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Women in the European Parliament
Political posts
International Women’s Day
8 March 2014
Equality and Diversity UnitDirectorate-General for Personnel
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
2 International Women’s Day – 8 March 2014
Unless otherwise stated throughout the brochure:
women men
Sources used for data
u European Parliament and its bodies: www.europarl.eu, as of 5 January 2014
u Photos: European Parliament
Initiative by:
Equality and Diversity UnitDG Personnel
European Parliament, President Building,37B avenue J.F. Kennedy, L-1855 LuxembourgTel.: +352 4300 24397
E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.epintranet.ep.parl.union.eu/intranet/ep/ lang/en/content/administrative_life/personnel
Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Parliament. 17
562
EN D
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P O L I T I C A L P O S T S
3Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel
CONTENTS
4 Foreword by Roberta Angelilli, Vice-President of the European Parliament
5 MEPs
6 Representation of women in the European Parliament and national parliaments by Member State
7 The Bureau
8 High-Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity
9 Political groups
10 Parliamentary committees
11 Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
12 Parliamentary delegations
13 EU directives on gender equality
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
4 International Women’s Day – 8 March 2014
Foreword by Roberta Angelilli, Vice-President of the European Parliament
Over the past year the European Union has done a great deal to promote gender equality. One milestone from the point of
view of breaking through the ‘glass ceiling’, which is still preventing talented women from rising to the top in Europe’s leading companies, has undoubtedly been Parliament’s resolute advocacy of the Commission legislative proposal aimed at improving the gender balance on European company boards. This is an important measure in that it will enable knowledgeable, capable women to attain positions which at present are scarcely within their reach and will help reduce the continuing unacceptable gender imbalances at board level in the EU as a whole.
Parliament also threw its weight wholeheartedly behind the goal of appointing a woman to the six-member ECB Executive Board, since 2011 an all-male body: I can therefore only rejoice at the recent appointment of Sabine Lautenschläger.
There is still much work to do to achieve gender balance within the European institutions and in Member States. There are numerous barriers created by traditional stereotypes and women’s general working conditions, and these have yet to be broken down: witness the problems of work-life balance, career breaks, and the lack of childcare facilities, to name but a few. It is also worth pointing out that women have been hit particularly hard by the economic crisis and are more vulnerable to poverty (a danger now threatening over 25% of the female population).
Women are frequently the victims of cultural discrimination, which flies in the face of any notion
of meritocracy. Despite the fact that women make up 60% of graduates and hold better degrees than their male counterparts, they are continuing to be discriminated against both in terms of appointment to senior posts and in terms of pay: the gender pay gap, that is to say, the average difference between men’s and women’s hourly earnings in the EU, still stands at 16,2%. To put it another way, women in Europe work 59 days for nothing.
As Parliament has stressed, a firm commitment by all political parties at European, national, and regional level is essential in order to pave the way for measures encouraging women to involve themselves and participate fully in politics and elections. It is also necessary to bring about genuine parity regarding internal party decision-making, the nomination of candidates for elective office, and election lists.
The figures on women in the European Parliament still speak volumes: women make up nearly 36% of MEPs; there are three women Vice-Presidents out of a total of fourteen; two of the five Quaestors are women; among the group chairs and co-chairs, there are two women (compared with nine men); and out of the twenty-two committee chairs, eight are women.
The European institutions must set the example where parity and equality are concerned. If 50% of the highest offices were held by men and 50% by women, this would be a great achievement.
From that point of view, the next parliamentary term must be considered an ideal opportunity.
1,3
%
3,5
%
3,5
%
4,9
%
16,6
%
17,7
%
19,3
% 25,9
%
30,3
%
30,2
%
31,1
%
35,1
%
35,8
%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
05/01/2014201220092004199919941989198419791975196419581952
68342 274491
16,6 %
83,4 %35,8 %
64,2 %
P O L I T I C A L P O S T S
5Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel
MEPs
The proportion of women MEPs at the end of the seventh parliamentary term stands at 35,8%, which is higher than it was in 2013 (35,1%).
Greater representation of women in the European Parliament increases the level of democratic representation of EU citizens and helps Parliament to achieve gender mainstreaming more effectively, whether in the context of EU-related legislation and policies as a whole or within its own internal structures and bodies, including its Secretariat.
The increased percentage of women elected to the European Parliament has been accompanied by a
number of developments between the sixth and seventh terms regarding the number of women in decision-making posts. The number of female Vice-Presidents has fallen from five to three out of a total of fourteen (six women were Vice-Presidents during the first half of the parliamentary term). Six women chaired a parliamentary committee or sub-committee during the sixth term, increasing to ten during the first half of the seventh term (out of a total of twenty-four) and now numbering eight out of twenty-two. The number of women leading a political group has fallen from three Co-Chairs to one Chair and one Co-Chair.
