MEPs urged to initiate a ‘Strasbourg Declaration’ in support of quota for women on Boards
[Brussels, 02 July 2012] The EWL’s members in Germany are calling on Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to form a cross-party alliance in favour of legislative action for parity on corporate boards. The initiative for a Strasbourg Declaration comes from the National Council of German Women’s Organisiations (NCGWO), a member of the EWL, and is modelled on the successful national-level Berlin Declaration.
In the light of the current Europe-wide debate on quota on corporate boards, MEP’s have the chance to take a stand in urging for binding legal legislation through a cross-party alliance. European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding is already working on a legal initiative to enhance the representation of women on the boards of large private companies in the EU.
The Berlin Declaration, the inspiration for the Strasbourg initiative, called for the equal participation of women in the management and supervisory bodies of companies. The initiative marked the first time women across German political parties joined forces on the issue of women’s representation in the upper echelons of economy and presented joint demands.
The National Council of German Women’s Organisations (NCGWO) urges the MEPs to act at European level by adopting a Strasbourg Declaration and support the efforts of European Commissioner Vice-President, just as their counterparts did at the national level.
The promotion of the equal representation of women and men in decision-making has been at the core of the European Women’s Lobby’s work since its creation in 1990. Notably, the EWL conducted a highly successful 50/50 Campaign for Democracy ahead of the 2009 European elections. As part of this campaign, the EWL demanded binding measures for parity democracy at all levels of political, economic and social decision-making. The European Women’s Lobby continues to work with its members to highlight this issue whenever relevant and is asking the European Commission, Parliament and national decision-makers to introduce binding measures for parity in the private sector, the EU institutions and at national level.
The EWL urges all political parties and every single Member of the European Parliament to sign up to a Strasbourg Declaration and to turn this initiative by the National Council of German Women’s Organisations into a success for gender equality.
