Press room

EU 2020: Civil society proposals for a smart, sustainable and inclusive recovery

(Brussels, 14 May 2013) At a Public Hearing today in the European Parliament, European Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have joined forces in an ad-hoc coalition to present country-specific recommendations for 2013 in the areas of employment, poverty, education, tax, environmental change and gender equality. Together, they call for a more balanced social, sustainable and equality-based Economic and Monetary Union, Europe 2020 Strategy and effective multi-stakeholder engagement in the whole European Semester process.

“Strengthening ownership and democratic legitimacy through the voices of European citizens, national Parliaments and the European Parliament is the only way to restore confidence in the capacity of the EU to steer towards inclusive recovery”, states Sian Jones, European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN). “To do this, we are calling for a balance between macro-economic objectives, Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) and budget proposals that will substantially enhance, rather than undermine, social, environmental/climate and equality objectives and funds to support effective multi-stakeholder engagement in the whole European Semester process.”

As the EU enters its 5th year of crisis, the EU’s image is overwhelmingly identified with austerity, particularly in countries under the ‘Troika arrangements’. Steps are urgently needed to restore the balance between social and sustainable objectives and economic governance, if the EU is to revive trust in its Europe 2020 promises of a smart, sustainable and inclusive recovery based on democratic accountability and engagement. “European governance mechanisms need to move beyond enforcing budgetary and financial stability and re-connect to the lives of real women, men, girls and boys across Europe. Member States must be accountable to the broader social and sustainable goals embedded in the Europe 2020 Strategy”, says Mary Collins, European Women’s Lobby, on behalf of the coalition. “Country-Specific Recommendations have a key role to play and the input of citizens across Europe is crucial to ensure smart, sustainable and inclusive recovery”.

This hearing is co-hosted by MEPs Marije Cornelissen, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance; Veronica Lope Fontagné, European People’s Party; Marian Harkin, ALDE; Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto, S&D. The Country-Specific Recommendations presented by the CSOs have been compiled by their respective members, representing the voices of thousands of citizen’s across Europe that are directly affected by austerity and the requirements of economic governance to reduce public deficits and debt. /END/

The ad-hoc coalition has produced a JOINT REPORT : Strengthening the democratic legitimacy of the European Semester: Civil Society Alternative Proposals for CSRs for a smart, sustainable and inclusive recovery, 2013-14. It includes the key messages of the ad-hoc coalition and compiles alternative country-specific recommendations from the social, environmental and equality perspective from the member organisations of the coalition. Links to the individual CSOs and their respective CSRs are also included.

Follow on Twitter #csr2020 For further information, or interviews please contact:

• Nellie Epinat, EAPN Communications Officer nellie.epinat@eapn.eu, +32 (2) 226 58 50
• Anna Bates, EWL Communications Officer bates@womenlobby.org +32 2 217 90 20
• Björn Becker, Communications Officer bjoern.becker@eurochild.org +32 (0)2 511 70 83

For further information regarding the Country-Specific Recommendations and engagement in the Europe 2020 and European Semester, please see:

European Anti-Poverty Network: Square de Meeus 18, 1050 Brussels Contact: Sian Jones, Policy Coordinator. Tel: +32 2 226 5859. sian.jones@eapn.eu; www.eapn.eu See: EAPN Assessment and Alternative Proposals for Country-Specific Recommendations (2013) with detailed country fiches.

European Women’s Lobby: rue Hydraulique 18, 1210 Brussels Contact: Mary Collins, Policy Officer. Tel: +32 2 217 90 20 email: collins@womenlobby.org: http://www.womenlobby.org See: MORE ACTION FOR MORE GENDER EQUALITY! : http://www.womenlobby.org/spip.php?...

