Social Policy in the EU

News and information about the European Union's social policies.

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Mersch to get ECB post despite gender row: EU sources — 16 November 2012, 15:51 CET

Luxembourg central bank chief Yves Mersch is expected to be named to a top European Central Bank post next week after his nomination was held up by objections that there were no women candidates for the job.

Database: women & men in decision making — 14 November 2012, 17:23 CET

The European Commission established a database monitoring the numbers of men and women in key decision-making positions in order to provide reliable statistics that can be used to monitor the current situation and trends through time. The database covers positions of power and influence in politics, public administration, the judiciary, and various other key areas of the economy. Data on political decision-making at European and national level are updated quarterly Choose translations of the previous link, whilst all other data are updated annually, though updates to political data at regional level are included in quarterly updates in case of elections. Figures are available for decision-makers at European, national and regional level (politics only) and currently cover 34 countries – the 27 EU Member States, one acceding country (Croatia), three candidate countries (Iceland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Turkey), one of the potential candidate countries (Serbia) and the remaining EEA countries (Liechtenstein and Norway).

EU wants 40% women in boardrooms — 14 November 2012, 18:23 CET

Europe needs a gender revolution in its biggest boardrooms to make better use of female business talent now going to waste, the European Commission said Wednesday.

EU hands Liberia EUR 42m to cut maternal mortality — 08 November 2012, 22:16 CET

The European Commission on Thursday pledged 42 million euros to Liberia's president and Nobel peace laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to help halve one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates.

Leaders praise Australia PM for sexism speech — 07 November 2012, 00:26 CET

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Wednesday that world leaders congratulated her at the Asia-Europe Meeting in Laos on her now famous misogyny speech, which went viral on the Internet.

Spain blocks ECB nominee as gender row deepens — 05 November 2012, 22:19 CET

Spain has blocked the appointment of another man to the all-male ECB's executive board but a source said Madrid's decision was motivated by a desire to regain influence at the top of the eurozone's central bank.

Entrepreneurial women needed to create growth and jobs — 05 November 2012, 11:52 CET

When it comes to adopting an entrepreneurial spirit, it's the men who have the edge. Despite European women accounting for over half of the population, they only make up a third of the EU's entrepreneurs, which is why the European Commission is focusing on enterprise initiatives, specifically targeted at women.

MEPs challenge Van Rompuy over ECB appointment — 02 November 2012, 16:31 CET

Euro-MPs, angry because no women candidates were considered, have told EU president Herman Van Rompuy that naming Yves Mersch to a key European Central Bank post would be unfair and destroy mutual trust with Parliament.

Germany backs ECB candidate in gender row — 26 October 2012, 10:55 CET

A candidate for a top position at the European Central Bank, who was rejected by the European Parliament in a row over gender equality, won backing from Germany on Friday.

MEPs snub EU leaders over Mersch ECB job — 25 October 2012, 17:38 CET

Euro-MPs snubbed the EU's leaders on Thursday when they voted down the leading candidate for a key European Central Bank post to protest a lack of women candidates for the job.

Delay in EU plan to set 40% board quota for women — 23 October 2012, 19:01 CET

An EU move to set a 40 per cent quota for women on the boards of listed companies has been delayed "several weeks" amid an ongoing row over the lack of female candidates for a key ECB job.

Brussels wants extra EUR 8.9bn to make up 2012 shortfall — 23 October 2012, 15:56 CET

The European Commission is seeking an extra 8.9 billion euros to make up a 2012 EU budget shortfall which has undercut the Erasmus student exchange programme and other social projects that are all but broke.

Van Rompuy presses for Mersch ECB decision — 23 October 2012, 13:57 CET

European President Herman Van Rompuy pressed the European Parliament on Tuesday to fill a key European Central Bank post after MEPs held up the nomination in protest that no women candidates had been put forward.

Euro-Parliament committee votes down Mersch for ECB — 22 October 2012, 23:39 CET

The European Parliament's economic affairs committee has voted down the nomination of Luxembourg's Yves Mersch to the European Central Bank board, castigating the EU for not putting up women candidates.

Brussels to request extra cash for Erasmus student fund — 22 October 2012, 17:18 CET

The European Commission is seeking a "substantial" increase to the EU's 2012 budget to fund the Erasmus student exchange programme as well as other social schemes that are all but broke due to austerity-driven cuts.

Simple stove brings safety, income for Darfur women — 19 October 2012, 13:16 CET

Collecting firewood for cooking puts women in Sudan's conflict-plagued and impoverished Darfur region at risk of rape.

Charity warns of 'new poverty' in Italy — 17 October 2012, 12:12 CET

Italy's crisis is pushing growing numbers of pensioners and housewives into poverty, a Catholic charity said in a report on Wednesday that warned the state welfare system was failing to cope.

EU slams 'vile aggression' against Pakistani girl activist — 10 October 2012, 16:42 CET

EU foreign policy representative Catherine Ashton slammed the Taliban on Wednesday for shooting a teenage Pakistani child campaigner in what she described as "a vile aggression."

Row over women on ECB board could go to court: source — 01 October 2012, 19:44 CET

Leading Euro-MPs will discuss taking EU states to court over the absence of female representation at the European Central Bank during a closed door meeting on Tuesday.

EU to tighten medical controls after breast implant scandal — 26 September 2012, 16:23 CET

A breast implant scandal affecting thousands of women this year damaged confidence and highlighted the need to tighten controls in Europe on everyday medical devices, says the European Commission.

Nine EU states baulk at board quota for women: EU source — 17 September 2012, 14:56 CET

Nine EU member states have joined forces to thwart EU moves to set a 40 percent quota for women's representation on the boards of listed companies, say EU diplomatic sources.

Amnesty International condemns Italy over Roma — 12 September 2012, 18:52 CET

Amnesty International on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Mario Monti's government to reform laws and policies affecting the Roma community in Italy, saying they fail to respect human rights.

Euro-MPs demand women candidates for ECB job — 12 September 2012, 11:13 CET

European lawmakers have blocked the nomination of Luxembourg's Yves Mersch to a top job on the all-male European Central Bank's executive board.

EU wants women to have 40% share on company boards — 06 September 2012, 10:58 CET

The European Commission wants women to have at least 40 per cent representation on the boards of listed companies but the plan has reportedly run into opposition from some EU Member States.

Few tears for Spanish MP's 5,100-euro 'hardship' tale — 27 August 2012, 19:50 CET

A Spanish lawmaker's hardship tale of barely scraping by on 5,100 euros a month has prompted a deluge of derision in recession-hit Spain.