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THE GOODS AND SERVICES DIRECTIVE: LIMITATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

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Abstract

The Goods and Services Directive adopted in December 2004 is the very first European Community instrument to implement the principle of gender equality outside the workplace. As such it has the potential to close an important gap in European Union law. This note, however, contends that the limited scope of application of the Directive, together with doubts surrounding its legal base and position within the overall gender equality framework of the Union, have significantly undermined its potential. Nevertheless, it is suggested that for the future, should these criticisms be adequately addressed, then the Directive may provide an important platform for the wider diffusion of the gender equality principle beyond the sphere of European employment law.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for European Law and Integration Faculty of Law, The University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK

    Eugenia Caracciolo Di Torella

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  1. Eugenia Caracciolo Di Torella
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Correspondence to Eugenia Caracciolo Di Torella.

Additional information

Council Directive 2004/113/EC of 13 December 2004 implementing the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services OJ L373 (2004) 37

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Torella, E.C.D. THE GOODS AND SERVICES DIRECTIVE: LIMITATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES. Feminist Legal Stud 13, 337–347 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10691-005-9007-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10691-005-9007-5

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