[Brussels, 12 December] On Monday the Nobel Peace Prize was handed over to the European Union in Oslo. The three recipients at the ceremony were: European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Martin Schulz.
This is a confirmation that the EU still represents itself as only male. Even though the European Union and its institutions emphasize their commitment to gender equality through various EU treaties however, again only male representatives of the European Union received the Noble Peace Prize in Oslo.
The EWL states that it is high time that the EU institutions enhance the representation of women within their own ranks.
The EWL with more than 50 MEP’s launched the 50/50 declaration for gender balance in decision-making in November. Calling on Member States, European political parties and the European Institutions to take action in order to achieve gender balance in European decision making.
The EWL states NO MODERN EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY WITHOUT GENDER EQUALITY and urges all decision-makers to support this declaration so that in the future the EU represents its whole society by sending a gender balanced EU delegation to receive a prize.
