European Union Compliance
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Map source: Copyright European Commission. In 2004, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceeded to the European Union. The 2007 EU candidate countries are Bulgaria and Romania. Turkey and Croatia are also involved in accession negotiations.
last updated 30 July 2007

Contributed by: Katri Tammekand, Estonia National VAW Monitor

All countries in the European Union or in the process of joining the European Union are required to comply with the EU Acquis Communautaire, a set of detailed laws, directives and obligations based on treaties such as the Treaties of Rome, the Treaty of Maastricht and the Treaty of Amsterdam. Annual reports by the Commission of the European Communities monitor the progress made in the implementation of the EU Acquis Communautaire. The EU Acquis Communautaire includes specific laws and requirements regarding equal treatment of women.

One important law is Directive 76/207/EEC, which defines and prohibits sexual harassment. The Directive requires the establishment of "equality" bodies in Member States by 2005. These bodies will be given powers to monitor and implement policies eliminating sexual harassment. Proposed amendments to the Directive would clearly define sexual harassment as discrimination based on sex, specify to what degree differences in treatment are permitted in the workplace, and entitle Member States to adopt positive action measures to ensure full equality. A briefing produced by the European Parliament provides more information about women's rights in the EU Acquis Communautaire.

In April 2004, Estonia made progress on meeting the Directive’s obligation by passing the Gender Equality Act. The Gender Equality Act increases alignment of Estonian legislation with EU directives by prohibiting direct and indirect discrimination and ensuring that employers and authorities promote equality between women and men. It also provides for the creation of a Gender Equality Commissioner. The statutes of the Gender Equality Commissoner entered into force on 18 March 2005, and the Commissoner took office on 3 October the same year.