MEPs 2014MEPs 1979
Members of the European Parliament 1952 – 2014
0 %
5 %
10 %
15 %
20 %
25 %
30 %
35 %
40 %
45 %
50 %
55 %
60 %
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
6 International Women’s Day – 8 March 2014
Representation of women in the European Parliament and national parliaments by Member State1
% women in the European Parliament
% women in national parliaments
Finl
and
Slov
enia
Croa
tia
Esto
nia
Mal
ta
Den
mar
k
The
Net
herla
nds
Fran
ce
Swed
en
Irela
nd
Port
ugal
Ger
man
y
Spai
n
Bulg
aria
Slov
akia
Hun
gary
Lith
uani
a
Latv
ia
Rom
ania
Cypr
us
Belg
ium
Gre
ece
Aust
ria
The
Uni
ted
King
dom
Italy
Pola
nd
The
Czec
h Re
publ
ic
Luxe
mbo
urg
1 National parliament data based on the number of women elected to the lower Chamber. Source: www.ipu.org, 1 November 2013
More than half the world’s population is made up of women. Their participation and their contribution to the political process are significant and necessary, not to say a fundamental right.
Following the 2009 elections, the percentage of women in the European Parliament increased once more. In the Member States, the percentage of women in the European Parliament is now higher than in their respective national parliaments, with
the exception of Belgium, Austria, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic and Luxembourg. Finland has more female than male MEPs, while for Croatia, Estonia, Malta and Slovenia the numbers are exactly equal.
With 35,8% of MEPs being women in the seventh term, the representation of women in the European Parliament is almost twice the world average in national parliaments, which is currently 21,8%.
21,4 % 78,6 %3 11
40 % 60 %2 3
P O L I T I C A L P O S T S
7Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel
The Bureau is made up of the President of the European Parliament, fourteen Vice-Presidents and five Quaestors, with observer status. It is elected by the Assembly for a renewable period of two-
and-a-half years. The Bureau guides Parliament’s internal operations, including budget estimates, and all administrative, organisational and staff matters.
The Bureau
Three female Vice-Presidents
Two female Quaestors
Anni PODIMATA
(EL - S&D)
Roberta ANGELILLI
(IT - PPE)
Isabelle DURANT
(BE – Greens/EFA)
Astrid LULLING
(LU - PPE)
Lidia Joanna GERINGER DE OEDENBERG
(PL - S&D)
40 % 60 %
2 3
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
8 International Women’s Day – 8 March 2014
The High-Level Group (HLG) was established by the Bureau in 2004 as a follow-up to Parliament’s resolution of 13 March 2003 on gender mainstreaming in the European Parliament. It is responsible for promoting and implementing gender mainstreaming within Parliament’s activities, structures and bodies. In November 2007, in keeping with the overall scope of equality and diversity policy, the Bureau changed the name of this working group to the High-Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity.
The HLG acts a horizontal, overarching body and cooperates closely with other European bodies, in particular the Conferences of Committee and Delegation Chairs and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. During the previous parliamentary term, the HLG achieved many important goals: the establishment of networks of MEPs and EP staff in committees and interparliamentary delegations in order to implement gender mainstreaming, the adoption of guidelines on the use of gender-neutral language in parliamentary documents and for the purpose of communication and information, as well as the promotion of gender budgeting. As for the employment and inclusion of persons with disabilities, the HLG stressed the need to implement the concept of ‘reasonable accommodation’. Equally the group emphasised the importance of good communication, both internal and external, for raising awareness, for example by means of a fully accessible website.
One of the tasks on the HLG’s mandate for the seventh parliamentary term was to implement the action plan for the promotion of gender equality and diversity in Parliament’s Secretariat (2009-2013). It is the HLG’s job to ensure that the necessary administrative structures are in place to achieve gender mainstreaming in the context of Parliament’s activities (procedures and
High-Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity
ChairRoberta ANGELILLI
(IT - PPE)
policies). It also seeks to strike a better work-life balance and to ensure that issues relating to the fight against homophobia and transphobia are taken into consideration, as well as promoting communication initiatives, in particular by means of exchanges of views with the Bureau’s ad hoc working group.
The HLG, chaired by Roberta Angelilli, the Vice-President responsible for gender equality and diversity, is currently composed of:
u Michael Cashman, Chair of the Conference of Delegation Chairs
u Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Quaestor
u Mikael Gustafsson, Chair of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
u Oldřich Vlasák, Vice-President of the European Parliament.
In 2013 the High-Level Group met three times to discuss gender equality at every level of the establishment plan, in particular at intermediate level, targeting the identification of new initiatives with a view to encouraging women to apply for Head of Unit posts. The issues of employment and the integration of people with disabilities were also examined in detail. The group called for measures be taken to raise awareness of gender equality issues, issues relating to the integration of people with disabilities, and LGBT issues.
