Subject: Gender Equality

Gender equality and gender mainstreaming will be placed high on the political agenda of the European Parliament on 8 March 2004, International Women's Day.

The Council Presidency has already declared its strong commitment to take tangible measures to advance gender parity.

According to the draft Constitutional Treaty, Member States should establish a system whereby each Commissioner is selected from a list of three persons representing both genders.

1. Will the Council call upon the Member States to establish a list of three Commissioners-designate representing both sexes, in accordance with the wording of the draft Constitution, in order to ensure that the new Commission is balanced as regards gender?

2. Will the Council support President Prodi's policy and ensure that at least one third of the Commissioners in the new Commission are women?