Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Whereas:

Commission Decision 82/43/EEC of 9 December 1981 relating to the settingup of an Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men^f1 has been substantially amended several times^f2. In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Decision should be codified.

Equality between women and men is essential to human dignity and democracy, and constitutes a fundamental principle of Community law, of the constitutions and laws of the Member States, and of international and European conventions.

The application in practice of the principle of equal treatment for women and men must be encouraged by improved cooperation and exchanges of views and experience between those bodies which have special responsibility in the Member States for promoting equality of opportunity, and the Commission.

The full implementation in practice of the directives, recommendations and resolutions adopted by the Council in the field of equal opportunities can be speeded up considerably with the assistance of national bodies having a network of specialised information at their disposal.

The preparation and implementation of Community measures concerning the employment of women, the improvement of the position of women who are self-employed and those engaged in agriculture, and the promotion of equal opportunities require close cooperation with the specialised bodies in Member States.

Therefore, an institutional framework is required for the purpose of regular consultations with those bodies,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: