Brussels, 12/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 8 May, Guy Verhofstadt followed the commitment made by the Socialist candidate, Martin Schulz, to gender equality, by signing the European Women's Lobby's manifesto. The European People's party candidate has so far refused to sign this document whilst the Green candidate, Ska Keller, pledged her support in a video message.
Commitment to parity. The European Women's Lobby manifesto describes the priorities that should be followed after the European elections on gender equality. This involves creating the post of European coordinator for gender equality and women's rights, earmarking funds for gender issues and carrying out a European campaign on this subject at international level. The 50/50 campaign for parity in the European institutions aims to ensure that gender equality issues are included in the European agenda. The European Women's Lobby is calling on the next president of the European Commission to put forward a College of Commissioners consisting of equal numbers of men and women in decision-making posts.
Junker abstains. Although Guy Verhofstadt and Martin Schulz have demonstrated their formal support for these two initiatives by signing up to them, similarly to around fifty other MEPs, Jean-Claude Junker has decided not to do so. In an e-mail sent to the European Women's Lobby in the middle of April, the Conservative candidate said that he did not want to predict the results of the elections, which will determine the political programme of the Commission. The e-mail explains that, “Therefore, Jean-Claude Juncker has decided, as a matter of principle, not to endorse or sign up to any specific proposal or initiative until the voters have spoken on 22-25 May”. Juncker does, however, emphasise that he will certainly take into account the initiative during the elaboration of this programme.
Keller, speaking on behalf of her party, explained that, “The struggle is not finished yet, and the Greens are on your side!” (MD)