Regulation of the N.C.E.O.
(Adopted at the meeting of the Presidents of the parliamentary Committees responsible for equal opportunities for women and men - 22 May 1997 and altered during the II NCEO Conference - 29 to 30 October 1998)
Background
The Conference of parlismentary Committees for equal opportunities for women and men (CCEO) was established during the Conference's first meeting, organised on the initiative of the Belgian Senate, on the 22nd and 23rd May 1997, with the support of the European Commission, in the framework of the Fourth Community Programme of Action on Equal Opportunities (1996-2000).
Objectives
-
To organise a Conference of the Parliamentary Committees responsible for equal opportunities for women and men in the Member States of the European Union and in the European Parliament with the obiect of:
- setting up structural co-operation between the parliamentary committees concerned
- stimulating communication and exchange information between the parliamentary committees
- promoting consultation on matters of common and European interest
- closely following up the European policy on equal opportunities
- drawing up a common communication strategy
-
To stimulate the development of the equality policy within parliaments so that the European dimension may be incorporated in the policy of national committees and so that role of national committees may be appreciated at the European level.
-
To undertake qusntitative and qualitative research work on the roles and activities of the parliamentary committees responsible for equality, in order to define, on a scientific basis, an integrated European vision enabling the mission of these bodies to be evaluated and the impact on their work calculated.
Work Plan
Initially, the Conference is being organised with the support of the European Commission, in the framework of the Fourth Community Action Programme for equal opportunities for women and men (1996-2000).
During the development phase (1997), emphasis will be laid on the organisation of administrative structures, an inventory of the parliamentary committees, the setting up of a structure of mutual exchange of information and on the organisation of an initial conference, co-ordinated by the Belgian Senate.
During the consolidation phase (1998-2000), emphasis will be laid on the institutionalisation of the Conference.
The objective of the project is to achieve, after the year 2000, an autonomous functioning of the Conference.
Regulation
The Conference is the meeting forum of the Parlinmentary Committees for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the Parliaments of the EU Member States and the European Parliament, forming a network which will be the motor for implementing equal opportunities, through mainstreaming and positive action in favour of equality between women and men.
-
The Conference will be held once a year.
-
The Presidency will be held, in turns, by the EU Member States' parliaments. The Conference Presidency will be carried, after the development phase, that finishes in 2001, by the EU Presidency.
-
The Parliamentary Committee which holds the CCEO Presidency in the 2nd semester has to:
- organise the yearly Conference;
- organise a Bureau meeting, formed by the Presidency Trolka and the European Parliament;
- assure the publication of quarterly newsletters, update and put
the CCEO Web Site fully operational.
-
The conclusions, published by the Presidency will be the result of the EU Member States consensus acknowledge by the Presidency in the plenary session of the Conference.
-
The revision of this regulation will be obiect of a written proposal submitted by one or more competent Parliamentary committees, addressed to all the other competent Parliamentary committees of the Member States of the EU and to the EP. The proposal shall be put on the agenda of the first Conference following the submission of the proposal. Adoption of the revisod proposal shall be conduoted through consensus.
