front page" "
The old adage that ‘the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world’ is worth bearing in mind when one reflects upon the process of European construction. Regardless of the radically changed participation of women in the labour market over the past 50 years, women remain the primary carers and educators in our society. With women expressing less support for the EU than men (Eurobarometer 61), taken together these would appear to pose a considerable challenge for instilling within future generations the merits of European construction. One would be forgiven for thinking that the Founding Fathers envisaged a community that was solely focused upon the economic. They actually envisaged a community principled on peace, yet built upon economic cross-border integration: pragmatic means in order to realise an idealist end. Economic integration was to be the first concrete step on the road to de-facto solidarity between the people of Europe. Yet our steps have stalled as sterile economic arguments for creating a European community persist at the expense of other steps towards solidarity between Europe’s people. EU citizens, particularly its women, need to appreciate the human side to European construction in order to become its protagonists. The EU has provided a considerable service to its female citizens. Indeed it was in the 1957 Treaty of Rome that the principle of equal pay for equal work by men and women was first enshrined. Since then, the EU has been at the forefront of championing equality rights for women, not only in the sphere of employment but beyond. However, women still remain the least enamoured with the European project. Perhaps the overwhelmingly male political actors are speaking a language that does not resonate with female perceptions of what a ‘community’ should be. Given the malaise that currently permeates the EU, the self-imposed period of reflection and the Plan D initiative to engage with Europe’s citizens, it might be worth exploring gender specific strategies designed to harness knowledge, interest and above all, support for the project from Europe’s women. The EU faces a period of unprecedented demographic change with the average birth rate across the EU standing at 1.48 per woman a level that is insufficient to replenish the present total population and increased life expectancy. Both of these conspire to cause problems in terms of financial and structural resources. Appreciation of the role that women occupy in responding to these challenges is vital. Support for the family as an essential pillar within our European social model must be underpinned. In so doing, much of the work that women are engaged in will be seen to be appreciated, perhaps fostering a deeper sense of identity from Europe’s women if the EU is seen to share and act upon their concerns. Tapping into women’s networks across the EU could be a fortuitous opportunity to interact with women who not only rock cradles and maintain paid employment but who also work for the common good within and beyond the Union.
