|
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Αnna KARAMANOU |
| Launch of Eurochamber's Women Network |
European Parliament, 10.9.2003 |
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for having
invited me and my Colleagues Members of the European Parliament Committee
on Women´s Rights and Equal Opportunities to this Launch of Eurochamber´s
Women Network. It is a honour and pleasure for me to address this important
group.
I would like to congratulate you
for having taken the initiative to create this Network, which I believe will play a crucial role for women
on all levels and in all activity areas of the Chambers within your Organisation.
It is my strong conviction that there are many women in your organisations
who are very capable and who can contribute with knowledge, expereience and
ideas to progress and economic growth.
Despite the number of knowledgeable
and capable women, I regret very much that women are still underrepresented
where important decisions are taken, in the private as well as in the public
sector, and they do not participate in important negociations and diplomacy.
Women is a labour force that have not yet been fully exploited, and they should
be mobilised in order that their high potential is used. There is a big space
for women to act and to bring fresh ideas in order to boost our economies.
I would then just say a few words
of the work of the Committee which I have the honour to chair.
A priority task of our Committee
is the promotion of gender equality in all areas of public and private life,
and a balanced participation of men and women in democratic institutions and
decision-making processes. Our Committee
works very hard to support the willingness and capacity of women in order
that they are not side stepped but are placed on an equal level with men.
Gender equality and women´s rights must be further strengthened in the
new Constitution. The new European Parliament should have a balanced participation
of women and men, and in any case, our aim is that the share of women should
not be less than 40 per cent, in comparison with today´s figure of 31
per cent.
I wish you all success with your
Network, and I thank you for your attention.