1. European Women’s Lobbying: Steps towards a European Social Dialogue Dr Katerina Kolyva European Cultural Interactions Vilnius, 28 June 2004

2. objectives of the presentation EU policy making patterns EU policy making patterns The role of lobbying in EU policy making The role of lobbying in EU policy making Current status of women issues in EU policies Current status of women issues in EU policies Women’s lobbying and networking Women’s lobbying and networking Assets versus challenges Assets versus challenges Recommendations for the immediate future Recommendations for the immediate future

3. EU policy making patterns European level: (EU core) EC, EP, Council, CoR, ECOSOC European level: (EU core) EC, EP, Council, CoR, ECOSOC National level: (EU member states) but also regional and local National level: (EU member states) but also regional and local Civil society at national and European levels: Civil society at national and European levels: (lobby groups, interest representation, networks, NGOs, etc)

4. the role of lobbying in EU policy making Lobby = interest representation to the EU Lobby = interest representation to the EU Organised interests provide unique benefits to the European Commission: Organised interests provide unique benefits to the European Commission: –Source of information in drafting legislation –Means of ‘testing out’ proposals –Source of information about implementation of measures and impact

5. the variety of interests in Europe Firms Firms Professions Professions Employers and Labour groups Employers and Labour groups Social and environmental interests Social and environmental interests Territorial interests (regional/local interests) Territorial interests (regional/local interests) Citizen interests Citizen interests Policy sectors (social, cultural, educational, etc) Policy sectors (social, cultural, educational, etc)

6. interest representation statistics Formal interest groups addressed to the EU Formal interest groups addressed to the EU Of which those in Belgium Of which those in Belgium Of which those in Brussels Of which those in Brussels Offices of regions in Brussels Offices of regions in Brussels1450829768171

7. activities of European interest groups Source of information about EU legislation, action, budgetary issues, decision making and policy implementation in a specific field Source of information about EU legislation, action, budgetary issues, decision making and policy implementation in a specific field Lobby their interests to EU institutions by providing recommendations to policy Lobby their interests to EU institutions by providing recommendations to policy Network with other organisations for better information, exchange of expertise and co- operation Network with other organisations for better information, exchange of expertise and co- operation Provide a European dimension to the sector Provide a European dimension to the sector Create an identity for project development Create an identity for project development

8. how do they operate Brussels offices, multilingual staff, European lobbyists Brussels offices, multilingual staff, European lobbyists Annual assemblies, other meetings and activities for members Annual assemblies, other meetings and activities for members Flow of information via newsletters, email lists, websites, e-fora, annual reports Flow of information via newsletters, email lists, websites, e-fora, annual reports Visibility to conferences, EP sessions, events Visibility to conferences, EP sessions, events Promotional material (logo, brochures, leaflets) Promotional material (logo, brochures, leaflets) Meetings with experts in the field, the EC, MEPs, national governments Meetings with experts in the field, the EC, MEPs, national governments Networking Networking

9. their budget Member contributions Member contributions National governments National governments EU funding (via EP) EU funding (via EP) EU funding (via EC projects) EU funding (via EC projects) Private sponsorship Private sponsorship Donations Donations

10. current status of women in the EU Women constitute 51% of EU population Women constitute 51% of EU population However only… 5 out of 20 Commissioners were women 5 out of 20 Commissioners were women 31% of MEPs are women 31% of MEPs are women 9,3% of women are in top management positions 9,3% of women are in top management positions 8% are directors of bank divisions 8% are directors of bank divisions 6% are full-time academic professors 6% are full-time academic professors

11. women issues in EU policies The Treaties The Treaties Articles 2,3 on equality between men and women Article 13 a general anti-discrimination clause Articles 137,141 on equality in the labour market EU Directives on gender equality EU Directives on gender equality Community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality (2001-2005) EU policy instrument (non- legislative instrument) Community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality (2001-2005) EU policy instrument (non- legislative instrument)

12. EU funding for women’s issues No single framework programme for gender/women’s issues No single framework programme for gender/women’s issues Funding is ‘dispersed’ among different actions, different DGs and across EU institutions Funding is ‘dispersed’ among different actions, different DGs and across EU institutions Some funding examples: Some funding examples: DG Research DG Employment (EQUAL) DAPHNE on actions against violence DG Education and Culture (TN, Grundvig, Leonardo)

13. EU bodies dealing with women issues European Commission European Commission -DG Employment, Industrial Relations & Social Affairs, Equal opportunities unit -Commissioners’ Group on Equality -Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities (composed of ministerial representatives) Council of Ministers Council of Ministers Social Affairs Council but no gender equality Council European Parliament European Parliament Committee on Women’s Rights

14. Women’s lobbying and networking; some examples EWL- The European Women’s Lobby EWL- The European Women’s Lobby Several National Women’s Councils in most European countries Several National Women’s Councils in most European countries European Women’s Network for Intercultural Action and Exchange European Women’s Network for Intercultural Action and Exchange ATHENA Erasmus Thematic Network ATHENA Erasmus Thematic Network ENOW- European Network of Women ENOW- European Network of Women CECIF- European Centre of the International Council of Women CECIF- European Centre of the International Council of Women

15. assets of women’s lobbying Fight for integration, civil dialogue Fight for integration, civil dialogue Encouragement of an open and more tolerant society Encouragement of an open and more tolerant society Raising awareness about gender equality issues Raising awareness about gender equality issues Promoting education and training Promoting education and training Encourage a balance between an ‘economic Europe’ and a ‘social Europe’ Encourage a balance between an ‘economic Europe’ and a ‘social Europe’

16. challenges for women lobbying Poor funding for women NGOs Poor funding for women NGOs Large disparities between Scandinavian, Mediterranean and Central/Eastern European countries Large disparities between Scandinavian, Mediterranean and Central/Eastern European countries Stereotyping and male dominant culture in society Stereotyping and male dominant culture in society Fears that the enlarged EU will increase bureaucratic procedures Fears that the enlarged EU will increase bureaucratic procedures

17. more challenges… Reservations by certain countries that enlargement might have a negative impact on the overall gender equality Reservations by certain countries that enlargement might have a negative impact on the overall gender equality Lack of specific gender equality acts in the field of anti-discrimination Lack of specific gender equality acts in the field of anti-discrimination Lack of specific action for women in rural areas Lack of specific action for women in rural areas The accession process took place only at governmental level and civil society was ignored The accession process took place only at governmental level and civil society was ignored

18. challenges in the new member states The division between ‘women’s work’ and men’s work’ is still very strong The division between ‘women’s work’ and men’s work’ is still very strong Lack of recognition of women’s abilities and skills Lack of recognition of women’s abilities and skills High levels of women unemployment High levels of women unemployment Lack of training possibilities Lack of training possibilities Gender pay gap Gender pay gap Lack of care provisions for children Lack of care provisions for children Rural women Rural women

19. needs for the immediate future Women supporting women Women supporting women Better communication and transparency Better communication and transparency Training and capacity building Training and capacity building Regular and transparent consultation with NGOs; a stronger civil dialogue Regular and transparent consultation with NGOs; a stronger civil dialogue Creation of sustainable funding means (instead of project form activities) Creation of sustainable funding means (instead of project form activities) More diversity in representation More diversity in representation

20. promotion of diversity After all there are…. young women young women migrant women migrant women women from ethnic minorities women from ethnic minorities disabled women disabled women gay women gay women older women older women women living in the city or in rural areas women living in the city or in rural areas single mothers single mothers