Brussels, 19/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - Further to the adoption of the report by Kirsten Lühmann (DBB, Germany) on the proposed directive on gender equality in the goods and services sector (see EUROPE of 6-7 November 2003 and of 20 February 2004) by the executive Bureau of the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) on 10 March, the Secretary General of CESI, Helmut Müllers has criticised the fact that this proposal "does not take account of the fact that equal opportunities between the sexes is an issue in all fields". Mr Müllers regrets the fact that "such important areas as social security, education, balanced involvement in the decision-making process and the involvement of men and women in the media were expressly excluded". For this reason, continues the Secretary General, "this proposed directive should be seen solely as an extra step towards effective equal treatment between men and women" (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.12, on the Prets report at the European Parliament).