Republican News · Thursday 3 October 2002

Women debate EU Equality Agenda

Many of the distinguished panel and audience at last Friday evening's National Forum on Europe, held to discuss "Women in an Enlarging Europe", raised important arguments about the EU's Equality Agenda.

Some of the speakers, even among those billed as pro-Nice, raised questions and even answers that spoke incontrovertibly to the need to oppose the Nice Treaty on 19 October.

Maureen Gaffney, Chairperson of the National Social and Economic Forum, argued that the EU project is only 'the best we've got'. Sinn Féin's Mary Lou MacDonald replied that a vote against Nice is not a vote to disengage, but to enable Ireland to play a part as an equal in changing it. But Gaffney herself raised some real concerns about what is going to happen to the equality agenda within the EU as the power bloc expands its political economic domain.

David Byrne, EU Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, pointed out that a real issue was whether the Charter for Rights should be a legal document, or only have the status of a political document, which the European Court may or may not choose to refer to in its judgements. He explained that EU member states couldn't agree on human rights, and the charter consequently has only the status of a political document, with no legal force. It is an important indicator of where the EU Equality agenda stands - it's voluntary with no obligations whatever.

Many speakers from the floor, including a distinguished gathering of women who are active within the community sector and statutory agencies, raised real issues concerning the neo-liberal economic agenda of the EU. This agenda, speakers pointed out, means cuts, cuts above all in social services, which affect women, and communities most severely. These cuts mean cutbacks in the very programmes and projects which have offered women, for the first time in Ireland, an opportunity to participate in the life of their community, to enter employment and secure an independent income, which is the hard face of advancing equality and human rights.

Others pointed out, speaking for women in their communities, that securing gender equality is a process that has begun, however haltingly, to develop in the state. The neo-liberal agenda of today's EU will offer the very handle our government looks for, to reinforce cuts that the PD/Fianna Fáil Coalition is anxious to make, and to turn back those fragile advances. Above all, it is women who will suffer these cutbacks.

To quote Alice in Wonderland, "and answer came there none" to the questions from these distinguished carpenters, the best that the National Forum could provide, to argue the Yes case.

Against Nice, for an EU of Equals

Sinn Féin Equality spokesperson, Mary Lou McDonald, told the meeting that ratification of the Nice Treaty would be a regression in furthering the agenda of attaining full equality for women in the EU.

"The EU has played a part in advancing equality for women," she said. "The principle of equal pay for work of equal value; protections against discrimination in the workplace; the aspirations to harmonise work and family life - all of these are positive and it is important to acknowledge these achievements. It is equally important to acknowledge the great distance we have to travel to achieve full equality in the EU.

"The low level of women's participation in political decision-making processes and the persistently low numbers of women in public office in Ireland are reflected throughout the EU. Women have a specific interest in ensuring that EU governance is guided by principles of equality and inclusivity. An EU that places power in the hands of a core of powerful states can only serve to disadvantage those on the periphery. An EU that operates with a democratic deficit can only serve to alienate and disempower its citizens.

"Only by defending and developing an EU of equal states can we hope to empower communities and citizens. Only an EU that holds equality as its guiding principle can hope to advance equality for women. It is to this EU of equals that we wish to see our friends in the applicant states accede."

"On 19 October, we in Ireland have the opportunity to vote for equality in the EU. A rejection of Nice is not a rejection of enlargement. A NO vote is a vote for inclusivity, parity of esteem and democratic accountability."