Caritas Europa Contact - Artur Benedyktowicz, Policy and Advocacy Officer. Tel: +32 2 235 26 52 abenedyktowicz@caritas-europa.org; www.caritas-europa.org See: Europe 2020 Shadow Report - Missing the train for inclusive growth

Green Budget Europe (GBE): Boulevard de Waterloo 34 , B-1000 Brussels Contact: Constanze Adolf, Director. Tel: +32 2 790 88 12 - constanze.adolf@green-budget.eu See Green Budget Europe CSR proposals

EASPD: Av. d’Auderghem/Oudergemselaan 63, B - 1040 Brussels Contact: Sabrina Ferraina, Policy Officer. Tel +32 2 282 46 15 sabrina.ferraina@easpd.eu ; www.easpd.eu

Eurodiaconia: Rue Joseph II 166, 1000 Brussels Contact: Clotilde Clark Foulquier, Policy Officer. Tel +32 2 234 3860 clotilde.clark-foulquier@eurodiaconia.org; www.eurodiaconia.org

Eurochild : Avenue des Arts, 1-2, B -1210 Brussels T: +32 (0)2 511 70 83 - www.eurochild.org Contact: Réka Tunyogi (Advocacy & Parliamentary Officer) - reka.tunyogi@eurochild.org

AGE : Rue Froissart 111, 1040 Brussels, Tel. +32.2.280.14.70 Contact : Maciej Kucharczyk (Managing Director), maciej.kucharczyk@age-platform.eu; http://www.age-platform.eu

2 years overdue campaign feels its first kick

[Brussels, 18 April 2013] Good news! EWL maternity campaign 2 years overdue has received a positive response regarding a meeting with the Irish Presidency.

The campaign is pushing for the second reading phase by the Council of the European parliament’s position and the adoption of a revised maternity leave directive.

This directive is the guarantee of protection for every woman in Europe who gives birth and to find a balance between her private and her professional life – which is necessary to reach gender equality.

Our demands for justice are being echoed- women (and men) from all over Europe have begun to come forward with their accounts of discrimination due to pregnancies, maternity and parental leave and gender stereotyping in the workplace.

Our latest story comes from Julia who found her seniority and credibility completely undermined upon her return from maternity leave, and was threatened when she sought an explanation from her superiors. Read her story here.

We are demanding full pay and protection from discrimination upon return to work. We will continue to take action and urge that a position be taken to achieve the adoption of the text!

Do you have a story to share? Tell us about it! Send your stories to Terry@womenlobby.org

A few questions about 50/50

Q&A about EWL European Political Mentoring Network

What is the aim of the EWL European Political Mentoring Network?

The EWL European Political Mentoring Network aims to empower ethnic minority women and women of foreign origin ahead of the June 2014 European elections and, ideally, to increase their representation in the European Parliament (EP), in order to address the lack of gender parity and ethnic diversity in political decision-making at European level.

How does the EWL mentoring network work in practice?

From March 2013 to the European elections in June 2014, this network will connect 8-12 women MEPs (the mentors) with 8-12 women of foreign origin or ethnic minority background from different EU countries and different political parties, interested in running for the 2014 European elections (the mentees). Mentees will come at least three times in person to Brussels, Strasbourg and/or in their home country between March 2013 and May 2014. Contacts will be maintained in the meantime via e-mail, telephone or Skype, based on an agreed frequency of interaction. Apart from their relationship with their mentor, mentees will have the opportunity to attend capacity-building sessions for communications skills, EU procedures and responding to populist and racist attacks. They will also have the opportunity to learn from the experience of other members of the European Parliament who are supporting the network.

Who is the European Women’s Lobby?

With more than 2000 member organisations, represented through 30 national co-ordinations and 21 European member organisations, the EWL is the largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in Europe. The EWL works on a wide range of topics related to women’s rights but the promotion of the equal representation of women and men in decision-making has always been amongst the key areas of work of the EWL since its creation in 1990. The EWL led different campaigns and constant advocacy on this issue since 1990 and EWL member organisations have been doing the same in their respective countries.

Why is this network only open to mentees who are women from foreign origin/ethnic minority background?

