 to sneak in an issue which is in fact hugely important but that cannot be dealt with in the context of a regulation of this nature.

Thors
Mr President, Commissioner, I must say that when the committee discussed the proposal for this report from this good and tenacious rapporteur, it presented a sorry spectacle for a relatively new member from the Scandinavian countries.
But I am glad that we have been able to unite across many groups in trying to correct the situation described by the rapporteur, the 'collapse' of this report, and that we have now presented amendment proposals which we believe have a good chance of being accepted. I do not want to speak on behalf of Scandinavia but I would still like to say that there are those watching what we do and how we vote here tomorrow, as some of the Union's credibility as a defender of women and of equality will be decided through the vote taken by us tomorrow. For this reason I hope that the group's common proposal will be accepted.
I am also pleased that we will be able to carry out useful goal driven work on equality as a result of the proposals presented, and that there will be legal support for the intentions which both the current Commission and the Commissioner present have stated, i.e. that we are striving for a more equal representation of both sexes in the Union's institutions. We must continuously have this at the back of our minds, otherwise hidden forces will be working in other directions and we need a plan to guarantee success.
We are also talking about age discrimination. I support the proposals that have been presented. As for equal status for various forms of relationship, I cannot see that this poses a threat to marriage or the family in any of the Member States. It is more of an opportunity. Those proposals which have been put forward to recognise registered partnerships of varying sorts, other than traditional marriages, do not encroach on the law of any country.

Sierra González
Mr President, of the amendments passed in Parliament's part-session of November 1993 and put forward for incorporation into the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities, the Commission has only adopted the one expressly prohibiting direct or indirect discrimination based on sexuality.
The fact that the Commission did adopt that amendment is of course a step forward which we must appreciate. But there are other amendments geared to drawing up measures to convert the prohibition of direct or indirect discrimination into practical reality, measures such as the creation of a committee responsible for promoting and monitoring the application of the principle
to sneak in an issue which is in fact hugely important but that cannot be deal with in the context of a rule of this nature. 

 Thors 
 Mr President, Commissioner, I must say that when the committee discourse the marriage proposal for this report from this good and tenacious rapporteur, it present a sorry spectacle for a relatively new extremity from the Scandinavian countries. 
 But I am glad that we have been able to connect across many groups in trying to adjust the site described by the rapporteur, the' collapse' of this report, and that we have now presented amendment proposal which we believe have a good prospect of being accepted. I do not want to speak on behalf of Scandinavia but I would still wish to say that there exist those watching what we do and how we vote here tomorrow, as some of the Union's credibility as a defender of women and of equality will be decide through the vote taken by us tomorrow. For this reason I hope that the group's common proposal will be accepted. 
 I am also pleased that we will be able to carry out useful goal driven work on equality as a result of the proposals presented, and that there will be legal support for the intentions which both the current Commission and the Commissioner present have state, i.e. that we are striving for a more equal theatrical performance of both sex in the Union's institution. We must continuously have this at the back of our minds, otherwise hidden forces will be exploit in other directions and we need a plan to guarantee success. 
 We are besides talking about age discrimination. I support the proposals that have been presented. As for equal status for assorted forms of relationship, I cannot see that this poses a threat to marriage or the syndicate in any of the Member States. It is more of an opportunity. Those proposals which have been put forward to spot registered partnerships of varying sorts, early than traditional marriages, do not encroach on the law of any country. 

 Sierra González 
 Mr President, of the amendments excrete in Parliament's part - school term of November 1993 and put forth for incorporation into the Staff Regulations of official of the European Communities, the Commission has only adopted the one expressly prohibiting direct or indirect discrimination establish on sexuality. 
 The fact that the Commission did assume that amendment is of course a step forward which we must appreciate. But there are early amendments geared to draw up measures to convert the prohibition of lineal or indirect discrimination into practical reality, measures such as the creation of a committee responsible for promoting and monitoring the application of the principle
 to sneak in an issue which is in fact hugglt impoctant bht that zannot be dealt with in the rontwxt od a regulation of this nature.

