Policy Focus

Merkel touted for top EU job in new campaign

German chancellor Angela Merkel and former Irish president Mary Robinson are among 25 women being pushed forward for the EU's top jobs in a new gender equality campaign.

The initiative, Send2women, aims to raise a petition to make sure women occupy at least one of the EU's top jobs, such as the presidency of the commission or parliament or the post of EU high representative, by 2009.

One of the MEPs behind the drive is Danish ALDE deputy Karin Riis-Jørgensen, who said, “The EU was built on diversity.

“The 27 member states have different history, culture and traditions. In choosing candidates for EU top posts, these diversities are normally considered as part of the nominations,” said Riis-Jørgensen, an MEP since 1994 and vice-chair of the ALDE group.

“One considers representing small and large countries, old and new member states and the different political parties.

“But what about the representation of men and women? Half of the European population is, after all, female. But nowhere in the discussion of next year’s top posts are they mentioned.”

She added, “Once the Lisbon treaty is ratified and enters into force, a number of top posts will become available. At least one of these posts should be filled by a woman.”

The campaign's website, www.Send2Women.eu, has produced a list of names of 25 women it says should be considered when influential jobs come up for grabs.

As well as Merkel and Robinson they include EU commissioners Mariann Fischer Boel and Neelie Kroes, Tarja Halonen, the Finnish president, Christine Lagarde, French economy minister, former UK foreign secretary Margaret Beckett and Anne-Marie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, president of the ELDR party.

Anyone interested in backing the move is asked to sign an virtual petition on the campaign website. The names will be presented to EU leaders and heads of state at their summit meeting in Brussels in December.