Gender equality - Newsroom
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28-05-2012 - Gender equality
Consultation on Gender imbalance in corporate boards in the EU
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16-04-2012 - Gender equality
Progress in gender equality leads to economic growth
Brussels, 16 April 2012 – Improving equality between women and men is essential to the EU's response to the current economic crisis, according to the European Commission's latest annual report on gender equality. The report looks at progress over the past year in tackling the remaining gaps between women and men in employment, the economy and society in general. While some progress has been made in increasing the number of women in top jobs in business and in narrowing the gender pay gap, major challenges remain.
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09-03-2012 - Gender equality
Europe this week 9 March 2012
09 March 2012 Europe this week Women in Decision-Making Persistent lack of women on company boards – EU action needed to break the glass ceiling A European Commission report shows that the number of women in company boards remains at low levels....
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07-03-2012 - Gender equality
Equal Pay events taking place across the EU
The second European Equal Pay Day (EEPD) took place on 2 March 2012. This EU-wide day aims to raise awareness of the pay gap that exists between women and men in the different EU Member States and encourage action to close it.
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05-03-2012 - Gender equality
Commission weighs options to break the glass ceiling for women boards
Brussels, 5 March 2012 – A European Commission report published today shows that limited progress towards increasing the number of women on company boards has been achieved one year after EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding called for credible self-regulatory measures. Just one in seven board members at Europe's top firms is a woman (13.7%). This is a slight improvement from 11.8% in 2010. However, it would still take more than 40 years to reach a significant gender balance (at least 40% of both sexes) at this rate.
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02-03-2012 - Gender equality
New materials on the gender pay gap now available
A new web clip that highlights the absurdity of pay inequalities between women and men is among the new materials now available on this website. We invite you to forward it to your contacts to help ensure it reaches a large audience.
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17-02-2012 - Gender equality
Viviane Reding Vice-President of the European Commission, EU Justice Commissioner Increasing gender balance on company boards: Good for businesses and the economy Press conference after t...
SPEECH/12/110 Today was the first time that ministers debated at EU level how to improve the participation of women on company boards. Everyone agreed that there is a problem with women’s participation at the top level of companies....
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22-12-2011 - Gender equality
European Commission gives guidance to Europe's insurance industry to ensure non-discrimination between women and men in insurance premiums
European Commission - Press release Brussels, 22 December 2011 – The European Commission has today adopted guidelines to help the insurance industry implement unisex pricing, after the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that different premiums ...
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27-11-2011 - Gender equality
Learn more about gender pay gap at events across the EU
The European Gender Pay Gap (GPG) campaign is taking part in a series of national events to spread information to employers and employees on the pay inequalities that exist between women and men and why closing the gap makes sense for us all.
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25-11-2011 - Gender equality
Learn more about gender pay gap at events across the EU
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16-11-2011 - Gender equality
Promoting Gender Equality. Play video
There are 97 million working women in Europe, but they earn around 17% less than men and make up only 12% of company boards. The EU is working for a level playing field, pushing to close the gender pay gap and give equal access to decision making.
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26-09-2011 - Gender equality
Gender Balance: Business schools are crucial to getting more women into top jobs
European Commission - Press release Brussels, 26 September 2011 - EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding today met with leaders of Europe's business schools to discuss how to improve the gender balance in company boardrooms by encouraging more young women ...
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19-09-2011 - Gender equality
Conference "Equality between women and men"
The Directorate-General Justice of the European Commission organised the conference "Equality between Women and Men" in Brussels on 19 and 20 September 2011.
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12-07-2011 - Gender equality
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton commits to EU gender balance target
European Commission - Press release Brussels, 12 July 2011 - LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton today signed the “ Women on the Board Pledge for Europe ”, voluntarily committing to increase women’s corporate boardroom presence to 30% by 2015 and to 40% ...
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06-07-2011 - Gender equality
EU Justice Commissioner Reding welcomes the European Parliament’s strong support for more women in economic decision-making positions
MEMO/11/487 Brussels, 5 July 2011 On the occasion of the European Parliament's vote on the report on women and business leadership, Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner, said: "It is good news that the European Parliament supports ...
