Brussels, 02/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - Self-declared feminists, commissioners-designate Vera Jourova and Marianne Thyssen made a clear commitment to gender equality during their hearings at the European Parliament on Wednesday 1 October. More particularly, they made a clear commitment to parental leave and the quota of women on the non-executive boards of companies.
Women on board. The fate of Jourova, from the Czech Republic, has not yet been sealed because it is only next Monday that MEPs have chosen to approve her appointment - or not. Nevertheless, Jourova told MEPs that in 2015 she wanted to complete the negotiations on the directive establishing a 40% quota for women on non-executive boards in big European blue chip companies. Believing that the “Women on board” proposal is crucial, Jourova promised to tackle this issue with the Council directly. (The Council is delaying on taking a position, while the Parliament decided to support the quota earlier this year.) “I will open the issue and address the member states which have a blocking minority in order to explain that the proposal is useful”, Jourova told MEPs, adding that she was going “to try and convince these member states”.
Maternity leave. Jourova also promised to make improvements to the draft directive on maternity leave. The Council has held harmonisation of this directive on the back burner for over four years and the European Commission had planned to withdraw its proposal this spring, arousing a strong reaction in the Parliament to save it. During her hearing, Jourova was of the opinion that the issue must be reopened as she is convinced that “women, like men, must be remunerated when they look after their child”, and she said that “the rules must be harmonised in Europe”. She will be assisted in her handling of this subject by Marianne Thyssen, the commissioner responsible for social affairs and employment. Thyssen believes that parental leave is “fundamental”. During her hearing, the same day as Jourova's, Thyssen, from Belgium, showed her ambition to “discuss the issue again with all the partners” and she recommended going “step by step”. Thyssen nevertheless spoke of the need to “review the ambitions” so as to make a “feasible” step forward. Increasing the leave from 20 to 22 weeks “is too much for the Council”, she conceded.
Based on these statements, the European women's lobby believed that Jourova and Thyssen had sent “encouraging” signals. (MD)