Brussels, 17/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - In the context of the world day for women's rights and at a time when, in 2007, the female rate of employment in Europe was 14.2% below that of men and their hourly rate of pay was 17.4% less, the European Parliament Bureau devoted a “midday meeting of the European Parliament” in Marseilles, on Thursday 12 March, to the question: “Is Europe taking women's rights forward?” The session was on the stakes of European elections on 7 June when it comes to gender equality: - what are the challenges with regard to employment, working conditions, the fight against discrimination, and the fight against violence in Europe?
Isabelle Coustet, who heads the EP Bureau in Marseilles, presented on this occasion the European projects being discussed at the EP, including on maternity leave and independent workers. Martine Levy, Vice-President of the European Women's Lobby (EWL), explained the lobby's action with the European institutions and the EWM campaign for equality within the EP. Séverine Dupagny, from the association on “choosing the cause of women”, presented the draft clause of “most favoured European woman” defended under French EU Presidency by the lawyer, Gisèle Halimi. Françoise Rastit, the regional delegate for women's rights in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, presented European actions in the region. Information: http://www.lesmidis.eu (G.B./transl.jl)