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28-06-2011 - Gender equality
Prizes and equality labels to help companies close the gender pay gap
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04-05-2011 - Gender equality
"Women on the Board Pledge for Europe” signed by Guerlain and FES Consulting
IP/11/533 Brussels, 4 May 2011 EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding announced today the first two companies which signed up to the “Women on the Board Pledge for Europe” committing to improve the gender balance in boardrooms....
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28-03-2011 - Gender equality
Viviane Reding Vice-President of the European Commission, EU Justice Commissioner The European Commission's New Gender Equality Strategy: Towa
SPEECH/11/219 Viviane Reding Vice-President of the European Commission, EU Justice Commissioner The European Commission's New Gender Equality Strategy: Towards Quotas for Women in the boardroom? European Central Bank Diversity Forum Frankfurt, 28 March ...
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14-03-2011 - Gender equality
Equality: Commission drops three cases against Poland following new anti-discrimination law
IP/11/311 Brussels, 14 March 2011 The European Commission has closed three separate infringement procedures against Poland covering different aspects of EU equality legislation. The Commission successfully concluded the cases after Poland adopted a new ...
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08-03-2011 - Gender equality
Viviane Reding Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship 100th Anniversary of Inte
SPEECH/11/154 This is real gender equality in action: two men – the President of the European Parliament and the President of the European Commission – and two women – the Chair of the FEMJM Committee and the Vice-President of the European Commission ...
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08-03-2011 - Gender equality
Joint Statement by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-president of the European Commission Catherine Ashton
MEMO/11/146 Strasbourg, 8 March 2011 "Today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. For the past century, this important occasion has marked the economic, social, political and cultural achievements of women around the world....
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07-03-2011 - Gender equality
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
The Council of EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Ministers will meet on 7 March in Brussels. The European Commission will be represented by László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, and Vice-President Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Justice. This Council also prepares the Spring European Council later in March.
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05-03-2011 - Gender equality
First European Equal Pay Day - 5 March 2011
To raise awareness of the existence of the gender pay gap, the European Commission is launching a European Equal Pay Day (EEPD) which will become an annual event across Europe. As it develops the EEPD will provide a focus for activities to raise awareness of the gender pay gap and the need to take action to close it.
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04-03-2011 - Gender equality
First European Equal Pay Day highlights EU earnings gap
IP/11/255 Brussels, 4 March 2011 Women in the European Union earn on average 17.5% less than men during their lifetimes. This stark figure will be highlighted tomorrow during the first EU-wide Equal Pay Day....
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01-03-2011 - Gender equality
EU Justice Commissioner Reding challenges business leaders to increase women’s presence on corporate boards with “Women on the Board Pledge for Europe”
MEMO/11/124 Brussels, 1 March 2011 Following meetings today with business leaders and social partners on women in decision-making (see IP/11/242 ), EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding challenged publicly listed companies in Europe to sign a “Women ...
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01-03-2011 - Gender equality
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding meets European business leaders to push for more women in boardrooms
IP/11/242 Brussels, 1 March 2011 Corporate Europe is still a man's world: just one in 10 board members at Europe's biggest companies are women and in 97% of cases the board is chaired by a man. Studies show that businesses with more women at the top outperform ...
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01-03-2011 - Gender equality
Sex Discrimination in Insurance Contracts: Statement by European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU’s Justice Commissioner, on
MEMO/11/123 Brussels, 1 March 2011 The Court of Justice of the European Union today delivered its ruling in the Test-Achats case (C-236/09) concerning sex discrimination in insurance premiums. Commenting on the judgement, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane ...
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01-03-2011 - Gender equality
Commissioner Reding meets European business leaders
On the basis of new figures published today, the Commission will have an exchange of views with companies and social partners to see what measures they have taken and intend to take in the near future to improve the gender balance in board rooms. Over the next 12 months, the Commission will closely monitor progress. After that period, the Commission will assess whether further measures are required.
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06-02-2011 - Gender equality
Joint Statement of High Representative Catherine Ashton and European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding on the International Day against Female Genital Mutilation
MEMO/11/73 Brussels, 6 February 2011 "6 February marks the International Day against Female Genital Mutilation. This is an opportunity to remind the world that the European Union condemns this abhorrent practice that severely violates the human rights ...
