EU in new drive for gender equality

A few days before the commemoration of Women's Day, on Wednesday, the European Commission has launched a five-year road-map designed at further closing the gap between men and women in several fields.

The road map, unveiled by Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla, contains 21 different actions to be taken both at community and national level. These comprise the setting up of a new €50 million European Institute for Gender Equality, the review of all existing EU gender equality laws, increasing awareness of gender inequality, ensuring gender equality is considered in all policies and pressing for better statistics.

The roadmap above all aims to tackle the pay gap between men and women, support better work/life balance, eliminate violence and trafficking, support gender budgeting and promote gender equality both within and outside the EU.

Malta is set to be a main beneficiary of this road map as its gender equality record, especially in the labour market, is still considered to be one of the most backwards in the EU. A report published last week by the EU revealed that Malta ranks last when it comes to its women's employment rate. In 2004, only 30 per cent of women between 15 and 64 years had some kind of employment when the average in the EU stands at 55.7 per cent.

Speaking at a news conference Mr Spidla, said that there was a lot of work to be done in the EU to achieve real equality.

"Women in the EU are still not getting a fair deal, particularly in the workplace. One in three of working women is confined to part time work. Gender equality isn't just a good idea - it liberates people's potential and plays a key role in making the EU more competitive. We need not only more jobs, but better jobs and to help women into them, while ensuring both women and men can balance work and private life."

Achieving equal economic independence for women and men is one of the main thrusts of the new commission initiative. Other priorities include enhancing the reconciliation of work, private and family life and the promotion of equal participation of men and women in decision-making.

The new European Institute for Gender Equality is one of the main tools that the EU will be using to implement its strategy.

Mr Spidla said this institution should be up and running by the beginning of next year and will have a €52.5 million budget until 2013.

It will be a centre of excellence for gender equality issues, providing expertise and improving knowledge. Its tasks will include raising awareness among European citizens of EU gender equality policy, gathering and analysing objective, reliable data that can be compared at EU level and developing new methodological tools.

Next year will also mark the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All to be commemorated by the EU with various activities in all its 25 member states.