The exact distribution of men and women will only be known at the inaugural session of the new legislature in Strasbourg on 14 July, but initial data show that the number of female MEPs will not come closer to equally representing the bloc's population, of which 52% is female.
Possibly more women, but no equal representation
"It is not surprising as it is due to the slight shift to the right," said Cécile Gréboval, policy director of the European Women's Lobby (EWL), the largest umbrella organisation of women's groups in the European Union.
From the first results published yesterday (10 June), the rate of women MEPs has increased, in at least 13 countries, declined in seven countries, and remained the same in Malta and Estonia. The results for five member states are still not known.
Old member states did better than the bloc's new arrivals. Lithuania, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovenia saw their number of MEPs plunge compared to the previous legislature, along with Greece, France, Ireland and Luxembourg.
According to Gréboval, the shift to the right lowered the chances of more women being elected. A recent EWL Gender Audit report published ahead of the elections showed that in 17 countries, there were more women on the lists than the rate of women MEPs in the past legislature, but only in seven countries were they placed on top of the lists.
Women-friendly legislation in question
The big blow suffered by the Socialists in the EU elections is likely to have an impact on future legislation, including social services, parental leave and the Working Time Directive.
More right-leaning MEPs will translate into a Parliament that will be less willing to adopt progressive legislation, said Gréboval, citing as an example a law on maternity leave, which failed to pass in plenary in May and was sent back to the EU assembly's women's rights committee for review.
Across Europe, the amount of time new mothers can take as leave following the birth of their child varies from 14 weeks to two years. MEPs on the women's rights committee have backed EU-wide plans to have 14 to 20 weeks of leave after birth and extend the amount of time mothers can claim full pay from two to six weeks. Proposed new rules would also give fathers more time off.
A number of well-known women …
Nonetheless, the new Parliament will have more well-known women sitting on its benches. Commissioners, ministers, wives and daughters of famous politicians might raise the profile of an institution which is still perceived very much as a technical arena.
One of the most well-known and controversial woman MEPs is without doubt Rachida Dati, one of France's highest-profile female politicians.
One of 12 children born to first-generation North African immigrants, Dati entered President Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right government after he rose to power in 2007 and became his justice minister.
Already under fire for her "authoritarian" way of reforming the French judicial system, Dati was also widely criticised for returning to work five days after she gave birth to her daughter.
Current commissioners Danuta Hübner (Poland), Meglena Kuneva (Bulgaria) and Viviane Reding (Luxembourg) have also secured seats, but the likelihood that they will join the ranks of the European Parliament is still uncertain, as they might be reappointed members of the next Commission.
Another prominent woman is Anna Maria Corazza, the wife of Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. She is part of a large contingent of Swedish women who were elected. Sweden is one of three countries to have brought more female than male MEPs to the next Parliament, together with Finalnd and Estonia, which have 62 and 50% of female MEPs respectively.
Dubbed the 'Paris Hilton of Romania', Elena Basescu, a former model and daughter of the country's president, also won a seat (EurActiv 02/06/09).
