Commenting today at the informal meeting of ministers for gender equality and family affairs in Bad Pyrmont (Germany), Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities welcomed the discussions saying "If Europe is to meet its economic, social and demographic challenges, equality between women and men has to be the starting point. Recent success in the EU's labour market performance is largely thanks to more women joining the workforce. We are seeing that, in countries where women participate actively in all aspects of economic, social and political life, well established work-home reconciliation policies are the norm - these are also the countries where women and men have, on average, more children".
Following the first session of the two-day meeting, Commissioner Špidla added, "The Commission especially welcomes the Team Presidency declaration from Germany, Portugal and Slovenia, on equality. It sets out a concrete work programme for the next 18 months based on Member States' commitments to the 2005 Gender Equality Pact and will contribute to the European Commission's Roadmap for Equality between men and women".
The main areas for discussion over the two day event will focus on the changes in perceptions of women and men as role models and the challenges this brings about. The meeting will also deal with how to strengthen strategic alliances with the economy so as to promote better reconciliation between work, private and family life, while promoting equal opportunities for women and men in the workplace.
See full Press Release.
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