22,2 %77,8 %
27
P O L I T I C A L P O S T S
9Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel
Chairs and Co-Chairs of political groups
Gender distribution in the political groups
In the European Parliament, Members sit in groups based on political affiliation, not on nationality. There are currently seven political groups in Parliament led by a Chair (or two Co-Chairs). The Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left is
led by a woman, Gabriele Zimmer, and the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance is co-chaired by Rebecca Harms. Members who do not belong to a political group have a secretariat and are classified as ‘non-attached’.
Political groups
Rebecca HARMS (DE – Greens/EFA)
Gabriele ZIMMER (DE – GUE/NGL)
EPP Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
S&D Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament
ALDE Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Greens/EFA Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance
ECR European Conservatives and Reformists Group
GUE/NGL Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left
EFD Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group
NI Non-attached Members
0 %
10 %
20 %
30 %
40 %
50 %
60 %
70 %
80 %
90 %
100 %
NIEFDGUE/NGLECRVerts/ALEADLES&DPPE EPP S&D ALDE Greens/EFA ECR GUE/NGL EFD NI
814
36,4 %
63,6 %
0%
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
At this point in the seventh parliamentary term, there are twenty parliamentary committees and two sub-committees in the European Parliament. By drawing up reports on legislative proposals and own-initiative reports, the committees prepare the work of Parliament’s plenary sittings. The committee Chairs coordinate the work of the committees in the Conference of Committee Chairs. Of the twenty-two committees, eight are currently chaired by a woman.
Conference of Committee Chairs – eight committees chaired by a woman
Parliamentary committees
Eva JOLY
(FR – Greens/EFA) Development (DEVE)
Sharon BOWLES
(UK – ALDE)Economic and Monetary
Affairs (ECON)
Pervenche BERÈS
(FR – S&D) Employment and Social
Affairs (EMPL)
Amalia SARTORI
(IT – EPP)Industry, Research and
Energy (ITRE)
Danuta Maria HÜBNER
(PL – EPP)Regional Development
(REGI)
Doris PACK
(DE – EPP) Culture and Education
(CULT)
Erminia MAZZONI
(IT – EPP)Petitions (PETI)
Barbara LOCHBIHLER
(DE – Greens/EFA) Subcommittee on Human
Rights (DROI)
Women in parliamentary committees
85,7 %
54,0 %
51,7 %
48,6 %
48,4 %
47,1 %
41,5 %
38,7 %
35,0 %
34,9 %
30,0 %
29,5 %
28,6 %
28,0 %
28,0 %
27,9 %
26,7 %
25,8 %
25,8 %
22,9 %
22,6 %
16,0 %* Committee chaired
by a woman
FEMM
EMPL*
LIBE
ENVI
CULT*
PETI*
IMCO
DROI*
ITRE*
BUDG
ECON*
AGRI
REGI*
JURI
PECH
AFET
DEVE*
CONT
INTA
TRAN
SEDE
AFCO
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
10 International Women’s Day – 8 March 2014
P O L I T I C A L P O S T S
11Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel
ChairMikael GUSTAFSSON
(SV – GUE/NGL)
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) is responsible for monitoring and legislating on issues related to equality
and women’s rights.
It originated from an ad hoc committee on women’s rights and equal opportunities created by the European Parliament in 1979, at a time at which women’s rights and equality were becoming increasingly important on the international stage, that being the year the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. In 1984 it became a permanent committee and since then has been the political body in the EP principally responsible for advancing gender equality and women’s rights.
The remit of the Committee, which is chaired by Mikael Gustafsson, includes: the definition, promotion and protection of women’s rights in the Union and related measures; the promotion of women’s rights in third countries, equal opportunities policy, including gender equality with regard to employment opportunities and working conditions; the removal of all forms of gender-based discrimination, the implementation and further development of gender mainstreaming in all policy sectors; the follow-up and implementation of international agreements and conventions involving the rights of women and information policy on issues relating to women.
The Committee’s work programme for January - April 2014 focuses on further strengthening of gender equality and promotion of women’s
rights. The Committee is going to adopt a draft legislative initiative report on combating violence against women which requests the Commission to submit, by the end of 2014, a proposal for a regulation establishing measures to promote and support the action of Member States in the field of prevention of gender-based violence. Following the tradition to celebrate International Women’s Day as a special annual event in the form of the Interparliamentary Committee meeting, the 2014 year’s theme “Preventing violence against women – a challenge for all” is closely linked to a legislative own-initiative report. On this occasion MEPs and representatives of national parliaments will discuss experiences and legislation at national level as well as strategic action and ideas to combat violence against women at European level.
