92000E2175

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2175/00

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: European social statute for housewives

The diversity of regulations relating to housewives in the various Member States fuels the argument that, in one way or another, the role of housewives will have to be regulated if the legitimate aspirations of what constitutes an important grouping within the Community are to be satisfied.

In France there exists a social statute for housewives; in Italy the government has set up a domestic-accident insurance scheme; in Spain, preferential treatment for savings intended to increase the future pensions of housewives is under discussion and in a non-Community country (Switzerland), housewives receive childcare payments and a retirement pension.

Does the Commission not think that, with a view to uniformly regulating the current situation of housewives in the various Member States, a European social statute for housewives should be proposed, incorporating all the aspects which should be regulated in order to consolidate the social dimension of housewives within the European economic environment?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

The Honourable Member refers, in his question, to the present position of housewives in the Member States. He asks whether a European social statute for housewives should be proposed with a view to uniformally regulating the current situation, which varies considerably from one Member State to another.

While the Commission recognises the important contribution housewives make to their families and society in general, the powers of the European Union are very limited in the field of family law.

Where the status of housewives is concerned, I would point out that, in 1987, the Commission submitted a proposal for a Directive(1) completing the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in statutory social security schemes. It provided for individual entitlement to social security, as an alternative to derived rights, and also covered housewives.

This proposal was not adopted by the Council in the end, despite the favourable opinions of the Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee.

The Commission intends to look into this question, in connection with the new strategy for modernising and improving social security in Europe.

(1) OJ C 309, 19.11.1987.