By Martha Moss - 6th May 2009
When there is a right wing majority in the council of ministers, in the commission and in the European parliament, it is extremely difficult to change mindsets and move forward on women's issues
Edite Estrela
The European parliament's Socialists accused the the centre-right EPP group of "betraying the wellbeing of millions of women" after MEPs rejected plans to extend maternity leave.
A report drafted by Edite Estrela, which would have seen minimum maternity leave upped to 20 weeks with six weeks at full pay, was blocked by parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
The plans were endorsed by parliament's women's rights and gender equality committee last month but were blocked by EPP and ALDE deputies, with the report being referred back to committee.
Socialist group leader Martin Schulz said, "The European right has shown its true colours in betraying the wellbeing of millions of women who want a better balance between their family life and work. We clearly do not have the same concept of society."
Estrela, who was said to be visibly upset following the vote, added that the EU was looking to "modernise legislation that is 17 years old and really out of date".
"But when there is a right wing majority in the council of ministers, in the commission and in the European parliament, it is extremely difficult to change mindsets and move forward on women's issues," she said. "For socialists, the interests and well-being of citizens come first."
However, EPP MEP Edit Bauer said the proposals would discourage companies from employing women. "There are countries, such as Germany, where the maternity leave is paid by the employer," she said.
"These countries are in regards of current economic problems resolutely against the prolongation of maternity leave."
Paternity leave
Estrela had also proposed introducing paternity leave provisions, a measure opposed by employment, social affairs and equal opportunities commissioner Vladimír Špidla.
While the commissioner welcomed moves to extend maternity leave, he said that including the rights of fathers was beyond the remit of parliament, which is co-legislator on the issue, along with the EU's 27 member states.
The paternity leave provisions, which were a central part of the package for Estrela, would have seen member states required to provide for a minimum of two weeks paternity leave.
In her concluding comments, the Portuguese MEP said she was shocked and, insisting that maternity leave and paternity leave could be linked in the directive, said EU citizens would be disappointed with the vote.
Interviewed by this website after her report was adopted in committee, Estrela said the plans would help women achieve a better work-life balance and "indirectly" increase female participation in higher positions.
"I introduced a new concept of paternity leave because I think it's very important for women and men to share parental responsibilities," she said. "For me it was the key question.
"This proposal on paternity leave is necessary to reach work-life balance. Without work-life balance we can't achieve gender equality."
'Disappointed'
Socialist MEP Mary Honeyball, who also sits on parliament's women's rights committee, said, "I am personally disappointed by this result. This legislation would have improved the wellbeing and support for women who seek to reconcile their work and family life across Europe.
"I will be looking to support this law when it comes back to committee next term, when I will also hopefully return following the elections this summer."
Green MEP and vice president of the women's rights committee Raül Romeva said, "Conservatives and Liberals in the European parliament apparently don't think it is a priority to support mothers and fathers and address their difficulties in reconciling work and family responsibilities.
"Parliament has passed up an opportunity to ensure minimum maternity leave of 24 weeks, in line with recommendations by the International Labour Organisation and World Health Organisation. I hope that voters will be aware of where the political groups truly stand on family issues when they go to the polls next month."
Meanwhile, EPP MEP Astrid Lulling's report, which included measures to ensure equal treatment between self-employed men and women, was adopted by parliament as part of the family package.
Some 550 MEPs voted in favour of the plans to ensure social security cover for assisting spouses. There were 14 votes against and 57 abstentions.
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