Wallis: We need symbols at the top of Europe to encourage the participation of more women

9.00.00am GMT Fri 19th Sep 2008

Key European and national women decision makers met in Brussels on 16th September at the invitation of the European Women's Lobby for the launch event of the Campaign: "50/50 No Modern European Democracy without Gender Equality".

Diana Wallis, Vice President of the European Parliament said:

"We need symbols at the top of Europe to encourage the participation of more women. The idea is that there will be four top posts to be nominated at European level next year, at least 2 of those should be women - www.send2women.eu."

In her support of the campaign, French Minister for Solidarity Valérie Létard also stressed in her message: "When making their nominations for the European Commission, Member States should put forward more women".

Kirsti Kolthoff, President of the European Women's Lobby concluded: "Our Campaign aims at improving democracy and our members across Europe will be active to have our voice heard at different levels until the European elections. We want to reach parity in numbers, but we also want to make sure that the issues that matter to people, including equality, social justice and sustainable development are at the core of European politics".

In order to encourage action and participation, a new website was inaugurated during the event: www.5050democracy.eu, where people can express their support to the 50/50 Campaign.

Closing the event, Margot Wallström, European Commission Vice President said "I was delighted to attend the launch of the EWL campaign and I fully endorse its objectives. There can indeed be no real European democracy if the make-up of our society is not reflected in the composition of our decision-makers".

The European Women's Lobby is the largest non-governmental women's organisation in the European Union, representing 2000 direct member organisations in 28 European countries. Working with its members at national and European level, the EWL's main objective is to fight for equality between women and men, ensuring the integration of a gender equality perspective in all EU policies.