Strasbourg, 01/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - By adopting the slightly amended report by Piia-Noora Kauppi (EPP-ED, Finland) on “Equality between women and men in the European Union 2007” on Thursday 27 September, the European Parliament demanded that the member states: - propose specific measures to combat inequalities linked to career interruptions, particularly those caused by maternity leave or caring for the elderly; - reduce their negative effects on careers, salaries and pension rights; - ensure that salaries and pensions are the same for men and women.
Laws are in place, but the reality often does not resemble them and true equality between men and women has not yet been achieved, the rapporteur, Finnish MEP Piia Noora Kauppi (EPP/ED), observed during the debate, particularly when it comes to salaries and temporary work (which affects 32% of women and only 7% of men). This is despite the fact that women make up the majority of the workforce in highly qualified non-manual employment. According to Ms Kauppi, real progress on the path to equality would be possible is all the member states took care of the costs of parental leave and benefits, which are currently generally covered by employers. In my country 60% of ministers are women, the rapporteur pointed out, hoping that it could serve as an example in this area.
The European Commission shares the rapporteur's concerns, Louis Michel said, recalling the actions it considers a priority, such as equality in terms of economic independence, equal access to managerial posts and reconciliation of work and private life. The Commission has opened a broad consultation with the social partners on this point, the second phase of which has just closed, and will be taking decisions on the basis of the proposals made. Mr Michel believes that it is possible to use amendments to existing legislation to ensure that these measures are implemented. But the “most difficult obstacle to overcome” is, in Mr Michel's view, the persistence of stereotypes, as eliminating is beyond the reach of legislation and is a matter of mentalities and behaviours.
Inequalities in the world of employment exist all over Europe, not only in the South, Italian MEP Amalia Bartoli (EPP-ED) pointed out, which was confirmed by the German social democrat Lissy Gröner: in my country 26% of women are less well paid than men, and the EU-wide average is 50% (Sweden is the most virtuous country in this respect, with only 10% of women less well-paid). Poverty, added Portuguese MEP Ilda Figuereido (GUE/NGL), above all affects women in the rural world. EUROSTAT should make these women more visible. The Commission is to examine the existing legislation in this area to determine whether it is effective enough.
Although the vast majority of MEPs (including Polish MEP Jerzy Buzek, EPP-ED) appealed for Europe not to deprive itself of the substantial workforce represented by its female population, British MEP John Whittaker (Ind/Dem) said that the Parliament's demands would go down very badly with businesses, who would end up employing fewer women in order to avoid new constraints. And one female MEP deplored the fact that Europe was denying its “feminine values” by giving a sense of guilt to women who want to stay at home.
Louis Michel stated after the debate that the Commission sent letters in April to eighteen Member States which are not correctly transposing legislation: a decision on any reasoned opinions which might be sent will be taken in December. The Commission will also examine the possibility of legislative changes to put an end to salary differences between men and women. On the subject of “flexicurity”, he specified that his aim was to offer more opportunities for all on the labour market, not to create insecurity. (gb/lg)