Figures show that parity democracy (the equal representation of women and men in decision-making) and ethnic diversity is still far from being achieved at all levels and in all areas of decision-making. Women represent less than 35% of members of the European Parliament and despite the lack of figures, it is estimated that less than 20 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are of foreign origin or belong to an ethnic minority group (such as Roma). This means that there are less than 2% of MEPs of ethnic minorities in the EP and even less ethnic minority women. This lack of representation is problematic from the point of view of democracy, but also because it implies that the needs and situations of this group of women are not sufficiently taken into account. The under-representation of women in political decision-making in general and the absence of women from ethnic minorities/of foreign origin also contributes to the continuation of racist and gender stereotypes among both voters and decision-makers about the role of women, in particular ethnic minority women and their relationship with political power.

What methodology is being used?

The EWL has been adapting the successful methodology used by KVINFO in Denmark, who is a partner in the development of this network. This Danish feminist association started connecting refugee and immigrant women with women who were firmly established in the Danish workforce in 2002. To date, more than 7,000 women have participated in the programme, and the Network is reckoned to be the largest of its kind worldwide. The concept/model of the KVINFO project is based upon a mentoring relationship which provides the opportunity for one-on-one meetings between mentee and mentor in which both parties are treated as equals. Mentor and mentee are paired up according to the mentee’s educational and professional background and her personal wishes and goals. Built upon mutual respect and trust, the aim of the relationship is to assist the mentee in fully realising her potential, in turn enabling her to progress successfully with her life in Denmark.

KVINFO developed in 2008-2009 a special mentoring programme designed to encourage the equal political representation and participation of immigrant women at the local level. Danish female politicians (mentors) advised and guided women immigrants (mentees) who had an interest in or were already involved in politics within the Greater Copenhagen area. The programme provided a unique opportunity for immigrants living in Denmark and top politicians from the various parties in the Danish Parliament to get to know one other and discuss needs, options and potential. Read this article published in The Guardian about KVINFO political mentoring programme. Out of the 15 mentees who participated in this network, 5 decided to run for elections and 3 got elected. The EWL European Political Mentoring Network aims to build on the very positive expertise and experience gathered by the KVINFO Mentoring Network. Apart from the relationship with their mentors, the mentees will also benefit from workshops with EU politics and communication experts, e.g. to help them to respond to populism, xenophobia and racism; to develop their communication and campaigning skills; to get a deeper understanding of the EU political and institutional framework.

Who are the mentors?

Mentors are current women MEPs willing to share their advice and experience with you from different political parties and countries, already confirmed mentors include:

• EPP: Edit Bauer (Slovakia)
• ALDE: Marian Harkin (Ireland)
• S&D: Zita Gurmai (Hungary), Mojca Kleva (Slovenia), Pervenche Berés (France), Brita Thomsen (DK)
• Greens: Marije Cornelissen (NL), Franziska Brantner (DE), Franziska Keller (DE), Ulrike Lunnacek (Austria)
• GUE: Kartirka Liotard (NL)

Who are the mentees?

Mentees in EWL’s European Political Mentoring Network are:

• Women with migrant background or from an ethnic minority living in the European Union;
• Already involved in politics at local, regional and/or national level;
• Eligible and interested in running for the next European Elections in June 2014;
• Committed to women’s rights

Who covers the costs?

Mentees’ travel, accommodation and subsistence costs will be covered by the EWL during their stays in Brussels, Strasbourg and/or the home country of the MEP (based on an agreement). Nevertheless, neither the mentees, nor the mentors are paid for their participation in the Network. This is a voluntary commitment that needs mentors and mentees full engagement but will for sure bring them far more than money!

Who is funding the network?

The EWL receives the financial support of the Open Society Foundations and the PROGRESS Programme of the European Commission.

Press Release: Offical Launch of the 50/50 Mentoring Campaign

Launch of the 50/50 Mentoring Campaign
European Parliament

Tuesday 09 April 2013

10.15- 11.00am

Room: A5 G305

The European Women’s Lobby is delighted to announce the launch of the 50/50 European Campaign Political Mentoring Network in the European Parliament on Tuesday 09 April at 10.15am. The event will bring together participants in our ground-breaking mentoring network, current sitting MEPs from all political parties, with future candidates for the 2014 European Parliament elections.

