International Women’s Day 2017, preparation of European Counci and antitrust case

The College marked the International Women’s Day and discussed the preparation of the March European Council. The Commission also took an important antitrust case decision.

International Women’s Day 2017

Equality between women and men is a fundamental right in the European Union and one that has been enshrined in the Treaty from the very beginning, as the Rome Treaty included a provision on equal pay. The 'Strategic engagement for gender equality' work programme for the period 2016-2019 was adopted in December 2015 and reflects the Commission’s commitment to step up its activities in the field of gender equality.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: "Europe is a pioneer of gender equality and that is something we should be proud of. Be it in employment and occupation, vocational training, social security or access to goods and services: women and men have to be treated equally. That is the law. Unfortunately the road to effective equality still has some bumps ahead. That is why we cannot let up. I made equality a cornerstone of the administration I lead and I am proud that two years on we have made enormous strides in reaching the 40% female management target. But if intolerance and chauvinism start to proliferate inside or outside our borders we have to push back twice as hard with a simple and thoroughly European message: gender equality is not an aspirational goal. It is a fundamental right."

Today, the Commission marked International Women's Day with the publication of a new report on equality between women and men, which shows that EU legislation, guidelines, actions and funding possibilities lead to progress across the EU but that this progress is uneven among EU Member States.

he report published today provides an overview of the main EU policy and legal developments in gender equality during the last year, as well as examples of policies and actions in Member States. The 2017 Gender Equality report shows that despite progress made, women still face challenges in different areas.

Preparation of European Council

The College discussed the preparation of the March European Council (9-10 March). EU leaders will discuss a range of topics including migration, the economy, security and defence and external affairs. The Commission's contribution includes the progress report on the European Agenda on Migration, an EU Action Plan and a Recommendation on Return, as well as the annual analysis of the economic and social situation in the Member States published in February. The European Council is also expected to give green light to the enhanced cooperation by 17 Member States in order to establish a European Public Prosecutor fighting fraud against the EU budget. On 10 March, an informal meeting among the EU27 leaders will prepare the Rome Summit of 25 March and its Declaration, as well as discuss the future of Europe on the basis of the European Commission's White Paper presented by President Juncker on 1 March.

Antitrust case

The European Commission has decided to fine six car air conditioning and engine cooling suppliers (Behr, Calsonic, Denso, Panasonic, Sanden and Valeo) a total of € 155 million for taking part in one or more of four cartels concerning supplies of air conditioning and engine cooling components to car manufacturers in the European Economic Area (EEA).

All six suppliers acknowledged their involvement in the cartels and agreed to settle the case. Denso was not fined for three of the cartels as it revealed their existence to the Commission. Panasonic was not fined for one of the cartels as it revealed its existence to the Commission.