Pittella warns Juncker: “We will not accept a Commission with fewer women than in Barroso’s”

The gender issue in the future European Commission is still one of the crucial aspects on which the possible support of the European Parliament for Jean-Claude Juncker’s team will focus. “At the moment only four women seem to have been designated as European Commissioners, out of 27,” half as many as in Barroso’s Commission, “and this is simply unacceptable.” This is the warning sent by the head of the Socialists and Democrats group in Strasbourg, Gianni Pittella, to Juncker. Was this proportion not to be amended, the S&D “will not support” the college.

This warning is even heavier of the one sent by ALDE few days ago: without these votes in fact it would be mathematically impossible for Juncker to be approved at the Parliament.

“We are also worried that the progressive change we campaignated for – and which was supported by Jean-Claude Juncker in his statement at the European Parliament – is not reflected in the current composition of the college,” added Pittella, who asked the appointed President to “stick to his commitment to ensure the next European Commission will be politically balanced and ensure he has the right men and women for the job.”

On Saturday, the Heads of States or Government will meet in Brussels on Saturday to discuss the composition of the new Commission and to decide who will replace Catherine Ashton as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Herman Van Rompuy as Head of the European Council.