Brussels, 20/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - At the end of last week, the European Commission launched a new strategy on equal opportunities for the period to 2014, aiming to build further on the considerable progress already made over recent years. Commission Vice-President for Inter-institutional Relations and Administration Maroš Šefèoviè welcomed this progress but suggested: “We can and we must do better. … Equal opportunities are in everyone's interest, allowing the Commission to make the best use of the talent available and maximising productivity”. The main points of the Commission communication are:
Objectives: The strategy seeks to: (1) attract, develop and retain a balanced and motivated workforce, (2) promote a more flexible (through flexitime, teleworking and part-time working), results-orientated workplace and (3) ensure ownership at the highest level. New targets will be set for the number of women in senior and middle management positions and for the recruitment of women to administrator posts. Each Commission department will have to draw up its own plan of action for how to achieve the targets and there will be regular reviews by the Directorate-General for Human Resources.
Some figures: The Commission reveals that: (1) by 2014, 25% of senior management posts should be occupied by women (compared with 21% now), with a corresponding target of replacing at least 30% of retiring senior managers with women; (2) by 2014, 30% of middle managers should be women (23% now), with 50% of retiring middle managers to be replaced by women; (3) by 2014, 43% of non-management administrator posts should be occupied by women.
The issues: In its communication, the Commission says that attracting and retaining the most talented people and making the most of their skills is a strategic challenge for the European Commission. It goes on, making the best use of the pool of talent which it has, using the creativity and innovation of its staff to the full and, in so doing, taking account of the potential of the men and women who show their commitment on a daily basis is a key issue for the Commission if it wants to respond effectively to the challenges of the next few years. (G.B./transl.rt)