Brussels, 16/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - During their first work day on Tuesday in Bad Pyrmont (EUROPE 9426), Ursula von der Leyen (Germany), Jorge Lacão (Portugal) and Marjeta Cotman (Slovenia) presented a joint declaration on equal opportunities that establishes a concrete work programme for the next 18 months. The “first trio of EU presidencies” is therefore seeking to invest in action at a European level that aims to provide a broader dimension to that of the usual distribution of gender roles and promote equal opportunities and equal pay, as well as help women from immigrant backgrounds. Commissioner Vladimir Spidla welcomed this joint declaration that, “it sets out a concrete work programme for the next 18 months based on member states' commitments to the 2005 Gender Equality Pact and will contribute to the European Commission's Roadmap for Equality between men and women”.
The question of gender stereotypes will be at the heart of the trio's work. These stereotypes, which are based on all kinds of sexual discrimination are found in all sections of society. In response, the trio of presidencies is proposing 4 priority actions for the next 18 months: 1) encouraging member states to get rid of all kinds of gender stereotyping in education, training, culture, labour market and the decision-making process and provide more opportunities to girls and young women in society; 2) foster commitment among member states to increase women's employment and participation in the decision-making process, enhance reconciliation between, work and family life for both men and women, eliminate the gender pay gap, promote the spirit of female entrepreneurship and redress the gender imbalance in the field of education and training; 4) implement measures to promote gender mainstreaming in the work of the Council. The trio of presidencies is also planning on a number of other events during the course of the next 18 months. An assessment of this declaration and its implementation will be made in mid 2008. The declaration is available at: (http://www.bmfsfj.de/eu ).
During the first ministerial work day, studies were presented on the subjects mentioned above. One of them was carried out by “Sinus Sociovision” on behalf of the federal ministry for the family. It revealed the fact that many Germans believe that, “equality is an unfamiliar and abstract ideal for the many people who do not perceptibly experience its practical value in their everyday lives”. Ursula von der Leyden also indicated that these people also consider family policy as an opportunity if it enables them to, “combine a career and family life”. Other investigations also illustrate the need for urgent action: therefore, in the EU, the average rate of employment for women is still 15% lower than for men. According to the Commission report on gender equality for 2007, average employment statistics in the EU25 in 2005 was 56.3% as opposed to 71.3% for men. On average there is one female senior management executive to every ten male senior management executives at the 50 biggest publicly quoted enterprises in the European Union. The top executive's chair is occupied by only 4% of women. The number of childless women aged between 25-54 in employment, stands at 78% in Germany and 79% in Denmark, which puts both countries in the leading trio of industrialised countries. But when they have two or more children, differences are exacerbated, Denmark still has around 78% of (25-54 year olds) in employment but the rate falls to 20% in Germany. Further information: (http://www.bmfsfj.de/eu ). (gb)