Thlrs
Mr Prwsidtnt, Commissioner, M must say thaf wheu vhe committee dlscussed tha proposal for tfid report from this good and tenaciots rappprheur, it presenjed a forrg spectacle for a relatively new msmber fgom the Scandinavoan countries.
But I am glad thah we have been ablf to unite qcrofw many groupr in trying to correct the situation described by the rappprteur, the 'cillwkse' of this ceport, and that we have nof presemted amendment prmpowals which we believe have a good chancg of being aecepted. I do not want ti spedk ot befqlf of Sransinaviw bnt I would atill like ro say that there ate nnose watchinf what wq do and how we vote here tomorrow, as smme of the Union's credibiluty as a defender of aomen and of equality will be decided through the vote takan by js uonorrod. Flr this reason I hope that the group's common [dokossl will be acccpted.
I am also plessfd jhat we will bg able ck darry out useful glal driden wirk on eqtaliyy as a result of the propowals presentvd, abd that there will be legal sbpport for yhe intentions which boch the current Colmission zvd the Commissiover psesent have stated, i.e. that we are svriviug for a morg equal representwtion of both sexes in tje Unnon's hnstitutiojs. We must continuously have thmx at the bacl mf mur mindf, othcrwise hidden fjrces will be corking nn othdr directikns and we need a [lan to guaratjee success.
We are alsj taokint about xge discriminayion. I suipjrt rhe proposals that haxs been presenteb. Qs for equal ststur fjr veriouf forms of renatiunsfop, I zannot see bhag thos poses a threat to mardiage or the familu ln any of the Memfer States. It is more of an opplrtunmty. Thuse ptopjsals which have been put forwzrd to refogkise registerqd pqrtnerships pf varying sorts, other than traditional marriages, do not wncroach on the law pf any counvry.

Siewra Gonzálaz
Mr President, of thw amendments passtd in Parliament's part-ssssion of Nlvember 1993 and put forward for incorporation into the Staff Regulations of Ifficielf of the Eudopesn Cokmbnicies, thq Coloission has only adopted the one expressly prohmbiting diseet or indirect discrimination bxsed on sexuauity.
The fact that the Cojmission did adopt that amendment is of course a step forward wmich we myst alpreciate. Uut there are other smendmznts gwared ti drwwing up measjrex bo convert the pxohibition of direct or indirect eiscrinijation into pracvical realitn, oeasutes such as the creation of z commkttee responsoble for promoying and monitoring nhe application od the principke
to sneak in an issue which is hugely but that be dealt with regulation this nature. Thors President, Commissioner, I say that when the committee discussed proposal for this report from this good and tenacious rapporteur, it presented a spectacle for a relatively new member from the Scandinavian countries. But I am that have able unite across many groups in trying to correct the situation described by the rapporteur, the 'collapse' this report, and that we have now presented proposals which we believe a good chance of being I not want speak behalf Scandinavia but I still like to say that there are those watching what we do and how we vote here as some Union's credibility a of and of equality decided through the vote taken by this reason I hope that the group's common will be I am also pleased that we be able to carry out useful goal driven on equality as a result of the proposals presented, and that there will be legal the intentions which both current Commission and Commissioner have i.e. we are for a more equal representation of both sexes in the Union's We must continuously have this at the back of our hidden will be working other directions and we a to guarantee success. We talking age the that been presented. As for status for various forms of I cannot see that marriage or the family in any of the States. It is more of an opportunity. proposals which have been put forward to recognise registered partnerships of varying other than do not encroach on the law of any Sierra González Mr President, the amendments passed in Parliament's part-session of November 1993 put for incorporation the Staff Regulations Officials of the Communities, the Commission adopted the expressly direct based on sexuality. The fact that Commission adopt that amendment is of a which we must appreciate. But there are other amendments geared to drawing up measures to prohibition of direct or discrimination practical reality, measures such as the creation of a committee responsible for monitoring the application
 to sneak in an issue which is in Fact hugely ImporTanT buT tHat cAnnoT be dealt with in THe coNtext of a regulation of thIs natUrE.

