Controversy is expected over the composition of the next European Commission after member states announced a predominantly male line-up of candidates. This is an open disregard for the wishes of the President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, AFP reported.
Time is running down on the August 30 deadline for EU countries to put forward nominations for von der Leyen's 26-member team. 16 of the 21 known names so far are male.
This is despite the EC head's express request to the member states after his re-election in July to give him a choice of one male and one female candidate.
No country has done so - and as things stand, women could fill up to six posts in the next EU executive, including von der Leyen herself and the EU's foreign policy nominee Kaia Callas.
The European Women's Lobby, a group that works for gender equality in the bloc, said the situation was indicative of old "boys' club" thinking, calling it "disturbing".
"If member states really believe that only men are worthy of these posts or that there are no qualified women in their countries, they are not only out of step - they are delusional," said the group's spokeswoman Mirta Baselovic.
Lina Gálvez, chair of the EP's gender equality committee, also pointed out that the numbers showed a clear lack of "political will" from member states, which sent "a very bad signal, especially to young women and girls".
At the heart of the situation is a game for supremacy between von der Leyen and European capitals, which may support goals such as gender parity on paper, but do not follow it in practice.
"As member states, we expect von der Leyen to strive for gender equality. At the same time, we consider it up to us to propose the commissioner we prefer. Unfortunately, these two wishes do not seem to overlap this time," said a European diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity. | BGNES
