Addressing MEPs, the prospective Commissioner for Equality said Europe must strengthen its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals in terms of inclusion and equality in all its senses irrespective of sex, racial or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or religion or belief. She outlined plans for gender mainstreaming across EU policies and the implementation of a Gender Equality Strategy – a key PES policy from the European elections – which will focus on violence against women, sexual and reproductive rights, gender balance on company boards, work-life balance and, the unfinished business of the gender pay gap and pension gap.
Commissioner-designate Dalli also committed to work constructively with member states and the institutions to achieve the accession of the Istanbul Convention, and to tackle the emerging problem of online violence against women and hate-speech. She also emphasised the importance of strengthening the EU’s work on the anti-discrimination issues and working towards the improvement of the situation and opportunities for peoples with disabilities. She will work to introduce an intersectional approach in the Commission’s work.
PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“Helena Dalli has been a campaigner against inequality and injustice her whole life, and this showed in her answers at the hearing today. Her steadfast belief in women’s rights, disability rights, and the inclusion of and support for all people means she is the perfect candidate to lead the Commission’s work in this area. The PES is proud to support her as the committed champion of equality and women’s rights that Europe, and the European Commission, need.”
PES Women President Zita Gurmai said:
“PES Women welcomes a stand-alone portfolio for equality. I have no doubt that Helena Dalli as an engaged feminist will take crucial steps in her position-to-be to deliver progress on equality and women’s rights in cooperation with her colleagues from the college. I am pleased that in her first 100 days, a task force for equality will be set up to mainstream equality throughout all policies. We are looking forward to continue our ongoing cooperation once the European Parliament approves her candidacy.”
National Minister for European Affairs and Equality, and former Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, Helena Dalli has been a strong campaigner for equality throughout her political life. She is Malta’s first female Commission nominee and will lead the EU’s efforts to strengthen inclusion and equality.