The Committee will also work on such issues as: assessing the measures taken in the EU and its Member States to promote equality between men and women; sexual exploitation and prostitution and its impact on gender equality; work-life balance; the role of women in peace processes. Committee delegations will visit Italy ahead of the country’s Presidency in the second half of 2014 and New York to attend the 58th session of the UN Committee on the Status of Women (CSW). The priority theme for the CSW will be “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls”.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/FEMM/home.html
0%
10 20 30 40 50
832
20 %
80 %
Conference of Delegation Chairs – eight delegations chaired by a woman
Women in parliamentary delegations
57,2 %52,0 %50,0 %50,0 %50,0 %47,1 %46,4 %46,4 %44,4 %42,9 %41,7 %41,2 %40,0 %40,0 %38,9 %38,5 %37,3 %35,7 %34,6 %34,0 %33,3 %32,0 %31,6 %29,4 %28,6 %28,6 %28,6 %28,1 %27,8 %26,3 %25,0 %23,8 %23,3 %23,1 %21,1 %21,1 %20,0 %18,2 %16,7 %13,3 %
* Delegation chaired by a woman
D-ILD-TR*
DCAM*D-IQ
D-UADSAS*
D-IND-US
DMAGDPLC*DANDDEEAD-CL
DNATDMASDACPDLAT
D-MD*D-JP
DMEDDPAPDASE
DMERD-IR*D-MXD-CAD-ZADEPADSCA
DANZ*DKORD-CNDSEED-MK
DARP*DCASD-RUD-AFD-BY
DCAR
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
12 International Women’s Day – 8 March 2014
Delegations maintain and develop Parliament’s international contacts. Their activities are intended to maintain and enhance contacts with parliaments of the EU’s traditional partners and help promote, in non-EU countries, the values on which the EU is founded. There are currently 36 delegations and four multilateral assemblies. In the seventh parliamentary term, eight of the 36 delegation chairs are women but there are currently no women chairing any of the multilateral assemblies.
Parliamentary delegations
Hélène FLAUTRE
(FR – Greens/EFA) Turkey (D-TR)
Emer COSTELLO
(IRL – S&D)Palestinian Legislative
Council (DPLC)
Monica Luisa MACOVEI
(RO – EPP)Moldova (D-MD)
Angelika NIEBLER
(DE – EPP)Arab Peninsula (DARP)
Tarja CRONBERG
(FI – Greens/EFA)Iran (D-IR)
Emine BOZKURT
(NL – S&D)Central America (DCAM)
Jean LAMBERT
(UK – Greens/EFA)South Asia (DSAS)
Mara BIZZOTTO
(IT – EFD)Australia and New Zealand
(DANZ)
P O L I T I C A L P O S T S
13Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel
EU directives on gender equality
1975 Directive 75/117/EEC on equal pay
Provides that gender-based discrimination in respect of all aspects of pay should be eliminated (repealed by recast Directive 2006/54/EC).
1976 Directive 76/207/EEC on equal treatment
Provides that there should be no direct or indirect gender discrimination, for example by reference to marital or family status regarding access to employment, training, and promotion or regarding working conditions and dismissal (repealed by recast Directive 2006/54/EC).
1978 Directive 79/7/EEC on social security
Requires gender equality in statutory schemes for protection against sickness, invalidity, old age, accidents at work and occupational diseases and unemployment.
1986 Directive 86/378/EEC on occupational social security
Designed to implement gender equality in occupational social security schemes. Amended in 1996.
1992 Directive 92/85/EEC on pregnant workers
Requires minimum measures to improve safety and health at work for pregnant women and women who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding, including statutory right to maternity leave of at least 14 weeks.
1996 Directive 96/34/EC on parental leave
Provides for all parents of children up to a given age defined by Member States to be given at least three months’ parental leave and for individuals to take time off when a dependant is ill or injured (repealed by Directive 2010/18/EU).
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
14 International Women’s Day – 8 March 2014
1997 Directive 97/80/EC on the burden of proof in cases of discrimination based on sex
Requires changes in Member States’ judicial systems so that the burden of proof is shared more fairly in cases where workers have made complaints of sex discrimination against their employers (repealed by recast Directive 2006/54/EC).
2002 Directive 2002/73/EC on equal treatment in employment
Amends the 1976 directive on equal treatment adding definitions of indirect discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment and requiring Member States to set up equality bodies to promote, analyse, monitor and support equal treatment between women and men (repealed by recast Directive 2006/54/EC).
2004 Directive 2004/113/EC on goods and services
Extends gender equality legislation outside the employment field for the first time.
2006 Directive 2006/54/EC (recast) on equal treatment in employment and occupation
In order to enhance the transparency, clarity and coherence of the law, this directive puts the existing provisions on equal pay, occupational schemes and the ‘burden of proof’ into a single text.
2010 Directive 2010/18/EU on parental leave (repealing Directive 96/34/EC)
Entitles men and women to a minimum of four months’ parental leave. Seeks to improve the balance between work, family life and private life for parents engaged in a professional activity and gender equality regarding employment market opportunities and working conditions.
2010 Directive 2010/41/EU on equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity
Applies the principle of gender equality to self-employed workers. Brings greater recognition to work carried out by spouses and sets out new provisions regarding measures to combat discrimination and concerning business creation, social benefits and maternity.
Administrative posts
International Women’s Day
8 March 2014
Equality and Diversity UnitDirectorate-General for Personnel
Women in the European Parliament
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
International Women’s Day – 8 March 20142
DG
ITEC
, ED
IT D
irect
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esig
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Unless otherwise stated:
women men
Sources used for data:
u European Parliament Secretariat: Streamline, as at 5 January 2014
u Photos: European Parliament
Initiative by:
Equality and Diversity UnitDG Personnel
European Parliament, President Building,37B avenue J.F. Kennedy, L-1855 LuxembourgTel.: +352 4300 24397
E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.epintranet.ep.parl.union.eu/intranet/ep/ lang/en/content/administrative_life/personnel
Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Parliament.
A D M I N I S T R AT I V E P O S T S
Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel 3
CONTENTS
4 A word from the Secretary-General
4 A word from the Deputy Secretary-General
5 Foreword by Yves Quitin, Director-General of Personnel
6 EP Secretariat – Establishment plan – Directors-General and Directors
7 Management posts held by women: statistics
9 EP Secretariat, political group secretariats and accredited parliamentary assistants: statistics
11 Work-life balance: statistics
13 Gender equality structures
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
International Women’s Day – 8 March 20144
The publication of this booklet by DG Personnel’s Equality and Diversity Unit is an
opportunity for us to take stock as we mark International Women’s Day.
Gender equality is a cross-cutting policy that must be a tangible feature of all Parliament’s projects and policies. The rules governing the administrative operation of the European institutions allow for affirmative action to be taken with a view to ensuring that women are fairly represented at all levels of management. Parliament’s Secretariat has been working towards that goal, for example by means of a specific training programme developed in 2007 for women who could potentially become heads of unit. It has been a resounding success: 39 of those women – more than one third of participants – have become heads of unit. The programme is now being extended as part of the new Talent Management scheme, which also focuses on identifying and developing talent.
Work-life balance is also a key issue when it comes to gender equality. Parliament’s Secretariat ensures that the provisions in the Staff Regulations that relate to work-life balance are applied in full. It is also vital that staff are made aware of their options and are kept up to date in order for further progress to be made on this issue.
So, although not all the targets have yet been met, a number of positive results have been achieved, both in middle management (with a three-point increase in the proportion of women) and in senior management (in respect of which the Bureau’s targets for women were surpassed for directors-general and very nearly reached for directors in 2013).
In 2014 Parliament’s Secretariat will be continuing its efforts to achieve full gender equality right across the board.
Klaus WELLE
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, it is a pleasure to contribute
this year again, to this awareness brochure aimed at promoting support, knowledge, understanding, and recognition of gender equality in the European Parliament. As Deputy Secretary-General, I believe that we should all be proud to work for this democratic Institution which has always championed the cause of women’s rights and equality.
At political level, the European Parliament has constantly defended the need to take action at EU level on gender issues, in the light of what is already being done at Member States level. Parliament has always placed gender equality issues high on its own, and the EU agenda, identifying gaps, elaborating strategies and further actions, and anticipating the benefits and the European added value of a common approach. In fact, nobody knows the potential European added value of measures like “Equal pay for equal work”, which is enshrined in the EU Treaties since 1957. A recent study by the Directorate for Impact Assessment actually estimates that the lack of a common action on this fundamental principle amounts to 13 billion EUR per year.
Despite all these inactions, our Institution is continuously making significant progress on statutory reforms and formal recognition of gender equality. As an illustration, in 2013, almost 30% of middle management is composed of
women; furthermore, 9 out of 24 heads of unit appointed last year were women which represent an encouraging result, in contrast to the usual trend where women do not even apply for such positions.
However, the support and commitment for gender equality is not just a consequence of adopting legislation or setting up targets. It must also be part of a “culture change” which is of paramount importance to overcome the existing gaps. Despite commitment from our political authorities, management and numerous gender equality initiatives in place, women are still underrepresented at the top or still occupying more “female-dominated” positions.
To achieve true and lasting change, we certainly need to create an “ecosystem” of measures and sustain it over time. In addition, we must also work hard to transform mindsets and culture, to support both women’s and men’s ambitions, to build awareness of the specific barriers that women face on their way to the top, and to implement a “gender-neutral performance model”, fostering the development of a culture that welcomes diverse leadership styles.
Allow me to end this year’s contribution by quoting Mark Twain: “They did not know it was impossible, so they did it”.
Let’s imagine how much can be done by women who are perfectly aware of their possibilities!
Francesca R. RATTI
A word from the Secretary-General
A word from the Deputy Secretary-General
A D M I N I S T R AT I V E P O S T S
Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel 5
Foreword by Yves Quitin, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF PERSONNEL
Gender equality policy within Parliament’s Secretariat as implemented by the Directorate-General for Personnel
Equality is one of the main policy objectives of the Secretariat and in particular the Directorate-General for Personnel (DG PERS). Relevant
Bureau reports, together with the statement of principles on the promotion of equality and diversity1 and the recently completed action plan for the promotion of gender equality and diversity2
provide a legal reference framework consolidated by the Lisbon Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
DG PERS is responsible for the successful implementation of this policy, taking special care to ensure that there is gender balance at every level and internal gender mainstreaming with regard to policy and procedures. In this connection, specific action has been taken, in particular with regard to middle-management posts, in which the disparity between men and women remains widest.
In 2007, DG PERS initiated an affirmative action pilot project for the training and motivation of women with the potential to become heads of unit. Some 120 women have since participated in four follow-up programmes. The fact that 39 of the 55 women subsequently appointed as heads of unit took part in the scheme is a tribute to its success. The Talent Management scheme set up by DG PERS now goes one step further, offering a full set of training courses designed for women and men who show excellent potential with the aim of equipping them with the tools they need to take up management posts.
However, the percentage of women in middle-management posts (29,2%) remains below target (40%). At the behest of the High-Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity, Parliament’s Secretariat sent a questionnaire to women eligible to become heads of unit and not occupying managerial
1 Adopted by the Bureau on 13 November 2006.
2 Adopted by the Bureau on 9 March 2009.
posts, with the aim of firstly establishing why so few women were applying for management posts and secondly remedying the imbalance. DG PERS is on the other hand pleased to note that gender-balance objectives have been achieved at senior level and even exceeded with regard to director-general posts. This has indeed been the case for a number of years.
Furthermore, guidelines for the use of gender-neutral language have been adopted, and equality and diversity training is available to all staff members. Events designed to raise awareness and provide information have been organised, such as the Equality and Diversity Award, which in 2014 will be awarded on International Women’s Day. The event now has a completely new format, with the spotlight this year being on gender equality. It will be awarded, I am sure, to a thoroughly deserving member of staff, unit or Directorate-General that has shown courage and commitment in promoting gender equality. DG PERS, and the Equality and Diversity Unit in particular, also puts on seminars and round-table discussions to help staff learn and gather information. Exchanges of good practice are also possible thanks to interinstitutional collaboration.
Last but not least, priority is also being given to issues such as work-life balance, dignity in the workplace and respect for the individual as reflected by anti-harassment policy (Article 12a of the Staff Regulations).
I would emphasise that it is only through the commitment of everyone in Parliament’s Secretariat that gender equality policy can be implemented successfully right across the board. DG Personnel will persevere in its efforts to provide encouragement and coordination when it comes to gender equality.
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
International Women’s Day – 8 March 20146
European Parliament SecretariatEstablishment plan
Secretary-GeneralLegal ServiceJurisconsult
DG PRESPresidency
Deputy Secretary-General
DG COMMCommunication
DG EXPOExternal Policies
DG INLOInfrastructure and
Logistics
DG PERSPersonnel
DG IPOLInternal Policies
DG TRADTranslation
DG INTEInterpretation and
Conferences
DG FINSFinance
DG ITECInnovation and
Technological Support
DG SAFESecurity
Head of Secretary-General’s Cabinet
* Washington office: male director
** acting
Key
Women
Men
*
Directors-General and Directors
**
**
**
**
** **
DG EPRSParliamentary Research
Services
** **
1529 731771529 73177
0 10 20 30 40
4 930,8 % 69,2 %
34,1 % 29,2 %
30,8 %20 %
34,1 %35 %
29,2 %40 %
65,9 % 70,8 %
A D M I N I S T R AT I V E P O S T S
Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel 7
Management posts held by women: statistics
Directors-General
Deputy Secretary-GeneralDG Presidency (DG PRES)DG Security (SAFE) acting
Director-General
DG Communication(DG COMM)
DG Translation(DG TRAD)
DG Interpretation and Conferences
(DG INTE)
Heads of UnitDirectors
Directors
Directors-General
Heads of Unit
Women, as at 5 January 20142009 Objectives – as defined by the Bureau in 2006 (Kaufmann report)
Francesca R. RATTI Juana LAHOUSSE-JUÁREZ Janet PITT Olga COSMIDOU
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 %
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013 100 %
63,6 %
56,2 %
87,5 %
60 %
66,7 %
3
4
0
7 36,4 %
79 43,8 %
17 12,5 %
46 40 %
36 33,3 %
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 %
76,2 %80 %62,5 %54,5 %76,9 %76,5 %82,4 %60,6 %53,1 %100 %86,7 %83,3 %44,4 %70,8 %
23,8 %20 %
37,5 %45,5 %23,1 %23,5 %17,6 %39,4 %46,9 %
0 %13,3 %16,7 %55,6 %29,2 %
71,9 %
66,4 %
60,0 %
62,5 %
28,1 %
33,6 %
40,0 %
37,5 %
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
International Women’s Day – 8 March 20148
Senior management appointments – Directors-General and Directors(from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013)
Heads of unit by gender and DG (5 January 2014)
Selection of heads of unit – 2013
DG PRES
DG IPOL
DG EXPO
DG EPRS
DG COMM
DG PERS
DG INLO
DG TRAD
DG INTE
DG FINS
DG ITEC
DG SAFE
Legal Service
Total
Applicants
Applicants interviewed
Shortlisted applicants
Appointed
AST1
AST2
AST3
AST4
AST5
AST6
AST7
AST8
AST9
AST10
AST11
AD5
AD6
AD7
AD8
AD9
AD10
AD11
AD12
AD13
AD14
AD15
AD16 44,4 %18,2 %29,1 %43,1 %46,9 %45,5 %40,9 %44,7 %61,6 %61,4 %57,8 %62,9 %
42,9 %45,5 %53,8 %65,7 %62,5 %60,7 %61,8 %68,5 %70,2 %79,7 %77,5 %
444316269665293173259100232
2425114259227219181187308102196
35 %
40 %
45 %
50 %
55 %
60 %
201320122011200719971987197719671957
55,6 %81,8 %70,9 %56,9 %53,1 %54,5 %59,1 %55,3 %38,4 %38,6 %42,2 %37,1 %
57,1 %54,5 %46,2 %34,3 %37,5 %39,3 %38,2 %31,5 %29,8 %20,3 %22,5 %
518
105214
787975
115108163
73137
323098
135136142112
86131
2657
309941 %
125748,2 %
184234,8 %
2156 59 %
1171 51,8 %
985 65,2 %
A D M I N I S T R AT I V E P O S T S
Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel 9
EP Secretariat, political group secretariats and accredited parliamentary assistants: statistics
EP Secretariat staff
EP Secretariat staff (1957 – 2013)
AD staff AST staff
Total
AD
AST
0 10 20 30 40
48 45 46 46 43 45 49 46 47
48,4 %
60,3 %
42,9 %
53,6 %
45,5 %
48,2 %
54,5 %
51,8 %
31,0 %
34,8 %
69,0 %
65,2 %
0 10 20 30 40
60,1 %
44,3 %
70,6 %57 % 43 %
476
140
3363
39,9 %
55,7 %
29,4 %
316
176
1404
994746
57,1 %42,9 %
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
International Women’s Day – 8 March 201410
Percentage of staff promoted among those eligible by gender and function group – 2013
Secretaries-general of political groups
Accredited parliamentary assistants
Promotions (m/f) by gender and function group – 2013
Staff of political groups
Average age by gender
Average age (total)
Tota
l
Tota
l
Tota
l
Average age (AD) Average age (AST)
Example: in 2013, 60,3% of women ADs eligible for promotion were promoted.
Example: in 2013, 69% of assistants promoted were women (the total m+f always being equal to 100), with women accounting for 65,2% of AST staff on 5 January 2014.
Total
AD
AST
ADADTotal
Total
Promoted
PromotedASTAST
ASTAD ASTAD
AST
AD
AST
AD 129
135
91
103
43
32
47
35
171 266525 114161695
14,6 %
41,8 %
9,6 %
33,4 %
12,3 %
36,8 %
172 491 5 69 35 189 25 192 29 200
64,7 %
43 %
1,9 %
6 %13,2 %
16,6 %
9,4 %
16,8 %
10,9 %
17,5 %
25 %
19,2 %
34,1 %
25,4 %
75 %
80,8 %
65,9 %
74,6 %
157 43 32 47 35458 129 135 91 103
7,3 %
3,7 % 3,2 % 4 % 3,6 %
15,1 %
10,3 %
7,3 % 7,2 %5,6 %
A D M I N I S T R AT I V E P O S T S
Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel 11
Staff working part-time Staff working part-time
For example, half-time working accounted for 64,7% of the arrangements chosen by men working part-time, as against 43% for women working part-time. Members of staff who changed their working time arrangements during 2013 are counted in each category of working time for which they opted.
