Nicolas Schmit, the Minister responsible for relations with the European Parliament during the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU, addressed the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 7 October 2015. He replied, in the Council's name, to a question for oral answer by MEP Linda McAvan (S&D) concerning the renewal of the EU's action plan on gender equality and women's empowerment in the context of development cooperation. Nicolas Schmit expressed his wish that the new framework should constitute "an effective tool for promoting the rights of women and girls". He indicated that "gender and development" would be included on the agenda of the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 26 October 2015, when the conclusions of the new gender equality framework will be adopted.
"The Presidency will ensure that the issue of gender remains at the heart of the priorities of the EU and its Member States"
"Gender equality is at the heart of European values" and the EU also defends gender equality in its external relations, declared Nicolas Schmit in his introduction.
Nicolas Schmit indicated that the Presidency is continuing the work on gender and development carried out at the Council, relying, in particular, on the conclusions which the Council adopted last May with regard to gender equality in the context of development. "The Presidency will ensure that the issue of gender remains at the heart of the priorities of the EU and its Member States as much within the Union as in its external policy", he declared. "Within the Council's bodies, we are currently working with Member States, the Commission and the External Action Service (EEAS) to set up the new framework for gender equality and women's empowerment, which should be adopted by the end of the year", explained the Minister.
This new framework, which is part of the context of the Union's external relations for the 2016-2020 period, was adopted on 22 September 2015 by the Commission and the EEAS. It aims to help partner countries, especially developing countries, candidate countries and neighbouring countries, to obtain tangible results on the path to gender equality.
Nicolas Schmit drew attention to "the significant progress" made on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls on a global level, in particular the access of girls to primary education, women's economic independence, access to healthcare and modern contraception methods, and maternal mortality.
"However, it is worth noting that progress is not as quick as we would like and it is very unequal according to region, country, even within a country", added Nicolas Schmit. "Every day, all around the world, the rights of women and girls are under attack", he regretted, referring to the obstacles to education, employment discrimination, lower pay for the same work, discriminatory or persecutory laws, domestic violence, slavery and sexual exploitation, and genital mutilation.
"Gender and development" on the agenda of the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 26 October 2015
"It is essential for the EU not to relax its efforts but to greatly increase them", he insisted strongly, before expressing his wish that the new framework should constitute "an effective tool for the promotion of the rights of women and girls".
"Over the coming days and weeks, we will continue to work actively in the Council on this priority dossier", declared Nicolas Schmit, specifying that a "gender and development" point will appear on the agenda of the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in which the Ministers of Development will participate on 26 October 2015.
"The EU and the Member States must continue the fight for gender equality", concluded Nicolas Schmit.
"Concerning the delay in implementating gender equality around the world, the Commission would like to propose high quality actions and measures supported by better financing, good knowledge and major political leadership in all external policies, including development cooperation", declared Christos Styliandides, who was replacing the Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica. "We confirm this intention in the recent process to adopt new sustainable development goals", as well as through "the adoption of the new framework for equality", he declared.
During the ensuing debate, the main political groups all highlighted the need to support gender equality and women's empowerment in the context of development aid policies. MEP Davor Ivo Stier (PPE) insisted on the need to invest in empowering women in order to succeed with sustainable development. MEP Doru-Claudian Frunzulica (S&D) underlined that, for the purpose of political coherence, it was necessary to apply the new framework for equality in different aspects of EU's external policy. MEP Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea (ALDE) highlighted the fact that women were more vulnerable to falling into poverty and identified the need to create a global fund for education with sufficient resources and a global agenda for education. Lola Sanchez Caldentey (GUE/NGL) referred to the "feminisation of poverty", explaining that women were the first victims of austerity policies. MEP Branislav Škripek (ECR), who was more dubious, emphasised the need not to "impose a gender ideology on these countries", while focussing on development aid, and especially on basic needs.