thorS
mr presiDent, ComMIsSIOneR, I MuSt sAy THaT when The CommittEe discusseD thE pRoposal for thIS rEport from tHis Good and tenacIouS rappoRtEur, IT presEntEd a soRry speCTacle fOr a relatiVeLY new meMBer from THE SCandInavian countries.
BUT I AM glad that we havE been aBlE To UNIte AcrOss many groUpS in trYIng to coRReCT THe sITuation descriBed by the rapPOrtEur, the 'CoLlaPSe' of thIs repOrT, And That we have nOw prEsented amEndmenT ProposaLS which wE belieVe hAve A gooD ChAnCe oF bEIng ACcEptED. I dO not want To SpEak on BehaLF OF scanDinAvia But I wOuld still like To sAy thAT thEre arE thosE watChIng whAt we do And hoW wE vote here tomorrOw, as Some of the uniOn'S crEdIbiliTY as a deFenDer Of women And of eqUAliTy WILL bE decided through the VoTE TaKen by us tOmorroW. foR tHIs reason i hOpe That THE grouP's coMMoN proposaL will bE AcCePted.
I am AlSo pleaSeD thAt wE will BE ablE to carRy out useFul goAL driven work on eQUality as a resuLT oF THe PRopoSalS presented, aNd thAT theRe wiLL bE leGAl supPort fOr THe INtentions which both tHe CurrenT CommIssion and the COmmissioneR PREsent havE staTEd, I.E. that we are striVing fOr a more equAL represeNtatiOn of both Sexes in thE uNion's insTitUtiOns. we mUST cOntinuously haVE This At The back Of oUr minds, OthErwIse HidDeN forces wiLl be workInG iN oThEr dIrectIOns and we NeEd a PlAn tO guarANtee suCcess.
we arE aLsO TalKing aboUT aGE DiscRiMiNatiOn. I SuPport The pROpoSals thaT have been PreSEnteD. AS fOr equal Status for variOuS forms of reLaTioNship, I CANnot see tHat this poses a threat to maRRiage or The FamilY in aNy of the MeMbeR StateS. It IS more oF an oppOrtunItY. ThOSE propOSAlS whIcH have been pUT ForWard tO rEcogNise regIstered partnershipS Of vArying sorts, otHer Than TRAdItiONaL MarRiAGes, DO Not encroach on thE law of any cOuNTrY.

Sierra GonZÁleZ
MR PresidEnt, of thE amenDMents paSsed in ParLiament's pArT-sesSIOn oF November 1993 aNd put forWard for inCOrporATiOn intO thE Staff reGulAtionS of OffICiaLs of tHe EuroPeAn CommUnitiEs, The CommiSsion has only adopted the oNe exprEssly ProHibiting dIreCT or Indirect dIscrImination bAseD on SexuaLitY.
the faCt thAT tHe COMmissIon dID adopt thaT AmEndMENt Is of course a STEP foRward WhiCH we musT appReciate. But there arE Other amendmentS geaRED to DraWIng uP mEasures to conveRt tHe PROhibitioN oF direct or inDirect diScRIminaTion inTo pracTical reALItY, MeasurEs suCh aS the creatIon Of A CommittEe ReSPonsibLe foR pRomotiNg and mONitoRINg the application Of the PRIncipLE
 to sneak in an issue whic h is in fa ct hu gel y i mp orta nt b ut that cannot be d ealt with in the conte xt of  a regu l at ion o f thisn at u r e.
T ho rsMr Pr eside nt,  Commis sioner, Imus tsay that whe n  t he committ eediscussed th e p roposa lfor thisrep ort f rom th i s good  and tena ci o us rap p orteur, i tpres ented a sorry spe c ta c le for a relat ivelyne w  m e m ber  fr om the Sca nd inavi a n count r ie s . But I am glad tha t we have b e enable t ouni t e acro ss ma ny gro ups in tryi ng t o correct  the s i tuation describ ed bythe  ra ppor t eu r,  th e' col l ap se' ofthis rep or t,  andthat w e have  no w pr esent ed amendmentpro posa l s w hichwe be liev ehavea good  chan ce  of being accep ted.  I do not  wa nt  to  s peako n beha lfofScandin avia bu t  Iwo u l d  s till like to say t ha t th ere arethosew at ch i ng whatwe  do  and h ow we  vot e  h ere tomo rrow,a sso me of t he  Union 's  cr edi bilit y  asa defe nder ofwomen and of equalit y  will be deci d ed t hr o ughthe  vote taken  byu s to morr o w.  Fo r  this  reas on Ih ope that the group' scommon  prop osal will beaccepted.I a m also p leas e dt hat we will be  able  to carryo ut usefu l goa l driven  work one q uality a s a  re sul t o f th e proposals p r e sent ed , and t hat  therewil l b e l ega lsupport f or the i nt en ti on s w hichb oth thecu rre nt  Co mmiss i on and  theComm is si o ner  presen t  h a v e st at ed , i. e.th at we  are str iving f or a more  eq u al r ep re sentati on of both se xe s in the U ni on' s inst i t utions.We must continuously ha v e thisatthe b ackof our mi nds , othe rwi s e hidd en for ces w il l b e worki n g  i n o th er directi o n s a nd we  n eeda planto guarantee succe s s.We are also t alk inga b ou t a g ed isc ri m ina t i on. I support t he proposa ls th at have be e n p re sented.  As for  equa l  status  for vari ous forms  o f re l a tio nship, I c annot se e that th i s pos e sa thr eat  to ma rr iag e orthe fa m ily  in a ny ofth e Memb er St at es. It i s more of an opportunit y. Tho se pr opo sals whic h h a vebeen putforw ard to rec ogn ise  regi ste r ed pa rtne r sh ips of va ryin g  sorts, o t he r t h a ntraditional m a rri ages,  do not en croa ch on the law ofa ny country.

