Brussels, 11/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - Gender issues should not be separated from the promotion of the green economy, according to the European Parliament. On Tuesday 11 September, MEPs adopted the report by Mikael Gustafsson (GUE, Sweden), which focuses on the role of women in the green economy. The rapporteur is also the president of the Parliamentary committee on women's rights and sexual equality (FEMM) and explained during the debate preceding the vote that a sustainable economy “is not just about green technologies but also about social rights”. His report therefore appealed for decent jobs and more equal representation in decision-making bodies, whether these are public or private companies or the local authorities and even more so when it involves jobs in the green economy. During the same debate, MEPs also broadly highlighted the need for women to have access to green jobs. To this end, the report recommends that member states encourage women entrepreneurs in the green economy, as well as calling on women to pursue scientific careers and feminise the environment, transport and energy sectors. MEPs also sent a clear message to the Commission, calling on it to promote social equality in structural fund regulations and programmes, as well as in the Common Agricultural Policy and in the transition towards a green economy. The report particularly takes the Commission to task for the communication that it sent out to member states and institutions “Rio +20: towards a green economy and better governance”. MEPs regret that gender was not mentioned in this communication at all. (MD/trans/fl)