In this day and age of supposed sexual equality, it is unbelievable that there is not a single woman among the top 58 positions of the European Central Bank (ECB), even though women make up 34 per cent of the European Parliament. This situation, or crisis, has led to the postponement of a hearing for a new nominee, another man, to be appointed to the six-member Executive Board of the ECB. The Board did have a woman member from after it was founded in 1998 until May 2011, when Austria's Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell left her post. Besides there being no women on the Executive Board, there is also a total female absence on the ECB's 23-member Governing Council and its 29-strong General Council.
The European Parliament's economic and monetary chief Sharon Bowles expressed her frustration with the all-male institution. She said: "There is now not even a single woman sitting on the main board of what is one of the most powerful and essential institutions in the EU." She added that the bank needs to act to rectify things, saying: "The symbolic and practical effects of this absence are not without note. It does seem, as with corporations, that there is a systemic cultural problem to address." Ms Bowles said she had been told "that no women could be located" and that there were no plans in place to promote women. It is likely that Luxembourg banker Mr Yves Mersch will fill a current vacancy on the Board. (Breaking News English)
No comments:
Post a Comment