After the European elections: a Europe for women?
[Brussels, 27 May 2019] The newly elected Members of Parliament must rise to the challenge and work towards a feminist, sustainable, equitable Europe
[Brussels, 27 May 2019]
The European Women’s Lobby welcomes the recent results of the European elections: we are particularly delighted about the record number of Europeans who mobilised across all 28 Member States to participate in the biggest transnational democratic moment in the world. The results clearly show that many citizens are striving for a feminist, sustainable Europe and we will work to ensure the newly elected Members of Parliament (MEPs) work towards this. The relative fragmentation means that MEPs in the new Parliament will need to work together to ensure the European Union leaves no one behind. With some results still unconfirmed, our initial analysis suggests that there will be a slight increase in the number of women elected to the European Parliament: we hope that 40% of the MEPs will be women. While we welcome this increase, this is still short of our demand of a 50/50 Parliament: men will again be wildly over-represented in this institution.
The European Women’s Lobby will continue to advocate for a feminist Europe, a Europe that leaves no one behind and includes all women in their diversity. We want to reiterate that the European elections are a first step: we now call on all Member States, the European Commission and newly elected MEPs to ensure parity in the college of Commissioners. It is time to see women in the leadership of the European Institutions: as Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Commission and Parliament.
“We now need to focus on the future of the European Union. We ask from the Member States that they each propose two people for the role of European Commissioner, at least one of them being a woman. It will offer more diversity of experience, background and perspectives to choose from and will benefit all people in Europe”, stated Gwendoline Lefebvre, President of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL).
The EWL will gather all its members, at the beginning of June where we will further analyse those results and strategise for the years to come to ensure the European Union works for women. We will be discussing this particular topic with female politicians, activists, thought leaders in the feminist movement and citizens on 6 June during our sold-out flagship event with Former French Minister of Women’s Rights Najat Vallaud-Belkacem.
“It is essential that the future European Commission both adopt a strong political Strategy on Equality between women and men and establishes a Commissioner with sole responsibility to ensure women’s rights are put at the center of the European political project during the next five years. The EWL will keep on mobilising and engaging with all stakeholders, partners and citizens to ensure the EU works for all people and the planet” added Joanna Maycock, Secretary General of the EWL.
To learn more about our demands to the newly elected MEPs and the future Commission, you can refer to our Manifesto. #WomenforEurope #EuropeforWomen
