European Women’s Lobbying: Steps towards a European Social Dialogue

1. European Women’s Lobbying: Steps towards a European Social Dialogue Dr Katerina Kolyva European Cultural Interactions Vilnius, 28 June 2004

2. objectives of the presentation • EU policy making patterns • The role of lobbying in EU policy making • Current status of women issues in EU policies • Women’s lobbying and networking • Assets versus challenges • Recommendations for the immediate future

3. EU policy making patterns • European level: (EU core) EC, EP, Council, CoR, ECOSOC • National level: (EU member states) but also regional and local • Civil society at national and European levels: (lobby groups, interest representation, networks, NGOs, etc)

4. the role of lobbying in EU policy making • Lobby = interest representation to the EU • Organised interests provide unique benefits to the European Commission: • Source of information in drafting legislation • Means of ‘testing out’ proposals • Source of information about implementation of measures and impact

5. the variety of interests in Europe • Firms • Professions • Employers and Labour groups • Social and environmental interests • Territorial interests (regional/local interests) • Citizen interests • Policy sectors (social, cultural, educational, etc)

6. Formal interest groups addressed to the EU Of which those in Belgium Of which those in Brussels Offices of regions in Brussels 1450 829 768 171 interest representation statistics

7. activities of European interest groups • Source of information about EU legislation, action, budgetary issues, decision making and policy implementation in a specific field • Lobby their interests to EU institutions by providing recommendations to policy • Network with other organisations for better information, exchange of expertise and co-operation • Provide a European dimension to the sector • Create an identity for project development

8. how do they operate • Brussels offices, multilingual staff, European lobbyists • Annual assemblies, other meetings and activities for members • Flow of information via newsletters, email lists, websites, e-fora, annual reports • Visibility to conferences, EP sessions, events • Promotional material (logo, brochures, leaflets) • Meetings with experts in the field, the EC, MEPs, national governments • Networking

9. their budget • Member contributions • National governments • EU funding (via EP) • EU funding (via EC projects) • Private sponsorship • Donations

10. current status of women in the EU • Women constitute 51% of EU population However only… • 5 out of 20 Commissioners were women • 31% of MEPs are women • 9,3% of women are in top management positions • 8% are directors of bank divisions • 6% are full-time academic professors

11. women issues in EU policies • The Treaties Articles 2,3 on equality between men and women Article 13 a general anti-discrimination clause Articles 137,141 on equality in the labour market • EU Directives on gender equality • Community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality (2001-2005) EU policy instrument (non-legislative instrument)

12. EU funding for women’s issues • No single framework programme for gender/women’s issues • Funding is ‘dispersed’ among different actions, different DGs and across EU institutions • Some funding examples: DG Research DG Employment (EQUAL) DAPHNE on actions against violence DG Education and Culture (TN, Grundvig, Leonardo)

13. EU bodies dealing with women issues • European Commission -DG Employment, Industrial Relations & Social Affairs, Equal opportunities unit -Commissioners’ Group on Equality -Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities (composed of ministerial representatives) • Council of Ministers Social Affairs Council but no gender equality Council • European Parliament Committee on Women’s Rights

14. Women’s lobbying and networking;some examples • EWL- The European Women’s Lobby • Several National Women’s Councils in most European countries • European Women’s Network for Intercultural Action and Exchange • ATHENA Erasmus Thematic Network • ENOW- European Network of Women • CECIF- European Centre of the International Council of Women

15. assets of women’s lobbying • Fight for integration, civil dialogue • Encouragement of an open and more tolerant society • Raising awareness about gender equality issues • Promoting education and training • Encourage a balance between an ‘economic Europe’ and a ‘social Europe’

16. challenges for women lobbying • Poor funding for women NGOs • Large disparities between Scandinavian, Mediterranean and Central/Eastern European countries • Stereotyping and male dominant culture in society • Fears that the enlarged EU will increase bureaucratic procedures

17. more challenges… • Reservations by certain countries that enlargement might have a negative impact on the overall gender equality • Lack of specific gender equality acts in the field of anti-discrimination • Lack of specific action for women in rural areas • The accession process took place only at governmental level and civil society was ignored

18. challenges in the new member states • The division between ‘women’s work’ and men’s work’ is still very strong • Lack of recognition of women’s abilities and skills • High levels of women unemployment • Lack of training possibilities • Gender pay gap • Lack of care provisions for children • Rural women

19. needs for the immediate future • Women supporting women • Better communication and transparency • Training and capacity building • Regular and transparent consultation with NGOs; a stronger civil dialogue • Creation of sustainable funding means (instead of project form activities) • More diversity in representation

20. promotion of diversity After all there are…. • young women • migrant women • women from ethnic minorities • disabled women • gay women • older women • women living in the city or in rural areas • single mothers