1st August 2014

Forming of the new Commission – too few women so far

Shortly after his nomination, the Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker made a plea to the Member States asking for more female Commissioner-nominees. Apart from the Commission´s long-term drive towards gender equality, also the European Parliament has made it clear, that a Commission with too few women will not pass the vote this Fall. But even though Jean-Claude Juncker promised important portfolios and Vice-President posts to Member States sending female nominees, more and more male nominee names reach Brussels. Clearly responding to Mr Juncker´s plea, the Czech Republic decided to send Ms Vera Jourova to the Commission. Also Sweden, a country with a long tradition of gender equality discourse, confirmed Ms Cecilia Malmstrom for her second Commissioner term. Bulgaria might re-nominate Ms Kristalina Georgieva and Romania is reportedly considering Ms Rovana Plumb. Also, Italy pushes foreign minister Ms Federica Mogherini for EU High Representative. EU HR is also Vice-President of the Commission. However, the deal on EU HR and also European Council president is only to be reached at the end of August and only then the situation with the Commission can become clearer. Jean-Claude Juncker has promised 40% of the Commission to be women in his campaign and after the elections stated that a Commission with less than 9 women might not pass the EP vote. But so far, both long-known and new nominees, such as France´s Mr Moscovici, add even more men to the table, which puts the new Commission as a whole into question.

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Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic