Gender equality is not a ‘nice-to-have’ it is a must

It is time for the EU to get serious about balanced leadership. When Ursula von der Leyen was elected as the first woman President of the European Commission, many hoped this would mark a new era for gender equality in EU leadership, writes Mirta Baselovic.

Mirta Baselovic is the communication and media coordinator at the European Women's Lobby (EWL).

Indeed, in 2019, she made history by assembling a near gender-balanced college of Commissioners, a bold move celebrated across Europe and beyond. But as the deadline for nominations for the new Commission passed last weekend, it is clear that most member states conveniently forgot this commitment to equality, sticking stubbornly to the old boys' club by only proposing male candidates. To those member states, we have one thing to say: It is 2024—this is not just embarrassing, it is downright unacceptable.

Let us get one thing straight: equality between women and men is not about political correctness or appeasing feminists. It is about ensuring the best decisions are made for the 450 million people who call the European Union home.

The tired excuse that "we just picked the best person for the job" does not hold up when half the population — women — are systematically excluded from leadership roles. If member states genuinely believe that only men are qualified to sit at the Commission table, they are not just out of touch — they are downright delusional.

Let us debunk the myth of meritocracy that is often offered as justification for these male-only nominations. The idea that the most competent individuals rise to the top naturally overlooks the systemic biases and barriers that keep women out of these roles.

According to a 2021 report by the European Institute for Gender Equality, gender bias in recruitment and promotion processes remains a significant obstacle in achieving gender parity in leadership positions across Europe. When these biases go unchallenged, the so-called 'meritocracy' is nothing more than a smokescreen for the status quo.

Moreover, the benefits of gender-balanced leadership are not up for debate—they are well-documented and supported by data. Studies show that organisations with gender-diverse leadership teams outperform those dominated by one gender.

McKinsey’s 2022 report found that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability. The same principle applies to governance: diverse decision-making bodies are better at addressing the needs of the whole population, fostering innovation, and responding to crises.

So why are we still here, having to argue for something that should be obvious? It is not because there are not enough qualified women; it is because member states are not trying hard enough to find them. Only one member state – Bulgaria – respected von der Leyen’s request to submit both a female and a male nominee, and up to now, only 9 women are in the running to be Commissioners. This is not just lazy—it is a slap in the face to all the women who have proven, time and again, that they are more than capable of leading.

President von der Leyen, we are counting on you to keep persisting. Do not let member states off the hook with their male-only nominations. Hold governments accountable and insist that each country puts forward both a male and a female candidate for the next College of Commissioners. Allocate influential portfolios with the largest budgets to female Commissioners in your new team. Ensure that the College is representative of the EU population. This is not a radical demand—it is a basic standard for any institution that claims to value equality and justice.