Gender equality: establishment of a European Institute for Gender Equality

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Lissy GRONER (PES, DE) and Amalia SARTORI (EPP-ED, IT), by 362votes in favour, to 263 against, with 18 abstentions. It made some amendments to the Commission’s proposal:

- a new recital states that, given that gender equality cannot be achieved by an anti-discrimination policy alone but requires harmonious co-existence and measures to promote balanced participation by men and women within society, attainment of that objective should accordingly be included among the Institute's tasks;

- given the importance of highlighting achievements by women in all walks of life so as to provide a positive example for other women to follow, action to achieve that should also be included among the Institute's tasks. The Institute should seek to project a positive image of the role of women in present-day societies, by publishing success stories involving women in every walk of life;

- the Institute's objectives should also include raising EU citizens' awareness of gender equality;

- the focus of its work should be shifted away from the mere collecting and recording of information on gender equality and towards the analysis of such information. The Institute should also draw the attention of the relevant entities to sectors that have not been researched and suggest initiatives designed to fill the gaps;

- a European Network on Gender Equality should be set up involving the centres, bodies, organisations and experts dealing with gender equality and gender mainstreaming in order to support and encourage research, optimise the use of available resources and foster the exchange and dissemination of information;

- Parliament added that the activities of the institute should also include the following: developing dialogue and cooperation with non-governmental and equal opportunities organisations, universities and experts, research centres, social partners and related bodies actively seeking to achieve equality at national and European level; providing expertise on gender mainstreaming for public and private organisations; submitting recommendations and guidelines to the Community Institutions so that they may incorporate effectively gender mainstreaming into legislation;providing information to the Community Institutions on gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the accession and candidate countries; and disseminate examples of good practices;

- Parliament deleted the clause on the independence of the Institute and that conferring legal personality on the Institute.

- The management board will be composed of nine members appointed by the Council, in consultation with the European Parliament, from a list drawn up by the Commission which includes a number of candidates substantially higher than the number of members to be appointed, plus a representative of the Commission. The list drawn up by the Commission will be forwarded to the European Parliament. Within three months of this, the European Parliament may invite the candidates for a hearing and make its views available for consideration by the Council, which shall then proceed to the appointments. The board will also have three representatives of the Commission. The Commission had wanted six representatives appointed by the Council, six representatives appointed by the Commission, and three representatives of the Commission.

- the representation of each sex on the Management Board should not be less than 40%;

- the Management Board shall elect its Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson to serve for a period of two and a half years, rather than one year, renewable;

- the Director should be appointed on the basis of a list of candidates proposed by the Commission after an open competition. In the process of appointment, the Management Board shall take the opinion of the European Parliament duly into account.

- the director may also be called upon at any time by the European Parliament and by the Council to attend a hearing on any matter linked to the Institute's activities;

- Parliament amended the composition of the Advisory Forum;

- finally, it stated that the Institute shall be operational as soon as possible and in any event not later than twelve months of the entry into force of the Regulation.