Brussels, 07/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - Given the lack of an agreement on quotas for women (see other article), the Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs adopted conclusions on Monday 7 December on equality in political, economic and social decision making. They also called on the European Commission to adopt a strategy promoting gender equality for the 2016-19 period. Commissioner Vera Jourova (Justice), however, lodged an objection of non-admissibility.
Division on the form of “equality” strategy. EU ministers proceeded to an initial exchange of views on the strategic commitment of the Commission for post-2015 gender equality, published on 3 December. This document suggests maintaining the five 2010 strategy objectives, namely: (1) increasing the participation of women in the labour market and attaining economic independence for both genders; (2) reducing the gap between pay, financial resources and pensions, as well as tackling poverty among women; (3) promoting equality in decision-making; (4) tackling gender-based violence and providing victim support; (5) promoting gender equality and women's right throughout the world. It clearly identifies the targets, action, responsibilities and indicators relating to these themes. Overall, member states indicated that they supported these objectives. Nonetheless, they did criticise the form chosen by the Commission: they would have preferred a “strategy” (communication), rather than a “strategic commitment” (working document). Only Finland, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Estonia and Poland did not take part in this appeal. The response from Commissioner Jourova to the ministers was final, “we published an organisational document to make these changes. This involves a more practical format, rather than a broad strategy that does not lead to any action… This does not mean that gender policy constitutes a second rate priority”.
And conclusions… In the follow-up, ministers also adopted conclusions on equality for men and women in political, economic and social decision making. This text calls on member states and the Commission to monitor the position of women in decision-making posts by using European Institute of Gender Equality indicators, including new indicators on the proportion of women in politics and enterprise. It also demonstrates backing for the “support system”, which includes a rotation of different gender candidates on lists during the European elections in 2019, the nomination of a new Commission, as well as the presentation of candidates for senior positions in the European institutions.
Equality in practice. Equality between men and women is far from being a reality, as borne out by a study published the same day by the European Institute for Gender Equality. The organisation indicates in a press release that “men are in a majority in the central banks, the Ministries for Finance and the boards of directors in Europe, with only 1 out of 25 women occupying these posts”. Its report focuses on the posts in public, economic and social sectors in the EU28, during the 2003-2014 period. With regard to the area of finance, for example, it demonstrates that all the central banks, with the exception of Cyprus, is headed by men. There are only two women Ministers of Finance (in Romania and Sweden) and 4% of the directors general of the biggest companies are women. The Institute concludes its report by indicating that “raising awareness and quotas, binding or voluntary, are among the options available to member states for promoting women to senior positions”. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)