On 1 January 2006 Austria took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the second time. The Operational Programme of the Council for 2006 was drawn up by the Council Presidencies of the year 2006 - Austria and Finland - on the basis of the Multi-annual Programme covering the years 2004-2006 and sets out the main objectives for this year's work of the Council. Employment, enlargement and the European constitution will top the list of priorities for the Austrian EU presidency in the first half of 2006. The free movement of workers will also come under scrutiny during Austria’s tenure.

As far as equality and non-discrimination are concerned, the Presidencies will seek the final adoption of the Recast-directive and the Regulation establishing a European Institute for Gender Equality. The Presidencies will also pursue the annual review of progress made in the context of the Beijing Platform for Action and build up health as well as poverty indicators. According to current practice the Presidencies will mainstream gender issues into Council agendas.