Women in Business and Politics

Despite a general consensus to protect and empower women, they remain marginalised in decision-making. Under representation of women in politics and business still persists worldwide, including in Europe.

Only six percent of ministers worldwide and ten percent of parliamentarians are women, while the so-called “glass ceiling” is still a barrier to women in the workplace. Both commissioners Wallström and Ferrero-Waldner have backed campaigns to promote the role of women, while Dutch Green MEP Kathalijne Buitenweg is spearheading a campaign to establish an EU envoy for women’s rights, and has been openly backed on this by Ferrero-Waldner.

Elsewhere there are moves to ensure that women are better represented at EU level, with the European Women’s Lobby 50-50 campaign calling for the equal inclusion of women at the highest levels of European politics. Alongside these moves, employment commissioner Vladimír Špidla has recently unveiled plans to extend the minimum period of maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks. The proposals would oblige mothers to take at least six weeks leave after the birth, and would strengthen their rights to return to work – in the same or equivalent post – after their maternity leave is completed.

The Parliament Magazine’s Autumn 2008 MEP poll Q 1-5 focused on the current and post 2009 election representation of women in political decision making, including the use of positive discrimination as a solution. MEP comments include Monica Frassoni, Catherine Stihler, Karin Riis-Jørgensen, Anneli Jäätteenmäki and Satu Hassi, along with Commissioner Margot Wallström.

Topics of discussion:

• Results and comments from the Autumn 2008 MEP poll on gender equality Q 1-5
• The European Commission’s maternity proposals
• The European Women’s Lobby's 50-50 campaign
• Gender mainstreaming in the upcoming EU elections