Third WEUCO Summit

On 6th of March 2019 the third edition of Women’s European Council (WEUCO) took place at the European Parliament, with the aim of promoting women’s leadership and put forward proposals to address gender inequality in the next term. WEUCO registered very high participation from civil society and institutional representatives.

AMONG THE SPEAKERS

Among the speakers, Viorica DANCILA, Prime Minister of Romania, Mariya GABRIEL, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Evelyne GEBHARDT and Heidi HAUTALA, Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament, Gabriele ZIMMER, Chair, GUE/NGL Group, Patrizia TOIA, MEP, S&D Group, Angelika MLINAR, MEP, Alde Group, Virginjia LANGBAKK, Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality and MPs from National Parliaments have strongly supported the proposals, which are enclosed in the document of conclusions adopted at the end of the meeting.

CONCLUSIONS

The priorities of WEUCO conclusions are:

A call to strengthen Women’s leadership in the next term;
A call for serious actions to close the persisting gender pay gap exposing women and family to poverty and thus determining persisting social inequalities;
A call on EU governments break the deadlock on the directive meant to increase the number of women sitting on corporation boards (Women on Boards) but which has stalled in the Council;
A calls on Member States establish a Gender Equality Council with a view to upholding women’s rights and effectively streamlining gender equality policies and measures at EU and national level and request the creation of a specific gender equality portfolio within the European Commission.

WEUCO conclusions have been endorsed by many members of the European Parliament coming from different political groups and submitted to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, the President of the Council of the EU, Viorica Dancila, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker and Presidents of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani.