Brussels is ‘best’ for EU gender institute

Brussels should play host to Europe’s Gender Institute, the European parliament’s lead MEP on the issue has declared.

MEPs gave the green light to the equal opportunities institute on Tuesday - but it is now being subject to the inevitable wrangles between European capitals.

“Putting the institute in Brussels is a very practical solution,” Socialist rapporteur Lissy Groner told EUpolitix.com.

“Some argued that it should be located in a country where we have inequality. Bratislava was mentioned…This does not make sense. To influence decisions, the institute should be as close to the EU as possible.”

Indecision

Back in 2004, the EGI was expected to open in Vienna, close to where the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency is located.

But new member states have lobbied for new Europe to secure the body. Vilnius, Bratislava and Prague are all jockeying for position to win the prestige of hosting an EU agency.

EU bodies are scattered across old Europe but none have, yet, been located in any new central or eastern European member states.

Last month European social affairs commissioner Vladimir Spidla hinted that agreement on location may not be in place by the time the institute opens it doors.

“It is a difficult issue and the European commission is not alone. It is a matter for [EU leaders] to decide upon,” he declared.

Gender disparity

Statistics released by the EU to mark international women's day this month, showed European women do better in school than men, but get lower pay and fewer top jobs.

Eighty per cent of women complete secondary education compared to 75 per cent of men, and more than half of university students are women.

But on average, women earn 15 per cent less and hold only a third of managerial jobs.

Latvia has the highest proportion of women managers, 44 per cent, while Cyprus has the lowest, with just 14 per cent.

“No country in the EU actually has equal pay guaranteed by law. Indeed, very few have near equality in politics. We can name and blame them all,” Groner insisted.

Parliamentary splits

But despite the discrepancies, not all MEPs threw their weight behind the plans for the gender institute.

362 parliamentarians voted for the EGI and 263 voted against on Tuesday.

Right winger Struan Stevenson attacked plans for “EU gender police” - saying the move will see millions of euros poured down the drain.
 
“Barmy politically correct idea shows just how much the EU has got its political priorities wron,” Stevenson declared after the parliamentary vote.
 
"The EU is squandering money on this politically correct nonsense just as my constituents are faced with huge cuts in funding from the EU budget.”
 
“Stevenson has never has done anything in favour of gender equality,” Groner hit back.

“It is easy to complain from his position. His comments are unqualified. I will react to qualified arguments but not to these stupid things.”

• Previous article
• Next article