[Brussels, 23 March 2011] Ahead of the European Council of 24 and 25 March the EWL reminds the Heads of EU Member States that economic governance without a women’s rights and gender equality perspective undermines the inclusive targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
In the two-day summit the European Council will agree on measures to preserve financial stability in the EU, and on the priorities for structural reform and fiscal consolidation for the year to come. In the letter sent to the Heads of state the EWL regrets the focus on short-term economic recovery and on a traditional short-sighted concept of growth, and notes that gender-blind economic policy guidance risks having drastic implications for European women who already bear the brunt of the effects of the crisis and of the subsequent austerity measures. The EWL also reminds the Heads of state of the renewed European Pact for Gender Equality 2011-2020, adopted on 7 March 2011 by the Employment, Social, Health, and Consumer Affairs Council, and requires the Council and the Member States to take without delay the necessary steps in line with the commitment made in the Pact. ewl letter to heads of state ahead of the spring european council 2011
