The awareness that only by joining women's abilities with men's abilities, those synergies will be produced that are necessary for the economic and social progress of every Country, represents the main reason that induced me to deem it useful to work out an analysis of women's working world in Europe and, in particular, in Italy. To such purpose, I tried to give an order to and gather the principal regulatory sources of women's work (ltalian, EC and international laws, contributions by doctrine and case law, investigations and statistical surveys, reports of conferences), adding to the work of a legal type some comments of historical nature and about customs.

From the picture drawn, a certain undervaluation of those that are women's abilities and potentials hos appeared; however, I am convinced that, for achieving the goal of equal opportunities, no additional laws are necessary in European Countries, but rather an operation of cultural reception of the current provisions of law. This book wishes to be a contribution towards a change in the present culture and an additional step forward towards a goal that has not yet been achieved, buf that can, undoubtedly, be achieved.

Ada Grecchi, born in Milan, lawyer, Deputy Central Personnel Manager within ENEL (ltalian Electric Power Authority), for three years Deputy President of the Commission for equal opportunities at the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Presently, member of the Committee for equal opportunities at the Italian Ministery of Labour and Social Affairs. She is fulfilling several appointments in the international field: Vice Chairman of the Social Affairs Committee of CEEP (European Centre of Enterprises with State Participation), member of CEEP Executive Council in Italy. Member of the Consultative Committee of the European Training Foundation (ETF), she has been for two years Vice President of EWMD (European Women's Management Development).

Labour "Magister", Marisa Bellisario prize award in 1995.