The European Parliament adopted by 453 votes to 50 with 71 abstentions, a resolution on gender balance in EU economic and monetary affairs nominations
The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, and Greens/EFA groups.
Noting that the 2017 Gender Equality Index produced by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) pointed out that economic decision-making continues to be the area where the EU scores the lowest in terms of gender equality and women’s representation, Parliament regretted that the Commission and the large majority of EU governments have so far failed in promoting greater gender balance in EU institutions and bodies, particularly with regard to high-level appointments in economic, financial and monetary affairs. It called on the governments of the Member States, the European Council, the Council, the Eurogroup and the Commission to actively work towards gender balance in their upcoming proposals for shortlists and appointments, endeavouring to include at least one female and one male candidate per nomination procedure. The Commission and the Council were asked to increase the transparency of the recruitment and appointment procedures for executive directors of EU agencies by publishing the list of applicants and the shortlisted candidates, and the reasons for their shortlisting, to allow public scrutiny of the openness, competitiveness and gender-sensitivity of these processes.
For its part, Parliament pledged to improve its own record of promoting gender balance in the area of economic and monetary affairs. It committed itself not to take into account lists of candidates where the gender balance principle has not been respected alongside the requirements concerning qualifications and experience in the selection process. Members suggested the introduction of a requirement in Parliament’s future Gender Action Plan, not to endorse appointments to boards and other bodies of EU agencies if the shortlist of candidates proposed by the institution or body in question does not respect gender balance.
Since gender balance at executive level in the Union institutions and bodies requires qualified candidates from the Member States, the resolution called on Member States to take concrete steps to improve gender balance in national institutions and thereby prepare the ground for both male and female high quality candidates for top EU positions in the field of banking and financial services.