THE DEVELOPMENT OF EU EQUALITY POLICIES - BUREAUCRATIC EXPANSION ON BEHALF OF WOMEN

This article critically evaluates the impact of European Community equ al opportunities policies on behalf of women. It is argued that the Eu ropean Commission, supported by the European Parliament, women's organ izations and European Court rulings, has consciously sought to extend the scope of Community legislation and policies in this sector. The ar ticle highlights the various strategies used by the Commission in purs uit of this objective, including the cultivation by the Commission of a number of policy networks which are actively involved in the formula tion and monitoring of EU equal opportunities policies. A central them e of the article is the growing opposition to further EC legislation i n this sector among employers and some national governments. In this s ituation, the Commission has been forced to adopt alternative 'soft' p olicy instruments.