South East MEP Sharon Bowles expresses disappointment at number of women in new European Commission

4.35.00pm GMT Wed 25th Nov 2009

Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles has expressed disappointment at the news that just 9 of the 27 Commissioners in the new European Commission will be women.

Yesterday, fellow liberal and former Competition Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, was nominated by the Dutch Government for a top job in the new Commission. Ms Kroes is the ninth woman to be nominated overall and the fourth woman from a liberal European party to be nominated.

Sharon Bowles MEP, who chairs the European Parliament's powerful Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, said: "With eight nominees from European liberal parties, four of them women, the liberals are leading the way on equality in the Commission but there is still a long way to go."

"50% of European citizens are female but there is a real lack of women in top-level political jobs. This is a problem that needs to be addressed."

The European Commission has 27 Commissioners (one from each EU Member State) who are each in charge of a portfolio, such as trade or transport. At the head of the Commission is the President, who is currently José Manuel Barroso. Before new Commissioners can start work, they must be approved by the European Parliament.

The European Commission's role in the EU is to propose legislation which must then be voted on by The Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. The Commission is also responsible for enforcing existing legislation.

Sharon Bowles said: "The Commission is a key part of the EU and while it is good that there will be an equal share of liberals in the new Commission, it is a shame that only 33% of the new Commissioners will be women."

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