EU commissioner backs calls for top jobs for women

Neelie Kroes has thrown her weight behind calls for greater representation of women in top EU jobs.

The Dutch commissioner pledged her support in a meeting this week with Danish MEP Karin Riis Jorgenson, who is campaigning to promote women in key European roles.

The campaign will be officially launched on 3 September during parliament’s plenary in Strasbourg with the publication of a list of 100 women who, says Jorgenson, should be considered for jobs such as president of the European commission and parliament.

These include former Irish president Mary Robinson and German chancellor Angela Merkel.

The MEP says females should also be considered for the high-profile posts proposed by the stalled Lisbon treaty, such as foreign affairs chief and president of Europe.

A separate list of older women who it is thought may, in the past, have been considered for such posts will also be published to highlight the perceived failure to tap the full potential of women in the labour market. These include well-known Luxembourg politician Colette Flesch, now aged 71.

Jorgenson said she was delighted that Kroes, the competition commissioner, had signed up to her campaign, adding, "Can we really say that all the men in top jobs in Europe are the best people for that job?"

Jorgenson personally presented her proposals to French president Nicolas Sarkozy during his appearance at this month’s Strasbourg plenary but said she was still waiting for a response.

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