The need for gender parity in modern European democracy is vital if our democracy is to be in any way ‘representative’. The EWL European Political Mentoring Network aims to empower ethnic minority women and women of foreign origin ahead of the June 2014 European elections and, ideally, to increase their representation in the European Parliament (EP), in order to address the lack of gender parity and ethnic diversity in political decision-making at European level.

Who are the mentors?

Mentors are current women MEPs willing to share their advice and experience with you from different political parties and countries

• EPP: Edit Bauer (Slovakia)
• ALDE: Marian Harkin (Ireland)
• S&D: Zita Gurmai (Hungary), Mojca Kleva (Slovenia), Pervenche Berés (France), Brita Thomsen (DK)
• Greens: Marije Cornelissen (NL), Franziska Brantner (DE), Franziska Keller (DE), Ulrike Lunnacek (Austria)
• GUE: Kartirka Liotard (NL)
  
  Why create this mentoring network?

Figures show that parity democracy (the equal representation of women and men in decision-making) and ethnic diversity is still far from being achieved at all levels and in all areas of decision-making. Women represent less than 35% of members of the European Parliament and despite the lack of figures, it is estimated that less than 20 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are of foreign origin or belong to an ethnic minority group (such as Roma). This means that there are less than 2% of MEPs of ethnic minorities in the EP and even less ethnic minority women. This lack of representation is problematic from the point of view of democracy, but also because it implies that the needs and situations of this group of women are not sufficiently taken into account. The under-representation of women in political decision-making in general and the absence of women from ethnic minorities/of foreign origin also contributes to the continuation of racist and gender stereotypes among both voters and decision-makers about the role of women, in particular ethnic minority women and their relationship with political power.


Who are the mentees?

Mentees in EWL’s European Political Mentoring Network are:

• Women with migrant background or from an ethnic minority living in the European Union;
• Already involved in politics at local, regional and/or national level;
• Eligible and interested in running for the next European Elections in June 2014;
• Committed to women’s rights

We’d like to you to come along and meet the participants of this ground-breaking program.

What is the European Women’s Lobby?

With more than 2000 member organisations, represented through 30 national co-ordinations and 21 European member organisations, the EWL is the largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in Europe. The EWL works on a wide range of topics related to women’s rights but the promotion of the equal representation of women and men in decision-making has always been amongst the key areas of work of the EWL since its creation in 1990. The EWL led different campaigns and constant advocacy on this issue since 1990 and EWL member organisations have been doing the same in their respective countries. Please register by Monday 08 April - via haynes@womenlobby.org For further information contact: zahi@womenlobby.org

International Women’s Day 2013: Concrete action needed by the EU to end violence against women

Brussels, 07 March 2013 – On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) recalls the need for concrete action from the European Union (EU) to end violence against women. We demand the establishment of an EU Year to End Violence against Women in 2015.

Violence against women (VAW) is the most pervasive violation of women’s rights, affecting approximately 45% of all women in Europe and the world. In Europe, seven women die every day from male domestic violence and an average of 25% of women experience violence at the hands of their partner or ex-partner. The current economic and financial crisis has had disastrous effects on the fight against violence against women - recent cuts in public spending have undermined services providing shelter for women fleeing male violence Europe-wide. In Europe today, in order to comply with the Council of Europe minimum standards, an additional 54,000 more shelter places are needed. Due to austerity measures in the UK more than 50% of women’s organisations have been forced to reduce their service provision and the Spanish budget on male violence has been cut by more than 20%.

