Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Jet Bussemaker, presented earlier today in the European Parliament (FEMM Committee) the work programme of the Netherlands Council Presidency on issues pertaining gender equality, discussed the current developments in Europe and how they affect women.
The minister stressed out the importance of strategic engagement for gender equality which is not self-evident. The Netherlands EU Presidency will strive to emphasize gender equality across Europe in close cooperation with the European Parliament. We must monitor the achievement on gender equality every day, while policy interventions are still needed in order to open the doors to women in the labour market, legal system, universities, politics and family.Thus, European legislation has been an important driving force in these advances. However, gender equality has not been achieved in practice and we are facing new challenges and decision-makers’ continuous efforts are needed now more than ever. “There is a great urgency to stand by our values and ideas and to express them actively. European values of equality between women and men are not negotiable, while implementation of laws and norms on the ground is essential”, stated Ms Bussemaker.
The Netherlands EU Presidency will work with a modest and targeted agenda, based on three priorities: a Union that focuses on the essentials, creates growth and jobs through innovation, and actively involves citizens and civil society organizations in policy-making. It will raise many issues regarding gender equality in the Council’s preparatory bodies. Over the next six months several Commission proposals will be up for discussion via the Council and some of these initiatives will evolve considerable challenges.
Furthemore, the Presidency will try to reach consensus on the pending directives and is committed to bring forward the discussion on the equal treatment directive and accessibility act. It will support the High Representative in delivering a strong EU commitment at the sixtieth session of the UN Commission of the Status of the women and deliver a strong EU commitment on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. In March the Presidency will propose draft Council conclusions to the EPSCO Council based on the presentations of the Commission’s initiatives on the strategic engagement of gender equality and a list of actions LGBT(I) equality.
The Netherlands Presidency will highlight the need:
- to pursue equal opportunities and gender equality including an effective implementation of existing directives on equal treatment in order to ensure economic independence for both women and men;
- to implement a dual approach: gender mainstreaming by integrating the gender perspective into all policy areas, and specific measures;
- to combat gender stereotypes;
- to facilitate the reconciliation of work, bring to the attention of policy-makers the strong correlation between gender equality and economic competitiveness;
- for a new Commission initiative setting out a Strategy for equality between women and men 2016-2020, which should be closely linked to the Europe 2020 and which also take into account the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
The Netherlands EU Presidency will encourage discussion and ensure the exchange of the best practices in the above described areas, however gender equality has a long way to go in Europe.