During the plenary session (30-31 January 2019) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on gender balance and press EU ministers to move forward with the ‘‘Women on boards’’ Directive, which has been stuck in the Council for years. Statements by Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), Melania-Gabriela CIOT, Romanian Secretary of State for European Affairs, and Vĕra JOUROVÁ, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality.

Brussels

plenary session

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

joint debate

HAUTALA, Heidi (Greens/EFA, FI)

International Women's Day (T)

gender balance (T)

CIOT, Melania-Gabriela (RO)

Gender balance: extracts from the joint debate

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/11294858/I167193Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), Author, We can't give up when we see women's rights in retreat; we've got to deliver much greater equality promptly. This Parliament has got to adopt a clear position. And therefore I would like to ask the Romanian Presidency to do more, we have to seize the opportunity now that governments like the Spanish one want to accelerate the pace of negotiations. Because women have got to be an integral part of decision making procedures in Europe. This is essential to making further progress in an equal Europe. Thank you

SOUNDBITE (English), Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), Author, There's no reason whatsoever to say that there are no competent women. This is an excuse for a male dominated corporate culture where yes, women are not visible because maybe sometimes they do not share this male dominated corporate culture and its behavior patterns. But it is by far sure that the competence of women is at least the one of men in order to respond to today's challenges.

SOUNDBITE (English), Melania-Gabriela CIOT, Romanian Secretary of State for European Affairs, As things stand right now the file remains blocked. Nevertheless there is broad consensus in Europe and on the need to improve the gender balance on company boards. Although the member states have different approaches, the principle is not contested. The Romanian presidency aims to facilitate discussions at the Council level in order to explore possible ways forward.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Despite their capabilities and educational achievements women continue to struggle against long held and systemic entry barriers into corporate boards and leadership positions. The proposed directive will enable us to decisively widen the access of talented women to decision making positions and to accelerate economic growth. With women in power, a snowball effect will be created towards more gender equality.

SOUNDBITE (English), Vĕra JOUROV&Aacute;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, I am ready to engage in the run up to the March EPSCO(Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs) Council with the member states to try to unblock the negotiations in the Council and also the minister mentioned here at the June Council, where we have to have a serious debate about how to tackle the, I would say, shameful issue of gender pay gap which is also still very high in Europe.