17.02.2012:
Minister of Gender Equality Manu Sareen: We need more women on company boards

The Minister for Gender Equality Manu Sareen encourages European ministers for gender equality to actively take part in a debate on how to get more women on company boards.

Despite the fact that women account for over half of new university graduates and contribute equally on the labor market, women in Denmark make up just fewer than 12 percent of board members in publicly listed companies. The underrepresentation of women on boards is not just a challenge for Denmark but for all of Europe.

The Minister for Gender Equality will encourage European ministers to actively take part in a debate at the February EPSCO council meeting on what can be done to solve the problem. The Council (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs), often abbreviated to EPSCO, works to improve the citizens’ standard of living and quality of life. To this end securing employment and a high level of social protection in health care, gender equality and other social aspects is a priority.

At the council meeting Manu Sareen wishes to gather European experiences on improving women’s representation and to discuss what can be done to combat the problem of underrepresentation on boards at Union and Members State levels.

"We need more women on boards – in Denmark and across Europe. It is a matter of securing equal opportunities between women and men. Also, we need to capitalise on all human resources in order to ensure economic growth and prosperity. I am pleased that we now have an opportunity to gather European experience on what can be done to promote the representation of women on boards. I am certain the debate not only will bring forward which current initiatives work and doesn’t work but also inspire to new initiatives. There are plenty of good ideas, let’s bring them to the table."

Last year Commissioner Viviane Reding launched the “Women on the Board Pledge for Europe” for companies to sign voluntarily. In March 2012, the Commission will assess progress made in this field since last year. The debate at the EPSCO Council will feed in to the assessment by the Commission.


26.01.2012:
Gender equality on the EU agenda in Copenhagen the 26th and 27th of January

High level officials from the national gender equality ministries are attending a meeting of the High Level Group in order to exchange knowledge on how to promote gender equality. Also, delegates will be presented with the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU gender equality programme for the first half of 2012.

The HLG meets once every presidency and is an integrated part of the EU’s work on promoting gender equality. Thursday night the Danish Minister for Gender Equality will give a speech at a cultural event at Designmuseum Denmark. Afterwards the Minister will be in dialogue with officials and discuss current gender equality challenges.

25.01.2012:
Launching of the Danish Presidency programme for the European-Parliament

Today the Minister for Gender Equality presents the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU’s priorities and activities for the Committee for Gender Equality and Womens Rights (FEMM) in the European Parliament.

During the Danish Presidency gender equality is given a high priority by the Danish Government. Efforts will be made to ensure further progress for the benefit of all women and men in Europe.

The Minister for Gender Equality will give priority to the following issues:

1. The Minister for Gender Equality will chair a debate regarding women in economic decision-making during the meeting of the Council in February


2. As part of the follow-up of the UN Beijing action plan, the Presidency will put the emerging issue of gender equality and climate change on the EU agenda


3. The Danish Presidency will promote and strengthen gender equality on the global level at the annual meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women


4. The Minister for Gender Equality will facilitate the exchange of best practises on how to increase the number of young women in science, technology, engineering and math, as well as how to diminish the drop-out rate of boys in the educational system.

During the Presidency focus will also be placed on gender equality and health as well as trafficking in human beings in the EU.

Denmark will be working closely with the European Commission as well as the European Institute for Gender Equality. Also, Denmark wishes to ensure a progressive cooperation with relevant NGO’s in promoting gender equality.