(as a proportion of all staff, broken down by function group) (broken down by working time option)AD 50 % 60 % 75 % 80 % 90 %AST Total
Staff on full-time parental leave Staff on half-time parental leave
(broken down by function group) (broken down by function group)
Staff on parental leave Staff on full-time parental leave
Staff on half-time parental leave
(as a proportion of all staff) (as a proportion of all staff, broken down by function group)
(as a proportion of all staff, broken down by function group)
Work-life balance: statistics(January-December 2013)
AST
AD 36
11
23
7
39 %
38,9 %
61 %
61,1%
AST
AD
AST
AD 10
16
16
25
7
2
10
1
41,2 %
11,1 %
38,5 %
3,8 %
58,8 %
88,9 %
61,5 %
96,2 %
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
International Women’s Day – 8 March 201412
Staff on leave on personal grounds
(broken down by function group)
In total, 26,8% of staff worked part-time in 2013 (including those on part-time parental leave), 11,7% took parental leave, 1,7% took family leave and 1,5% took leave on personal grounds.
Staff on full-time family leave Staff on half-time family leave
(broken down by function group) (broken down by function group)
A D M I N I S T R AT I V E P O S T S
Equality and Diversity Unit – Directorate-General for Personnel 13
There are a number of bodies and structures within Parliament’s Secretariat that deal with gender equality. Although they have different tasks, it is vital that they work closely together in order to take Parliament forward as an equal opportunities employer and to achieve tangible results.
Equality and Diversity Unit (EDU)Alberto ROSSETTIHead of Unit
The Equality and Diversity Unit reports to the Director-General for Personnel and is responsible for devising, implementing and monitoring equality and diversity policy within Parliament’s Secretariat. It plays a key role in the following tasks:
u following up and implementing equality and diversity policy as formulated by Parliament’s Bureau;
u ensuring that Parliament’s human resources policies reflect the principles of equal opportunities and respect for diversity; encouraging gender mainstreaming in all aspects of human resources policy;
u promoting, coordinating and evaluating the Code of Good Practice for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities; devising and coordinating projects encouraging the full participation and inclusion of people with disabilities;
u drawing up studies and reports; collecting and analysing data from a gender perspective; preventing and eliminating all discrimination in accordance with Article 1d of the Staff Regulations;
u fostering the creation of an open and inclusive working environment; devising and coordinating projects that make it possible to achieve a good work-life balance; participating in the development and implementation of policies designed to ensure dignity at work, with a view to preventing and eliminating all forms of harassment in the workplace;
u organising awareness-raising events and training activities; providing assistance to staff on equality and diversity issues.
The EDU supports and assists the Vice-President responsible for equality and diversity, who chairs the High-Level Group, and also advises and assists the Appointing Authority (AIPN), the Committee on Equal Opportunities and Diversity (COPEC) and other internal bodies on issues relating to the advancement of equality and diversity within Parliament’s Secretariat. It also coordinates the group of Equality and Diversity Coordinators from the various Directorates-General and encourages the exchange of information and good practices with its partners in other institutions.
Gender equality structures
Women in the E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T
International Women’s Day – 8 March 201414
Equality and Diversity Coordinators
Each director-general appoints two Equality and Diversity Coordinators whose task it is to help implement the EP Secretariat’s equality and diversity policy within their respective directorates-general. The coordinators provide expert advice to management and to other colleagues on equality and diversity issues, and undertake to prevent and tackle all forms of discrimination by establishing dialogue and raising awareness with a view to promoting an open, inclusive working environment.
The coordinators work closely with the EDU. The Equality and Diversity Coordination Group (made up of the coordinators and the EDU) may draw up documents, notes and proposals, for the attention of the Secretary-General and Directors-General, on important issues and matters of general interest falling within its areas of responsibility. The EDU coordinates the group and acts as its secretariat.
Committee on Equal Opportunities and Diversity (COPEC) Jutta SCHULZE-HOLLMENCOPEC Chair
COPEC was set up in 1987 as a joint body. It has a Chair, four members appointed by the Appointing Authority (AIPN) and four members appointed by the Staff Committee. Its general tasks are to recommend and monitor gender equality initiatives and initiatives relating to diversity within Parliament’s Secretariat. It has observers on a number of committees that deal with matters relating to human resources and on the advisory committee on the appointment of senior officials. COPEC is regularly consulted by the administration on staff policy rules and implementing measures stemming from the Staff Regulations and delivers opinions on these matters. Its principal objectives are set out in its 2011-2014 Action Programme (http://www.europarl.ep.ec/services/copec/programme_EN.htm).
The Staff Committee Stefano GUCCIONEChair of the Staff Committee
The Staff Committee represents the interests of staff vis-à-vis Parliament’s Secretariat, in particular as regards career issues, working conditions, salaries and social security, disciplinary issues and appeals. It maintains continuous contact between Parliament and its staff and contributes to the smooth running of Parliament’s departments. It sends representatives to internal advisory committees, and to interinstitutional committees and bodies that require staff representation. The Staff Committee is also represented in Parliament’s profession-specific delegations.
The Staff Committee elections in November 2013 brought the proportion of women in the staff committee very close to full gender parity (rising from 44,8% to 48,3%).
1415
48,3 %51,7 %