The thematic presentations of the German Presidency’s priorities to MEPs began on Friday 3 July with Federal Minister Franziska Giffey addressing the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM).
Ms Giffey, who is responsible for the Family, the Elderly, Women and Youth in the German Government, announced that Berlin wanted, as a priority, to work towards parity on the labour market and to take action against violence against women.
The German Presidency intends to work to “improve the representation of women in management organisations”, the Minister detailed. EU Council conclusions on “Gender issues in the labour market and in the work of carers” are expected in December, she said.
With regard to combatting violence, the Presidency plans to create a European emergency number for women victims of violence, “available 24 hours a day and in all official languages”.
An initiative that should be discussed on 19 and 20 November in Potsdam, on the occasion of an informal meeting of equality ministers on the consequences of the crisis for women, Franziska Giffey announced.
These priorities have been welcomed all the more positively by the political groups since the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the precarious situation of women in the labour market and led to a significant increase in domestic violence (see EUROPE 12457/17).
Several groups have indeed insisted that Germany should ensure that the currently negotiated recovery plan (see EUROPE 12519/1) also benefits women.
Welcoming the organisation of the informal meeting in November, the S&D and GUE/NGL groups also called for “ the informal meeting to become formal” and for the new Presidency to finally allow an EU Council configuration dedicated to gender equality to be established (see EUROPE 12441/8). (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)