Workshop on Positive Action

During the workshop, importance with regard to the terminology in use was primarily emphasised. Such terminology as ‘positive action’ should always be preferred to ‘positive discrimination’. The workshop also acknowledged that affirmative action does not constitute an exception to the principle of non-discrimination but rather that the principle itself establishes limits to affirmative action. Discussions mainly focused on area of employment and under-representation. As shown in the report published by the European Network of Legal Experts in the field of Gender Equality, a wide range of systems and approaches exist. Pro-active measures such as equality plans with target-oriented measures or encouraging measures (like rewards for companies with gender-balanced programmes) are applicable to both private and public sectors. Mandatory measures are rare. Quotas in company boards were also discussed as 8 Member States (AU, BE, FR, EL, IS, IT, NL, NO) provide for such measures. In Austria and Greece, this applies to State-controlled companies only whereas in Germany it is under discussion.

Discussion paper (PDF 74 kB)
Handout presentation EM Prof. Dr. Marc Bossuyt (PDF 20 kB)
Audio recording summary workshop proceedings (mp3 3 min.)

Powerpoint presentation Dr. Goran Selanec
Powerpoint presentation EM Prof. Dr. Marc Bossuyt (PDF 26 kB)