Gender equality: EU and Member States must act within their competences

"We need to move faster in terms of gender equality. For the rights of women, but also because of their potential for the EU as a whole," said Mariya Gabriel, on the day of a debate on the progress on equality between women and men in the EU in 2013, for which she is spokesperson for the EPP Group.

"With a wage gap of 16.4%, low participation of women in political and economic decision-making, persistent violence - even if the situation improves every year, the challenges to achieving equality are numerous and we are still waiting for more concrete action," said Constance Le Grip, EPP Group Coordinator in the Committee on Women's Rights in the European Parliament.

"The report makes excellent proposals to move women's rights forward and reiterates some of the EPP Group's long-held values. The implementation of Directive 2006/54/EC on equal opportunities for men and women in employment is a key element. We also hope that the European institutions and Member States will finally take efficient and concrete measures to fight violence against women, counteract stereotypes that reinforce inequality and strongly encourage female entrepreneurship," said Mariya Gabriel.

"For real progress to be made in terms of gender equality, it is also crucial to take action at the most appropriate level. This is why the EPP Group is taking responsibility for highlighting again those competences that belong to Member States and not to the European Union. The principle of subsidiarity is a fundamental principle that we will continue to defend," concluded Mariya Gabriel and Constance Le Grip.