European Commission publishes guidelines on Gender Directive
The European Commission has published guidelines on the application of the Council Directive 2004/113/EC (the “Gender Directive”) to insurance, in the light of last year’s judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C-236/09 (Test-Achats).
Article 5(1) of the Gender Directive provides that, for new insurance and other financial services contracts concluded after 21st December 2007, the use of gender as an actuarial factor in the calculation of premiums and benefits must not result in differences in individuals’ premiums and benefits.
Article 5(2) provides for derogation from this rule by allowing Member States to maintain proportionate differences in individuals’ premiums and benefits where the use of gender is a determining factor in the assessment of risk based on relevant and accurate actuarial and statistical data.
However, in a judgment delivered on 1st March 2011, the Court of Justice of the European Union declared Article 5(2) invalid with effect from 21st December 2012.
The guidelines aim to facilitate compliance with this ruling at national level.