For many years, the European Parliament has been considered as an institution which has a real impact on gender equality policies of the European Union and where women managed to increase their political participation over 30%, i.e. they constitute so called “critical mass”. The 1990s were even called the “Gold Age” of the EU gender equality policies as many gender initiatives were undertaken at that time. However, in the last five years we could observe backlash tendencies at the EU level like in most of the EU member states where conservative parties have power. The Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities Committee led by Anna Zaborska from a conservative Group of the European People’s Party seems to play less active role in promoting women’s rights. The proposal of a new antidiscriminatory directive was accepted after a long debate, thanks to the support granted by the MPs from the Green Group/EFA and Group of Liberals.

Will the new European Parliament (2009-2014) play a role in creating political space for gender equality policies? Will the stronger role of the European Parliament which is set forth in the Lisbon Treaty not only increase effectiveness of the European Union and make it more democratic but enhance gender equality initiatives as well? The new Parliament will need to initiate a debate on the budget of the European Union, which will be in force in 2014. Will this new budget guarantee enough sources for the initiatives aimed at equalizing opportunities of women and men?

The aim of March 6, 2009, debate which took place in Warsaw in a view of the European election in June, 2009, was to initiate discussion on the role of the European Parliament in promoting solutions which will help to achieve gender justice.

More in the invitation and report (in Polish).