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18-01-2011 - Gender equality
Prizes and equality labels to help companies close the gender pay gap
Equality labels and awards exist in some European countries that focus on several of the factors that cause the gender pay gap.
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24-11-2010 - Gender equality
Gender Equality: Commission welcomes compliance with EU sex discrimination rules in Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia; closes infringement cases
IP/10/1554 Brussels, 24 November 2010 The European Commission has welcomed the notification by Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia of measures to implement EU rules prohibiting discrimination in employment and occupation on the grounds of sex ( Directive ...
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22-11-2010 - Gender equality
Viviane Reding Vice-President of the Commission, responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Making equality between women and
SPEECH/10/674 Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very pleased to be here with you today at the European Institute for Gender Equality. It is a great moment for me to finally be able to visit the Institute and address this conference....
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20-10-2010 - Gender equality
Paid Maternity Leave: European Commission to work on balanced compromise to advance mothers’ rights, following European Parliament vote
MEMO/10/509 Strasbourg, 20 October 2010 In a first reading, the European Parliament voted today on the European Commission's proposal to reform the 1992 Maternity Leave Directive ( Directive 92/85/EEC )....
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21-09-2010 - Gender equality
New strategy on gender equality
The Commission adopted a five-year strategy for promoting equality between women and men in Europe. The strategy aims in particular to make better use of women's potential, thereby contributing to the EU's overall economic and social goals.
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05-05-2010 - Gender equality
Promotion for Gender Equality at the Workplace
On May 5 2010 the results of a European study - commissioned by DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities - investigating initiatives such as prizes, awards, labels, charters, rankings etc. targeted at promoting gender equality in businesses and organisations were presented.
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25-03-2010 - Gender equality
More women in top jobs key to economic growth, says EU report
IP/10/362 Brussels, 25 March 2010 Only one in 10 board members of Europe's biggest listed companies is a woman and all central bank governors in the EU are male. The economy would benefit by having full representation of both men and women in top positions, ...
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05-03-2010 - Gender equality
José Manuel Durão Barroso President of the European Commission Women's Charter: our commitment to gender equality Joint press conference with VP Reding Brussels, 5 March 2010
SPEECH/10/71 Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, Last September, I announced in the European Parliament the preparation of a Women's Charter, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, and to express this Commission's commitment ...
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05-03-2010 - Gender equality
European Commission aims to significantly reduce the gender pay gap
IP/10/236 Brussels, 5 March 2010 The European Commission plans to use a series of measures aimed at sig nificantly reducing the pay gap between men and women over the next five years. The average gender pay gap in the EU currently stands at 18%....
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05-03-2010 - Gender equality
European Commission strengthens its commitment to equality between women and men
IP/10/237 Brussels, 5 March 2010 Ahead of International Women's Day, the European Commission strengthened and deepened its commitment to equality between women and men with a Women's Charter. This political declaration sets out five key areas for action ...
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05-03-2010 - Gender equality
Tackling the gender pay gap – Frequently Asked Questions
MEMO/10/65 Brussels, 5 March 2010 Why do we need to tackle the gender pay gap? At 18% across Europe, the gender pay gap remains intolerably high and stubborn. Equal pay for equal work is one of the European Union’s founding principles....
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05-03-2010 - Gender equality
Viviane Reding Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Women's Charter: Our Comm
SPEECH/10/72 Ladies and gentlemen, for me this is an important moment. For several reasons: first, it is the first time that I come to this press room in my new role as Vice-President of the European Commission second, I was in New York on Monday to participate ...
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16-12-2009 - Gender equality
European Institute for Gender Equality opens
The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) opened its doors in Vilnius on 16 December 2009. The EIGE's Management Board, the Institute's decision-making body, also held its last official meeting of 2009 in Vilnius. On 17 December, stakeholders, NGOs and members of the general public interested in the EIGE's activities met the EIGE's Management Board.
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03-03-2009 - Gender equality
EU launches campaign to tackle gender pay gap
The European Commission has launched an EU-wide campaign to help tackle the gender pay gap. Across the EU economy, women earn on average 17.4% less than men. The simple concept of 'equal pay for work of equal value' is at the heart of the campaign being launched in the context of International Women's Day on 8 March to raise awareness of the pay gap, its causes, and how to tackle it.