Brussels, 07/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - In her speech last Thursday to the European Parliament's committee on social affairs and employment, which was holding its yearly discussion on setting the agenda on European social policy, Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou announced "an autumn heavy on the social affairs". The Commissioner will make a proposal around November on the issue of protecting workers' data, a subject on which the committee on article 29 (internal market) and the European social partners have given a positive opinion, indicated Antonia Mochan, the Commissioner's spokesperson. At the end of November, Ms Diamantopoulou will publish a communication taking account of the situation for Member States in terms of managing working time. "We have made progress in the field of health and safety in the workplace", said Anna Diamantopoulou, stating that a strategy had been set, and that she hopes for agreement at the Social Council of 20 October in Luxembourg on the exposure of workers to electromagnetic waves and fields. Work on modernisation of the regulation on co-ordinating social security systems should be finished within the deadline set by the Council of the end of this year, she continued. On the enlargement of the EU, Ms Diamantopoulou stressed the importance of transposing the Community acquis into the legislation of the future Member States. "We are working very closely with these countries, but I do not hold out much hope for progress in this field before May 2004", she said.
Lastly, the Commission confirmed its intentions of proposing a directive to combat discrimination against women outside the workplace but, she added, it will be limited to access to goods and services and will take account of companies' needs, whilst ensuring that equality of treatment for men and women is
observed.
The Commissioner's spokesperson added that as for sexual discrimination in the media, "there is no legal basis", adding that "Anna Diamantopoulou deplores this form of discrimination and is delighted that she has raised a debate on this sensitive dossier (see EP public hearing, EUROPE of 13 September, p.13-14).