Brussels, 3 June 2015
Tuesday 9 June the European Parliament is going to vote on the EU strategy for equality between women and men post 2015, also known as the Noichl Report, so named for its rapporteur, Maria Noichl (S&D, Germany).
As we wrote to the Members of the European Parliament before the vote in the Women’s Rights Committee (FEMM), equality between women and men is a principle enshrined in the European Union Treaty: article 157(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU provides a legal basis to take measures to ensure its application.
This report, as it has been approved by the FEMM Committee, goes clearly beyond the Treaties and breaches the principle of Subsidiarity. By approving this text, the European Parliament would be asking the European Commission to act in fields where it has no legal authority, such as health policy and family law. We also believe that the use of the word “gender” is not precise enough and is not entirely appropriate when referring to non-discrimination between women and men, which is the exact wording used by the EU Treaties. This does not seem to be the case for the Report to be voted, which tends to extend the notions of “gender” beyond the EU legal basis.
A strategy for equality between women and men post-2015 should address the future that we want for our children. What is the vision that the Members of the European Parliament want to transmit to the other EU Institutions, to Member States and to all European citizens? Are we sure that LGBT parenting (Cf. §31) and the promotion of medical fertility for all (Cf. §59) are political initiatives in the best interest of the children? Are we sure that the promotion of abortion in Member States (Cf. §52) and in the EU Development policy (Cf. §68) will give us a better future?
Here we repeat what was said after the approval of the Panzeri Report, last March. Hoping that the European Parliament will not repeat the same mistake:
Europe does not need less subsidiarity but more respect for the national legislations.
 
Europe does not need abortions but better support for mothers and improved relationship and sexual education, whilst respecting the national competence on these issues.
 
Children in Europe all need a mother and a father. Their needs should be respected, taking into consideration their best interest. Their needs cannot be neglected in favour of adults’ desires.
 
FAFCE invites MEPs to not obey diktats coming from national Governments such as the French, but to reaffirm the principle of subsidiarity and, foremost, to protect human dignity at every stage of life.
Contact: Maria Hildingsson,
Secretary General
+32 4 70 20 39 18