“Ending violence against women is not a luxury for times of growth; it is even more crucial in times of crisis.” EWL Secretary General Cécile Gréboval

2015: A European Year to End Violence against Women

The current context is alarming for women’s rights and the EU must go from supportive words to concrete action. Violence against women is currently being discussed at the 57th United Nation Convention on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York where representatives from hundreds of countries and women’s organisations are working to arrive at meaningful conclusions that will help put an end violence against women. On the 14th February last, EWL and our members in Europe joined the worldwide initiative One Billion Rising, to say no to violence against women and to express our opposition to this violation of women’s rights. The European Union cannot fall behind and bury its head in the sand: violence against women is an obstacle to equality, and equality between women and men is a core value of the EU. (Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, article 23)

The EWL is asking for the establishment of a European Year to End Violence against Women in 2015. By establishing such a strong and significant action, the EU could lead the charge in raising awareness on violence against women, creating concrete measures to halt the perpetuation of violence against women and girls and become a world leader in creating a Europe safe for all of its residents. To turn rhetoric into reality, we need words and deeds. 2015 as the European year of Ending Violence against Women is just such a deed.

More information

• • EWL campaign for an EU Year to End Violence Against Women
• • EWL members actions at the 57th Commission on the Status of Women (New-York, 4-15 March 2013)
• • EWL publication “The price of austerity – the impact on women’s rights and gender equality in Europe”
• • One Billion Rising mobilisation in Brussels

ends---------------------------------------------- For further information, please contact: Anna Bates, EWL Communications and Press Officer, Tel: (32) 02.210.04.40, or bates@womenlobby.org, http://www.womenlobby.org

Note to editors: The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is the largest umbrella organization of women’s association in the European Union (EU), working to promote women’s rights and equality between women and men. EWL membership extends to organisations in all 27 EU Member States and three candidates countries, as well as to 20 European-wide organisations, representing a total of more than 2000 associations.

200 civil society organisations launch European debate on the abolition of prostitution

[Brussels, 04 December 2012] Today, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), together with Fondation Scelles and Mouvement du Nid France, held a conference in the European Parliament aiming at assessing 10 years of policies on prostitution in Sweden and the Netherlands. On this occasion, around 200 women’s rights NGOs, coming from 25 Member States and four other countries, unveiled their Brussels’ Call “Together for a Europe free from prostitution”.

Together with a dozen MEPs representing all political groups in the European Parliament and several Ministers, the NGOs explained why prostitution is a form of violence, an obstacle to equality, a violation of human dignity, and of human rights. They also presented six key recommendations to EU Member States: the suppression of repressive measures against prostituted persons; the criminalisation of all forms of procuring; the development of real alternatives and exit programmes for those in prostitution; the prohibition of the purchase of a sexual act; the implementation of policies of prevention, education, to promote equality and positive sexuality; the development of prevention policies in the countries of origin of prostituted persons.

“Anyone who knows anything about the reality of prostitution for the hundreds of thousands of women in Europe whom it has trapped cannot fail to endorse this call for urgent action from the EU and its member states”, says Viviane Teitelbaum, President of the European Women’s Lobby.

“With the Brussels’ Call, we clearly see that the abolition of prostitution is a shared value across Europe. For all signatories of the Call, the EU policies on trafficking won’t achieve results as long as the impunity of procurers and sex-buyers is not addressed”, says Grégoire Théry, Secretary General of Mouvement du Nid France.

Facts and figures on prostitution:

Prostitution is a form of violence against women:

• Between 80 and 95% of persons in prostitution have suffered some form of violence before entering the system of prostitution (rape, incest, pedophilia).
• 62% of women in prostitution report having been raped.
• 9 out of 10 women in prostitution would like to exit the system of prostitution but feel unable to do so.
• 68% of women in prostitution meet the criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the same range as victims of torture undergoing treatment.
• According to Interpol, a pimp earns 110 000 euros per year per prostituted person.
• Nevada, where procuring is decriminalised, sees the highest rates of rape compared to all US states.
• • For 10% of girls and 37% of boys interviewed in Denmark, it is normal to receive money or gifts in exchange of a blow job.

