During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 March 2021), MEPs celebrate the International Women's Day during a debate. Speech by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission in the chamber. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

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VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

International Women's Day Celebration: Statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

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SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thanks Mrs Harris, I shall give the floor to President von der Leyen. Now President of the European Commission, you have the floor.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, My fellow European women, let's have a look at what women have endured in 12 months of pandemic, the female doctors and nurses working double shifts four entire weeks and months.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The women entrepreneurs who fought back reinvented their business and pulled out all the stops to save their employees, the mothers of locked down children who've had to learn the toughest and most amazing job in the world with no support from the outside world.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Look at Vice President Kamala Harris. Look at Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and what they've done for their country. Look at that great professionalism, compassion and resolve.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Look at all these amazing women and our families and communities and think again this day is for them, for the women on the front line and the women in the back office to the business women and the volunteers, to the mothers, to the daughters, to the unsung heroes of this pandemic.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, This is your day and this is my thank you to all of you on Women's Day.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, I want all European women to know that Europe, it is at their side, I am on your side. I want Europe to finally become a continent of equal opportunities for men and women. And I know we are not there yet.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, I know the playing field is not level yet. I know from experience that women have to work twice as hard to get the same salary, the same recognition or the same leadership position as their male colleagues.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, I know the obstacles and the prejudices, and therefore I'm proud that last week the commission presented two proposals to address two of the great injustices that women still face: the gender pay gap and the gender employment gap.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Women in Europe are paid, on average 14 percent less than men. This is simply not right. So we are proposing a European directive for pay transparency.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It is built on two simple principles: equal work deserves equal pay and for equal pay you need transparency. And women must know whether their employees employers treat them fairly. And when this is not the case, they must have the power to fight back and get what they deserve.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And there's more to do to men and women in Europe, lack of very fundamental opportunity, the opportunity to work and to earn a living.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Today, the employment rate for women is 67 percent, while that of men is 78 percent. And this is simply not acceptable.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, So last week we have set a new target for Europe. We must cut the gender employment gap in half. And by the end of this decade, 78 percent of all must have a job.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It won't be easy, but I can promise that we will do all in our power to work towards this goal. We will strengthen child care because no women or men should have to choose between being a mother or father or having a career.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We will strengthen elderly care. We will invest in quality education for girls and women. We will push for more women in leadership positions, in public and private bodies across all economic sectors.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And we have required that all member states put women at the centre of their recovery plans. It will only be a true recovery if these plans are for all honourable members.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Let me quote Vice President Harris and adapt her words to Europe. We must show every child in Europe that there are no limits to who can lead and held position of power in our union, regardless of colour or gender.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Vice-President Harris and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, we are in this together, indeed.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Equality is enshrined in the European treaty since 1957. It's been a long road and we will keep walking.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We have to remove the obstacles on the path towards equality. We have to strive for equal opportunities.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It is not rocket science. The necessary tools are well known and proven. We just have to implement them and do it. Long live Europe and Happy Women's Day.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thanks, thank you President Von der Leyen. It has been said by everyone on this day: it does not want to be rhetorical but a day of commitment to ensure that Europe is indeed capable of giving the sign of real equality. I believe that this is the conclusion of this celebration. Thank you all for participating in it. Thank you.

International Women's Day Celebration: Statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

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International Women’s Day

International Women's Day Celebration: Statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

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Violence against women

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International Women’s Day