Von der Leyen cuts off "equality"
New EU-Commission
Today, Commission President von der Leyen presented the new EU Commission team to the EU Parliament.
The position of "Commissioner for Equality" will not be renewed in this legislature. Instead, the topic is subordinated to the Commissioner for “Preparedness and Crisis Management”.
Green MEP Katrin Langensiepen, member of the FEMM Committee and herself the only female MEP with a visible disability in the European Parliament, is concerned:
“The decision not to appoint a Commissioner for Equality is alarming and a slap in the face for many women's rights, disability and minority organizations.
Especially in times when we are experiencing a gender backlash, marginalized groups are being attacked and diversity is not a matter of course, equality should have been at the top of the Commissions list.
With this decision von der Leyen has made it clear that equality is not a priority for her.
As Greens, we will continue to do everything we can to promote a gender-equal, inclusive and non-discriminatory Europe.”