[Brussels, 3 July 2014] On Thursday 26 June, the European Women’s Lobby invited partners, colleagues and friends to a farewell drink to thank Mikael Gustafsson, Chair of the European Parliament Committee for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) from 2011 to 2014. Under the leadership of Mr Gustafsson, the FEMM Committee has taken a strong role in promoting women’s rights and calling for gender equality at European and national level.
The EWL, together with partners from NGOs, UN Women, the European Parliament and European Commission, used the opportunity of the friendly drink to thank again Mr Gustafsson for his commitment and work, and pay tribute also to the MEPs who worked with him over the last years. Many strong positions came out of the EP thanks to the leadership of the FEMM Committee: co-decision on trafficking, violence against women and women on boards, resolution on women and the crisis, on prostitution, on women and the green economy, etc.
After the European elections, the new FEMM Committee will have its first meeting on 22 July in Brussels. The EWL already congratulates the MEPs who have committed to be members of this Committee, and hope to see the same strength and involvement to guarantee a strong vision of the European Parliament when it comes to realising equality between women and men and promoting women’s rights and empowerment. The new Chair of the new FEMM Committee will be elected new week; political groups have already chosen their coordinators, with whom the EWL hopes to closely work in a constructive way.
