Brussels, 05/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - Demonstrating its attachment for gender equality policy, the European Commission organised a conference in Brussels on 4 and 5 May entitled “Gender Equality: a step ahead. A roadmap for the future”. Participants will include representatives of European Institutions, EU Member States and social partners, as well as NGOs and experts from throughout Europe. Equal opportunities is guaranteed by Member State legislation but it is obvious that, in reality, there are major differences between men and women (pay, career possibilities, participation in economic decision-making, etc.). The opening in 2007 of the European Institute for gender equality and reconciliation between family and professional life seems to be one of the major elements for achieving equality and for attaining the goals set out in the roadmap adopted on 3 March by the Commission (see EUROPE 9144).
The debate focused on the Regulation on the future Gender Equality Institute. Already on 2 May, when speaking before the EP Committee on Womens' Rights, the Commissioner for Equal Opportunities, Vladimir Spidla, had reassured Lissyt Gröner (PES, Germany) and Astrid Lulling (EPP-ED, Luxembourg) that the Commission agreed with the EP's opinion reached in first reading on the tricky issue of how its management board should be composed. If agreement is reached in Council, the Regulation will be adopted by end 2006 and the Institute will be able to start up its activities from 2007, Mr Spidla said. The Commissioner also specified that the institute would provide know-how for improving knowledge and increasing the visibility of gender equality issues. Maria Rauch-Kallat, Austrian Federal Minister for Health and Women, stressed that the Regulation must be implemented by 2007 at all costs as it must help the Commission and Member States to establish equal opportunities policies and analyse what is happening in this field.
Another important factor in helping men and women to fully achieve their aspirations and their potential is conciliation between family and professional life. Commissioner Spidla commented: “We must tackle their concrete and daily problems. Having children and having to look after elderly parents should no longer be an obstacle to a satisfactory professional life”. How can one explain that one third of women only work part time as opposed to only 7% of men? Why do women have to carry out most domestic and family tasks? Is it surprising that women find it more difficult to reach key positions? he asked. “It is essential for both men and women to have access to the working world and to stay there. They must find a satisfactory balance between their private and professional responsibilities”, Vladimir Spidla commented, going on to add: “Gender equality is a key factor for sustainable growth, for quality jobs and for greater social cohesion. It is also at the core of the response to the challenges of population changes”. Childminding services and care for the elderly should also be developed. The roadmap provides for support to be given to childminding and care objectives, as fixed by the EU, the Commissioner said, with the aid of Structural Funds and through the exchange of best practice.
Gender equality in family and professional life will be a priority of the Finnish EU Presidency, said Tuula Haatainen, Finnish Minister for Social Affairs and Health. “This equality is an integral part of the Lisbon Strategy, one of the aims of which is to have more women working outside the home. Men should be encouraged to take parental leave and to deal with household management”, she went on to add, pointing out that, in Finland, “a series of aids are being proposed for men to encourage them to take parental leave. We place enormous value on paternity”. “Women are one of the most important factors leading to Ireland's success!”, the Irish minister for equal opportunities, Frank Fahey, said, explaining the situation of his country which is a “pilot country for the entrepreneurial spirit”. In order to better balance family and professional life, Mr Fahey said it was important to provide parents with quality, accessible and affordable childminding facilities. The balance between family and working life will thus be easier for women who wish to go out to work. Anna Zaborska (EPP-ED, Slovakia), who chairs the EP Committee on Women's Rights, stressed the importance of investing in the education of girls who rarely do scientific studies, remaining in stereotypes and thus later suffering from discrimination.