Ursula von der Leyen Faces Gender Imbalance in EU Commission Team
As Ursula von der Leyen prepares to reveal her EU Commission team, she's grappling with an unexpected challenge: a gender imbalance. With more male than female candidates, the Commission could feature fewer women than in the past 20 years. However, Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas will bring an all-female leadership to the table, serving as the EU's High Representative and a Vice-President.
"A Lack of Understanding or Will"
The European Women's Lobby, an advocate for gender equality, criticizes the member states for either underestimating their female talent pool or ignoring it entirely. The organization's spokesperson, Mirta Baselovic, laments the situation, calling it both disappointing and frustrating. The European Parliament echoed these concerns, labeling it a poor message, especially for young women and girls.
The Power Struggle
Ursula von der Leyen holds substantial leverage in this situation, according to Alberto Alemanno, an expert on European law. By rejecting the member states' list and demonstrating her independence, she can assert her power and influence. Additionally, she can use her influence over key portfolios to incentivize member states to nominate more women. However, the final decision lies with the European Parliament, which has the power to approve or reject the Commission as a whole.
Addressing the Gender Imbalance
To tackle the gender imbalance, Ursula von der Leyen can:
- Commit Publicly: Reiterate her commitment to gender equality and ensure that her decisions align with this pledge.
- Adopt Inclusive Hiring Practices: Implement blind recruitment processes, promote gender-balanced shortlists, and provide diversity and bias training.
- Establish Role Models and Mentoring Programs: Promote female role models and establish mentorship programs to provide guidance and support.
- Revise Gender Equality Strategy: Strengthen the EU's gender equality strategy, establish performance metrics, and advocate for gender-balanced leadership.
- Engage with Member States: Dialog with leaders and share best practices to encourage gender balance policies.
Even with the current gender imbalance, von der Leyen and her all-female leadership team can inspire change within the EU, fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment.