Prostitution and trafficking:

• Globally, women constitute 85% of the victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation (prostitution).
• Globally, 79% of reported trafficking in human beings is for sexual exploitation (prostitution).
• • In Europe, 76% of trafficking in human being is for sexual exploitation (prostitution). Women constitute 70% of victims of trafficking.
• According to the UN, trafficking in human beings is the second biggest source of illicit profits for criminals after drugs trade.

Prostitution in Sweden and the Netherlands:

• According to the Dutch Ministry of Justice’s study ‘Daalder’, there has been no significant improvement in the situation of persons in prostitution and the use of sedatives has increased.
• According to the same study, in the Netherlands, options for leaving the industry were in high demand, while only 6% of municipalities offer assistance.
• The Dutch National Police Force’s study on the sector of legalised prostitution found that between 50-90% of the women in licensed prostitution “work involuntarily”.
• In Sweden, the number of persons exploited in street prostitution has halved since 1999, while it tripled in Denmark and Norway for the same period.
• After ten years of implementation of the Swedish legislation, 70% of the population express full support for the law.
• In 1996, 13.6% of Swedish men said they had bought someone for prostitution purposes. In 2008, the figure had dropped to 7.8%.

ends--------------

For more information, interviews, background or visual materials, please contact Leanda Barrington-Leach, EWL Communications and Media Officer, T: (+32) 2 210 04 27, M: (+32) 488 41 94 21, barrington@womenlobby.org, and see www.womenlobby.org.

Note to editors:

The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is the largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the European Union (EU), working to promote women’s rights and equality between women and men. EWL membership extends to organisations in all 27 EU Member States and three of the candidate countries, as well as to 21 European-wide organisations, representing a total of more than 2000 associations.

On the spot on 4 December:

• European Women’s Lobby: Pierrette Pape, Coordinator of EWL campaign ‘Together for a Europe free from prostitution’ – Mob: +32 486 39 17 17
• Mouvement du Nid - France : Grégoire Théry, Secretary General of Mouvement du Nid France – Mob: +32 496 21 64 66

Media Advisory: 4 December, 13h45, European Parliament: 200 signatory organisations launch Brussels Call for a Europe free from prostitution

Tuesday 04 December 2012, European Parliament, Brussels

Media and photo opportunity with ministers and MEPs from 16h to 16h30, during the conference

On 04 December 2012, around 200 women’s rights NGOs, coming from 25 Member States and four other countries, will hold a conference in the European Parliament aiming to assess 10 years of policies on prostitution in Sweden and the Netherlands. On this occasion, the NGOs will unveil their Brussels’ Call “Together for a Europe free from prostitution”.

Together with a dozen MEPs representing all political groups in the European parliament and several Ministers, the NGOs will explain why prostitution is: a form of violence; an obstacle to equality; a violation of human dignity; a violation of human rights.

They will also present 6 key recommendations they address to EU Member States: the suppression of repressive measures against prostituted persons; the criminalisation of all forms of procuring; the development of real alternatives and exit programmes for those in prostitution; the prohibition of the purchase of a sexual act; the implementation of policies of prevention, education, to promote equality and positive sexuality; the development of prevention policies in the countries of origin of prostituted persons.

You will find attached:

• The poster of the event
• The Brussels’ Call (under embargo)
• The detailed programme of the event

For more information, contact:

European Women’s Lobby: Leanda Barrington-Leach, Communications and Media Officer, European Women’s Lobby; Tel: +32 2210 04 27; Mob: +32 4 88 41 94 21; barrington@womenlobby.org

On the spot on 04 December:

European Women’s Lobby: Pierrette Pape, Coordinator of EWL campaign ‘Together for a Europe free from prostitution’ – Mob: +32 486 39 17 17

Mouvement du Nid - France : Grégoire Théry – Mob: +32 496 21 64 66

#EndVAWinEurope – EWL calls on MEPs to back ratification by the EU and Member States of legal tool to tackle violence against women

[Brussels, 23 November 2012] Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November), Members of the European Parliament are mobilising to have the EU ratify a ground-breaking international legal document to tackle the most prevalent human rights abuse within its borders.

