunteers
The initiative provides training and organises placements for volunteers with humanitarian organisations, based on the needs of beneficiary countries.
The training programmes prepare EU Aid Volunteers before their deployment and help them acquire specific skills and competences as laid down in the Competence Framework.
These competencies include for example:
Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships;
Developing a volunteering mind-set;
Working in a pressured environment;
Demonstrating leadership;
Achieving results.
It is planned that the deployment of EU Aid Volunteers will begin in early 2016. Volunteers will not be deployed to operations conducted in the context of armed conflicts.
Deployment contract
Before starting, volunteers must sign a deployment contract with the sending organisation. This contract includes standards such as the specification of the volunteers’ role, performance management, working conditions, expected conduct, and learning capabilities.
Volunteer sending and hosting organisations
Sending and hosting organisations must demonstrate in a self-assessment that they have a policy or practice in place, to fulfil the necessary requirements regarding candidate volunteers and EU Aid Volunteers that cover all standards and procedures as laid down in the legislation. The self-assessment will be reviewed by the Commission as part of the certification mechanism. Only certified organisations can participate in the initiative.
A complement to national and international volunteering initiatives
The EU Aid Volunteers initiative seeks to avoid duplication and to complement other EU initiatives and actions, as well as national and international projects.
Online volunteering
As an alternative to volunteering abroad, volunteers may participate in the initiative by online volunteering from home.
Budget
The EU Aid Volunteers initiative has a budget of €147.9 million for the 2014-20 period. This funding is to be used for the selection, training and deployment of the volunteers, capacity building in host organisations in beneficiary countries and support measures.
Application & Background
Act
Entry into force
Deadline for transposition in the Member States
Official Journal
Regulation (EU) No 375/2014
25.4.2014
–
OJ L 122, 24.4.2014, pp. 1-17
Successive amendments and changes to Regulation (EU) No 375/2014 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
RELATED ACTS
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1398/2014 of 24 October 2014 laying down standards regarding candidate volunteers and EU Aid Volunteers (OJ L 373, 31.12.2014, pp. 8-23)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1244/2014 of 20 November 2014 laying down rules for the implementation of Regulation (EU) No 375/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (‘EU Aid Volunteers initiative’) (OJ L 334, 21.11.2014, pp. 52-83)
Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women
Establishment of the EU’s Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men — Decision 2008/590/EC
It sets up a committee to ensure regular consultations and exchanges between bodies and institutions that promote equal opportunities between women and men in EU countries.
Key Points
The Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men is intended to help the European Commission formulate and implement measures to promote equal opportunities for women and men. It does this by encouraging the exchange of relevant experience, policies and practices between EU countries and the various parties involved.
The Committee has 70 members with a 3-year renewable term of office comprising:
—1 representative from each EU country appointed by its government from a ministry or government department responsible for promoting equal opportunities,
—1 representative from each EU country appointed by the Commission from among the members of a national committee or body responsible for equal opportunities upon a proposal from the organisation concerned,
—7 members representing employers’ organisations at EU level, and
—7 members representing employees’ organisations at EU level.
The European Women’s Lobby is represented at committee meetings by 2 members as observers. Representatives of international, professional and membership organisations may also be admitted as observers following a reasoned request made to the Commission.
The Committee elects a Chairperson and 2 Vice-Chairpersons from among its members for a period of 1 year.
The Chairperson may invite any person who is specially qualified in a particular subject on the agenda to take part in the work of the Committee as an expert.
The Committee is brought together by the Commission and meets at least twice a year at the Commission’s headquarters. The Committee’s discussions are based on requests for opinions made by the Commission and on those delivered on its own initiative. They are not followed by a vote.
Context
Commission Decision 2008/590/EC codifies and repeals Decision 82/43/EEC which originally set up an Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men and which was amended several times.
—For more information, see Gender equality on the European Commission’s website
ACT
Commission Decision 2008/590/EC of 16 June 2008 relating to the setting up of an Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (Codified version) (OJ L 190, 18.7.2008, pp. 17–21)
Successive amendments to Decision 2008/590/EC have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated version is for reference only.