MEP Sharon Bowles: The ECB should not be a man's world

31 January 2012

The chair of the ECON Committee has raised concerns that the European Central Bank is dominated by men. She called on all parties to consider the institutional shortcomings that lead to the systematic absence of women in this crucial area of EU policy, and to remedy this situation.

Ms Bowles, who was recently re-elected Chair of ECON, said: "The ECB is one of the EU institutions where gender balance is most blatantly disregarded. There is currently not a single woman on the Executive Board, nor the Governing Council or the General Council.

"One has to ask why important and influential EU bodies such as the ECB systematically fail to select female candidates. The argument that there are no qualified women for these positions cannot be taken seriously.

"Experience shows that an approach of always seeking both a male and female candidate eventually brings success. It is intolerable that an appropriate strategy has not yet been developed."

Press release

© Sharon Bowles