Seven political figures called, in an op-ed published on Friday 6 March by Politico Europe, for the urgent creation of an EU Council forum bringing together European ministers and secretaries of State responsible for gender equality.
The Italian Minister for Equal Opportunities and the Family, Elena Bonetti, the French Secretary of State for Equality between Women and Men, Marlène Schiappa, as well as five MEPs from the Renew Europe group, including the President of the forum, Dacian Cioloș (Romanian), signed the text.
For them, the absence of an EU Council dedicated to gender equality sends a "disastrous signal" that this issue is only a second-rate priority in the eyes of the institution. In practice, this also means that policymaking on gender equality "ends up sliced up between different ministers’ meetings", they deplore.
A specific forum for discussion would, on the contrary, "encourage Member States to clarify who is in charge when it comes to delivering and being held accountable on the issue" and ensure that gender equality becomes a political priority both at national and European governments levels.
Noting "the lack of action in the EU Council on these issues", the seven ministers and MEPs also believe that there is "certainly no harm in trying something new". (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)