1. What are the policy instruments that the EU can use to implement a gender equitable economic recovery? Conference of the Foundation for European Progessive Studies (FEPS), Brussels 05. March Recovery for whom? Austerity policies, gendered impacts and policy alternatives for Europe Prof. Dr. h.c. Christa Randzio-Plath 5th March 2015

2.  The increase of Women `s employment rate is necessary for the European economies and women`s well- being instead of poverty.  Women employment is instrumental for economic recovery and growth. According to UN women the EU gross domestic product would be 13 per cent higher if women`s paid employment rates would be raised to the same level as men`s.  The 75% target for the EU has to be supported by adequate policies.  Women`s employment has to be decent work employment with all consequences.  Minimum wages and minimum social and labour standards have to be introduced by EU legislation for all types of jobs.  Do not forget: Improving the economic empowerment of women is also a human rights` issue. 2 Women: crucial for recovery

3.  Change is necessary and must especially adress the inequalities  Fiscal policies which actually are austerity policies have to be changed. Which use for a balanced budget if there is mass unemployment, rising inequalities and growing poverty?  There has to be a paradigm shift in macroeconomic policies also in view to EU economic governance.  Taxation and subsidies have to be reformed. All incentives and subsidies preventing women from economic activities should be forbidden. Individual taxation and tax and social security reforms on low-wage incomes have to be started especially in view to single mothers.  Investing in women is the challenge for the EU 2020 Strategy as it was already for the Lisbon –Agenda from 2000-2010. 3 Value and objective of the EU: Equality

4.  The EU 2020 Strategy has to be improved as the gender dimension is not specifically addressed in any of the Europe 2020's seven flagship initiatives.  The commitment for gender mainstreaming should be more ambitious. The EU 2020 Strategy has to be accompanied by gender-related and equality-friendly strategies like the Lisbon Agenda and the Barcelona Commitment did. . 4 EU 2020 Strategy

5.  The EU Funds are an important instrument to implement social cohesion and equality.  They have to be used and adapted in order to ensure additional support for areas where women are especially concerned- in view to mobility, support for care work and training.  All Funds should turn Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Budgeting into an integral part of their management like the ESF with the GenderCoP(2014). 5 EU Funds and Equality

6.  The Juncker package up to now has no social “Triple A” rating. It lacks investment in policies that would advance the EU’s social and gender equality agenda. Missing is equality as a target for future-oriented policies.  Gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting should serve as strategic anchors in the Investment package  A gender quota for the decision-making bodies has to be introduced, for example for the members of the expert committee of the new European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) that will approve projects to be funded.  Necessary is a gender equality impact assessment of every project because economic investment should serve the fundamental values and social priorities of the EU, benefit all people and be more outspoken on gender equality. 6 Juncker Investment Package

7.  Equality machineries have to be improved in the EU. 20 years after the Beijing Platform for Action it is deplorable that equality bodies and women`s organisations in the EU are not full- heartedly supported by the EU and the Member states while other continents are performing better. This reduces women`s participation in decision-making.  More funding for gender issues and women`s organisations has to be mobilisied in order to make the voice of women louder.  An ambitious EU Maternity Leave Directive and a new horizontal Equality Directive should become reality this year, include social protection and cover as well access to rights as access to services. 7 Equality now