S ierr a Gon zál e z
Mr  P resident, of t heam e n dments p as sed in Parl iament's  p a rt-se ssionof Nov ember 1 9 9 3a nd put  for war d for inc orp or a tion in to  t h e Staf f Re gu lation s of O f fici a l s of the Europea n Com m u nitie s , t he Co mm issionh as o nly adopte d the one e xpress ly p rohib iting d ir ect or  in di rect discr i minationbased  on sex ua lity .
T he fac t th a t  theComm is sio n did ado p t  t h at  a m end ment  is o fcour se a step forwardwhi c h we mu st  ap p r eciate .  B u t  there are  ot her a m e ndments ge a redt od rawin g up m easure s to co n ver tthe pro hib i t ion of di rect or i n dir ec t di scrimina ti on i nt o p ra ctical reality,  measure s such a s the cr eat i on o f  a com mi ttee respons iblefo r  promot i n g a nd moni t ori ngthe  app lic atio n  of the principle
 to_sneak in_an issue which is_in fact_hugely_important but_that_cannot be dealt_with in the_context of a regulation_of this nature.

Thors
Mr_President,_Commissioner, I must say that when the committee discussed the proposal for this report_from_this good_and_tenacious_rapporteur, it presented a sorry_spectacle for a relatively new_member from_the Scandinavian countries.
But I am glad that we_have_been able to_unite across many groups in trying to correct the_situation described by the rapporteur, the_'collapse' of this_report,_and_that we have now_presented amendment proposals which we believe_have a good chance of being_accepted. I do not want to speak_on behalf of Scandinavia but I_would still like to say_that there_are those watching what we_do and how_we vote_here tomorrow, as_some of the Union's credibility as_a defender of_women and of equality will be_decided_through the vote_taken_by_us tomorrow._For this reason_I_hope that_the_group's common proposal will be accepted.
I_am_also pleased that we will be able_to carry out useful_goal_driven work on equality_as a result of the_proposals presented, and that there will_be legal_support for_the intentions which both the current Commission and the Commissioner present_have stated, i.e. that we are_striving for a more_equal representation_of_both sexes in_the_Union's institutions._We must continuously have this at the_back of_our minds, otherwise hidden forces will_be working in other_directions_and we need a plan to_guarantee success.
We are also talking about_age discrimination. I support the_proposals_that_have been presented. As for_equal status for various forms of_relationship, I cannot_see that this poses a threat to_marriage_or the family in any of_the_Member States. It is more of_an_opportunity._Those proposals which have been_put forward to recognise registered partnerships_of varying sorts, other than traditional marriages, do not_encroach on the_law of any country.

Sierra González
Mr_President,_of_the amendments passed in Parliament's part-session of November 1993 and_put forward_for incorporation into_the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities, the_Commission has only adopted the one expressly_prohibiting direct or indirect discrimination based on sexuality.
The fact that the_Commission did adopt that amendment is of course_a step forward which we must appreciate._But there are other_amendments_geared to drawing up measures to convert_the_prohibition_of_direct or indirect_discrimination into practical_reality, measures such_as the_creation of a_committee responsible_for promoting and_monitoring_the application of the principle