| Author (Person) | Chapman, Peter |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.10, No.25, 8.7.04 |
| Publication Date | 08/07/2004 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Peter Chapman Date: 08/07/04 A DRAFT law banning sex discrimination in the supply of goods and services could unintentionally thwart efforts to make football matches less violent occasions, diplomats warned this week. The directive, unveiled last year by the then employment and social affairs commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, would make it illegal for companies to charge different prices according to the sex of the customer. But diplomats said that the law could stop football clubs charging women less to see games - a practice common in soccer-mad Italy in an attempt to dilute high testosterone levels at matches. Similar efforts to encourage women into nightclubs and bars could also fall foul of the law, the diplomats warned. "The idea is that a mixed crowd would have a calming effect," said one EU source, adding that diplomats also raised concerns about efforts to encourage men to take part in female-dominated areas - such as ballroom dancing. Dancing clubs offer incentives such as cut-price club membership or admission fees to help solve the EU-wide shortage of fleet-footed men. Dutch officials refused to reveal further details of the discussion before briefing ministers on Tuesday's (13 July) working group. Ahead of the meeting, the presidency tabled a policy paper offering little scope for changes in this area. But a Polish diplomat told European Voice that her country and several others had voiced concerns. She said she doubted that governments would agree to special exemptions for football, nightclubs or dancing. But she said Poland favoured a rejig to the directive allowing countries to make exceptions to the general rule, provided they are "appropriate and necessary". Diplomats meet again on 20 July to debate other controversial aspects of the law, including the extent to which insurers can charge different premiums for men and women. In November 2003 the European Commission presented a proposal for a Council Directive on equal treatment between men and women outside the workplace. The proposal focuses specifically on the access to and supply of goods and services. Article looks at the some of the hurdles raised by Member States as the proposal passes through the decision making procedure. Formal title of proposal: Proposal for a Council Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between women and men in the access to and supply of goods and services |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Employment and Social Affairs |
