This amended proposal for a Council decision presented by the Commission concerns the Programme relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality (2001-2005). The main amendments incorporated into the Commission's initial proposal include the following:
- reinforced links between the framework strategy and the Community programme relating to it, inter alia, by stating that the first objective of the programme is to assist in the implementation of the framework strategy;
- the spelling out of the role of the programme in supporting gender equality in the applicant countries;
- further clarification has been included of the need for consistency and complementarity with activities under other Community programmes and initiatives, including the programmes DAPHNE, STOP, the fight against poverty and social exclusion and the research programme and the social agenda;
- the role of non-governmental organisations and the social partners in the programme has been highlighted and the Commission will make the relevant information available to them;
- recognition of the importance of strengthening the capacity of key players involved in promoting gender equality, facilitating networking and promoting the synergy among the different networks;
- in the annexes, further clarification has been added regarding the examples of actions to be implemented by the programme under the different strands;
- finally, recognition of the significance of gender equality of recent Council texts in the area of employment and reference to the declaration and platform for action adopted at the UN Fourth Conference on Women.