EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES : PARLIAMENT APPROVES CREATION OF AN INSTITUTE FOR GENDER EQUALITY.

• Position: European Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a report in first reading on 14 March on plans to set up an independent European Institute for Gender Equality (362 votes to 263 with 18 abstentions). The majority of Members who spoke during the debate, almost all women, nevertheless insisted such an institution would need to be more effective and be given a clearer brief.

MEPs want to make the Gender Equality Institute more proactive by shifting the focus of its work "away from the mere collection and recording of data on gender equality and towards the analysis of such data". They highlight the need to set up a 'network on gender equality, permitting all stakeholders to systematically exchange experiences' (an amendment which may not be retained by the Commission).

EQUAL BOARD REPRESENTATION

Regarding the Institute's Management Board, MEPs feel the aim must be to achieve an equal representation between women and men and that there should at least be a guarantee that the representation of both sexes is not below 40%. The Board would comprise thirteen members, nine appointed by the Council, in consultation with the European Parliament, from a list drawn up by the Commission, along with a Commission representative and three from NGOs, employers' and worker organisations. Membership would be restricted to one representative per member state. The Institute would have only a modest budget; 52.5 million for the period 2007 to 2013, i.e. less than 8 million a year.

Parliament wants the Institute to be operational "as soon as possible"...