By Martin Banks - 6th October 2009
It is shameful that, so far, no women seem to have been put forward as possible candidates
Margot Wallström
Commission vice-president Margot Wallström has said at least one of the top new posts created by the Lisbon treaty must go to a woman.
In an interview with this website, she named former Irish president Mary Robinson and ex-Austrian foreign minister Ursula Plassnik as possible candidates.
The treaty, endorsed by Irish voters in a referendum last week, creates the post of president of the European council and, effectively, a foreign affairs supremo, who will also be a vice-president of the commission.
Wallström, who was speaking before addressing a meeting of the constitutional affairs committee, said one of the two jobs should go to a woman, a position endorsed in a parliamentary report adopted by MEPs on gender balance.
"It is shameful that, so far, no women seem to have been put forward as possible candidates. All we hear about are people like Tony Blair and other men," she said.
"What is being overlooked is that there are many very competent women candidates.
"As the clock is ticking to when these new posts will be filled it is up to the political parties and groups to nominate, hopefully, women candidates."
She appeared to rule herself out of the running, however, saying she was looking forward to returning to Sweden at the end of her current mandate as a commissioner (at the end of this month).
"I will take time to reflect but still intend to be active in issues like climate change," said Wallström, a former EU environment commissioner.
Turning to the Irish vote, she said a "number of factors" were different this time compared with last year's poll when the treaty was rejected in Ireland.
"For a start, Irish civil society took a more active role this time which was very important.
"We, the EU, also played our role, for example, in providing factual information such as readable summary of the treaty to the Irish.
"Certainly, it is true to say that the Irish heard more from the EU this time."
She said "lessons had been learned" from the ratification process in Ireland and elsewhere, including that the EU "must ensure that the debate continues and that we do not ignore the views of those who oppose the treaty.
"We must ensure this was not a one-off debate and must not stop talking about the issues."
She also said she expects Czech president Václav Klaus to sign the treaty "sooner than later", paving the way for its early introduction.
Wallström, who has served two terms in the commission, also took a swipe at UK Conservative leader David Cameron who on Tuesday came under fire from MEPs for writing to Klaus, allegedly asking him to delay ratification of the treaty.
"Cameron can do what he likes of course but I think this may prove to be counter productive because Klaus will not like being pushed around or being used as a tool by the British Tories," she said.
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