Karamanou (PSE) , draftsperson of the opinion of the Committee on
Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities. – (EL) Madam President,
the Commission proposal for a directive on the right of citizens to move freely
is, without doubt, an important step in removing the unjustified technical
obstacles that persist even in united Europe. The proposed amendments submitted
by the European Parliament have of course improved the Commission’s proposal
significantly. The amendments submitted by the Committee on Women’s Rights
and Equal Opportunities aim to bring about a number of improvements to reinforce
the free movement of women, taking account of the specific problems faced
by women and the principle of non-discrimination on the grounds of gender.
Unfortunately, Commissioner,
your ambition to allow European citizens to exercise their right of residence
freely and without impediment has not resulted in a text that is gender neutral
and takes account of the specific problems faced by women. The main problem
concerns women who are economically dependent on their husbands and who, in
the event of death or separation, have no prospects of extending their right
or continuing to reside in another European country. In other words, they
are automatically deprived of any legal rights derived from their residing
in another Member State of the Union. We feel this needs correcting.
The Committee on
Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities also emphasises the importance of protecting
all interpersonal relations by giving live-in partners of either sex the same
rights as a spouse. More and more Member States are finding ways of recognising
couples who live together without officially getting married. Most countries
now allow partners to be officially registered and this category therefore
needs to be included in the definition of family members.