Five Members of the European Parliament this week initiated a written declaration calling on the European Union to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on violence against women, agreed by the Strasbourg-based club last year. As soon as the written declaration gets the signatures of half of the MEPs, it will enter into force and be considered a strong political statement from the European Parliament. The EWL has launched a social media campaign to gather the necessary MEP signatures under the hash-tag ‘#EndVAWinEurope’.

In Europe, seven women die every day from male domestic violence and an average of 25% of women experience violence at the hands of their partner or ex-partner. One in ten women experience sexual violence yet only between four and 10% of rape cases are reported to the authorities, and far fewer end in justice for victims.

The European Women’s Lobby supports the call for the EU to back the commitment of its signatory Member States and itself ratify the Council of Europe Convention. This human rights instrument is the first European-wide convention providing a comprehensive legal framework to address many forms of violence against women. Protection, prevention and prosecution measures, as well as partnership with women’s organisations, are foreseen in the Convention. By ratifying it, the EU would send a clear signal that violence against women is not acceptable in the 21st Century.

The ratification by the EU of the Convention would furthermore serve to ensure the legal commitment of all the Member States, and encourage them to individually sign, ratify and implement the text. To this day, 24 member states of the Council of Europe have signed the Convention, 16 of them being EU Member States; only Turkey has ratified it.

“Women’s associations have long been calling for a legal instrument to take European fundamental rights from principle to practice”, says Cécile Gréboval, Secretary General of the EWL. “Now, we have such an instrument which has resulted from long and careful consideration and negotiation between, among others, every single EU country. All Member States should ratify the Convention as soon as possible and the EU as a whole has a duty to formally recognise and take on board this collective commitment.”

• Download this Press Release in Word format.

Women on boards: a first step towards meritocracy

[Brussels, 15 November 2012] At present, more than 85% of corporate board seats are effectively reserved for men. Judging by the reactions to the announcement today of draft EU legislation to tackle this cosy state of affairs for the privileged few, ensuring women candidates with equal qualifications and experience are given a fair chance at landing such positions would undermine meritocracy... The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) begs to differ.

The EWL welcomes the first European legislative proposal to tackle discrimination and inequality at the highest levels of corporate decision-making. The draft Directive comes at a time of frustration with stagnating levels of female representation on corporate boards, patent failure of self-regulation initiatives and disillusionment with the economic benefits of “business as usual”.

The myth of quotas as anti-meritocracy

Increasing awareness of the urgency of action has spurred a number of national governments in the EU to implement legislation and put the issue on the European agenda. However, popular misrepresentations continue to abound.

Perhaps the most commonly held mistaken notion is that quotas undermine meritocracy. In fact, quotas are a structural mechanism designed to counteract the variety of practical obstacles competent women face in reaching the top on the basis of equal qualification and merit. The initiative aims to ensure that the best candidates attain the highest positions, whether men or women. Whenever a new position becomes available upon on board of administration which is under the 40% target, “priority shall be given to the candidate of the under-represented sex if that candidate is equally qualified as a candidate of the other sex in terms of suitability, competence and professional performance.” (Article 4.3)

Meritocracy should not be limited to non-executive positions

The EWL strongly supports the introduction of democratic and meritocratic principles and nomination methods to private sector decision-making. The application of these principles could however be improved by removing a number of limitations imposed upon the foreseen scope of the legislation. The Directive is foreseen to apply for example only to companies with more than 250 employees and a yearly turn-over over more than 50 Billion EUR. More worryingly, an inexplicable provision has been included to limit the scope of the legislation to non-executive, i.e. non-decision-making posts. The EWL calls on the Members of the European Parliament to rectify this blatant double-standard in their first reading of the text.

Sanctions key to enforcement

Legislation in itself has a normative value, reflecting and promoting the fundamental values of our societies. The real test of any legislation lies however in its implementation. The proposal foresees “effective, proportionate and dissuasive” sanctions in cases of non-compliance. But the choice of these sanctions is left to the discretion of the Member States. The EWL calls on the national governments to fulfil their commitments and honour their values by giving this legislative proposal their full and sincere backing, and thereafter laying down sanctions with the necessary clout to break the glass ceiling once and for all.

