EU summit
EU leaders must respect European elections and ensure gender equality for top EU jobs
EU heads of state and government are set to decide on who they will nominate as candidate for president of the European Commission at their summit this week (26-27 June). The summit is also expected to include discussion of the other top posts in the EU institutions. Setting out the Green position ahead of the summit, Greens/EFA co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts stated:
“It is looking likely that EU leaders will respect the outcome of the European elections and the leading candidate process by nominating Jean-Claude Juncker as candidate for EU Commission president. We hope that common sense will prevail and that the attempt by David Cameron to hijack this proto-democratic process will be faced down. With all major European political parties having contested the elections on this basis, anything else would be a further blow to the EU's democratic legitimacy.
"The Greens/EFA group is looking forward to hearing Mr Juncker's core political priorities. Any possible support from our group would depend on how his priorities match with our vision for the European Commission and the EU over the coming five years. We are, however, concerned by the mooted stitch-up between the two largest political groups on the top EU jobs and the political agenda for the coming legislative term. The European Parliament should not be presented with some pre-cooked package on the top EU posts from the 'grand coalition' parties to simply rubber-stamp.
"Beyond the politicking, there is a clear need to ensure gender balance at the top of the EU institutions. The current situation in which men dominate the top posts in the EU institutions is a sad reflection on EU decision-making. This must change. The Greens/EFA group also believes each member state should be called to present a female and male candidate as part of its nomination for commissioner. On the basis of this, the Commission president should select a Commission college that guarantees gender balance. It is high time Europe took gender equality serious and, to do so, it must start by ensuring this is reflected in the EU institutions."
