The Principle of Gender Equality,the Goods and Services Directive and Insurance: A Conceptual Analysis

Abstract

The principle of gender equality is arguably one of the most successful stories of EU law. In recent years, it has evolved in order to adapt to the needs of a fast changing society. Such evolution is mirrored in the legislative instruments recently adopted. This article focuses on one of the most recent Directives, namely the 2004 Goods and Services Directive with a view to assess how it incorporates the “new” principle of gender equality. In particular, the Goods and Services Directive addresses the complex relationship between the principle of gender equality and insurance. This paper concludes that although the Goods and Services Directives is potentially a very important addition to the EU gender equality framework, several issues, such as the limited scope of application of the Directive, have significantly undermined its potential.