Download the Press Release in Word format:

Nine countries move to block key EU equality legislation for women on boards

European Women’s Lobby calls for fulfilment of EU commitments and end to anachronistic and economically incapacitating 85% ‘male quota’

Brussels, 19 September 2012

Dear EU leaders,

We, members of the European Women’s Lobby and representing women’s associations from across the European Union, are very concerned at the news that a number of EU Member States are seeking to block the passage of promised legislation to ensure a more equal representation of women and men on company boards in the EU.

At a time of economic turbulence and while EU citizens are expecting positive signals from EU leaders in relation to promoting a more equal and social Europe, we ask EU Member States and other European level decision-makers who oppose the proposal to review their position and thank Member States, the European Parliament and EU leaders supporting the proposal for continuing to stand behind it.

Women’s gross under-representation in decision-making in the private sector is undemocratic, inefficient and contributes to broader inequality between women and men.

As you are aware, women are severely under-represented in decision-making in the private sector across the EU, and progress in rectifying this imbalance is painfully slow. There is evidence that in a number of EU countries, the trend is even negative. While women are half of the overall population and 60% of university graduates, they represent on average only 14% of board members of publicly-listed companies. This effective exclusion of women from decision-making also impacts upon the broader question of equality in employment: the relegation of women to lower-level positions is a major cause of the persistent gender pay gap in Europe, which currently stands at 16,4% on average.

The debate over economic governance has gained force with the crisis, while an increasingly large body of research has demonstrated how gender equality and diversity on boards of administration is a factor in efficiency. In recent years, Norway, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain have all adopted progressive legislation to improve the representation of women on boards of administration, with positive results. These successful examples should be a model for the European continent as a whole.

At a time when the economic and social crisis is hitting them particularly hard, women across Europe are calling for action and support more concerted provisions in support of a more equal European Union.

Alternatives to regulation have failed. The proposal for regulation to ensure access on equal merit should be supported.

Repeated national, European and international commitments to equality between women and men, including in decision-making, have failed to produce results. Appeals for self-regulation have failed to produce results. Women cannot be asked to accept this exclusion any longer. EU Member States lagging behind should take example on the six European countries which have already adopted legislation in this area.

While the EWL is supporting a strong approach in relation to the scope of possible legislation and sanction, we fully support the proposal of Vice-President Reding as an important progress.

The draft Directive being prepared by European Commission Vice-President Reding is designed to reinforce meritocracy in access to board positions. Setting a target of 40% for the least-represented sex by 2020, companies are required to give preference to candidates from the under-represented sex on the basis of equal qualification. Such a clause simply forces companies to give equal consideration to women candidates on the basis of merit.

In addition, the very limited scope of the text should reassure any Member State wary of excessive EU interference: the Directive would apply only to publicly-listed companies with more than 250 employees and an annual turnover exceeding 50 million EUR. It also concerns only non-executive positions on boards of administration, thus excluding the most influential posts. Member States are furthermore given considerable discretion in selecting the sanctions for non-compliance.

Given previous legal commitments, the continuous political expressions of commitment to democracy, justice and equality between women and men of all EU countries, and the more-than-reasonable nature of the proposed legislation, it is shocking that a number of Member States are taking position against Ms. Reding’s initiative, namely Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Sweden, Slovenia and the UK.

Who’s afraid of equality?

It is time for the EU and its Member States to live up to their commitments, to go beyond the talk and walk the walk. It requires effort to break with the status quo and move towards more equal societies, but history has demonstrated the wide-ranging benefits of such a move. Now, as the EU struggles to ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of its economy, it is all the more important to put aside anachronistic conceptions of gender roles and allow for true equality between women and men. We look forward to seeing you rise to the occasion.

The European Women’s Lobby