Binding and voluntary measures needed to achieve parity between women and men in politics
Member States should consider introducing legislative measures such as positive action measures to achieve parity between sexes in political decision making, said the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee in a report on women in political decision-making adopted on Wednesday 25 January 2012.
Quotas and sanctions
National parties should implement quota systems in those electoral systems where applicable, and apply rank-ordering rules to electoral candidate lists for regional, national and EU elections. Effective sanctions for non-compliance should also be defined and enforced.
The best way of improving women's participation in politics is women candidates alternating with men at the top of electoral lists, said the report drafted by Mrs Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, FI) and adopted by 26 votes in favour, 3 against and 2 abstentions.
Some political parties in 13 EU Member States have already introduced voluntary party quotas for elections.
Political parties at European, national and regional level should take measures, such as sharing the costs of parenthood equally between both parents' employer and ensuring accessible and adequate services for e.g. child and elderly, to encourage women to actively participate in political life and in elections.
Despite the numerous actions, parity has not been achieved and the women's representation in political decision making has stagnated in recent years. Women constitute for 24 % in national parliaments across the EU, with women accounting for only 23 % of ministers overall.
Funding
Member States should link and set targets based on parity for the political parties as a prerequisite for funding.
Women in Commission, Council and Parliament
Commission and Council should commit to meeting the target of parity in all their decision making bodies, through quota systems and other types of positive actions when recruiting high-level officials. The Commission, however, has never been chaired by a woman. National governments should nominate both women and men to high-level positions at EU level. The European Parliament has increased the rate of female politicians to 35 %.
Equal representation vital for democracy
The equal representation of women and men in political decision making is a vital requirement for the functioning of a democratic society and the persistent underrepresentation of women undermines the legitimacy of decision-making both at the EU and the national level.