BETA


Events

2016/06/01
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2016/01/19
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2016/01/19
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 582 votes to 100, with 80 abstentions, a resolution on external factors that represent hurdles to European female entrepreneurship.

Parliament recalled that women only accounted for 31 % of entrepreneurs (10.3 million) in the EU-28 in 2012, and only 34.4% of the self-employed in the EU are women. Women are often only the officially registered owners of firms, for the sole purpose of securing financial concessions and advantageous conditions from credit institutions and European, national and regional public administrations.

It noted in particular that the obstacles to female entrepreneurship are:

the predominance of women in unemployment, the consistent gap in entrepreneurial activity, the under-representation of women in management activities.

In this regard, Parliament called on Member States and regions to put forward concrete strategies to promote a culture of female entrepreneurship , as well as different management and leadership styles and new ways of organising and managing companies.

It called on the Member States to collect at regional level gender-disaggregated data , including on various female entrepreneurship fields, in order to acknowledge female entrepreneurs’ contribution in the social field, and recommended that data be collected and consolidated at European level. It stated that particular attention should be paid to the experiences of women with multiple marginalised identities.

Whilst stressing the need for gender-disaggregated data, including on various female entrepreneurship fields, Parliament called on the Commission to incorporate the issue of women’s entrepreneurship into its post-2015 strategy on equality between women and men.

It called for a holistic approach to female entrepreneurship , aimed at encouraging and supporting women in building a career in entrepreneurship.

Work-life balance : Parliament called on the Commission and the Member States to recognise the value of entrepreneurship for the work-life balance of women and men, to eliminate barriers that hinder or even prevent female entrepreneurship , and to adopt a coherent framework of measures to support female labour market participation.

In the aftermath of the decision to withdraw the proposal to amend the Maternity Leave Directive and in order to safeguard progress on equality policies at EU level, Members encouraged a constructive dialogue among institutions to see how best to support and implement work-life balance policies as well as concrete steps, including legislative proposals, for increasing the participation of women in the labour market through measures to improve work-life balance.

The Commission and the Member States are called upon to:

implement the appropriate legislative and non-legislative actions on work-life balance; establish policies enabling effective reconciliation of family- and work-related responsibilities.

Information and networks : Parliament emphasised the great importance of public spaces in helping to develop projects (providing visibility and acting as incubators for companies) and providing financial and tax-related support, relevant and up-to-date information, and advice on starting up a business, in particular for new female entrepreneurs. It stressed the importance of funds for business consolidation. In this regard, it considered that European networks of women entrepreneurs should create a European and national network to facilitate and assist women in seeking financing and advice services for ease of access.

The Commission is called upon to emphasise the use of forums in its upcoming European ePlatform for Women Entrepreneurship, and to include a step-by-step plan for accessing European funding possibilities. It should also establish, with no impact on the Commission budget and in the framework of the existing structure, a European Business Centre for women , in close cooperation with Member States and companies from the private sector.

Access to funding : Parliament called on Member States’ governments, authorities and equality bodies (where they exist) to collaborate with the financial sector regarding their obligation to ensure equality between men and women in access to capital for freelancers and SMEs.

The Commission is called upon to diligently monitor the implementation of gender mainstreaming in the allocation of EU funds in relation to entrepreneurship. Parliament suggested to the Commission the introduction of gender quotas in all forms of targeted support provided to under-represented and disadvantaged groups, in order to ensure progress towards achieving parity in entrepreneurship. The Commission and the Member States are called upon to enhance the visibility of financing for entrepreneurial activity by drawing up aid maps for microfinance, among other measures, under the European Progress Microfinance Facility.

Parliament suggested to the Commission the introduction of gender quotas in all forms of targeted support provided to under-represented and disadvantaged groups , in order to ensure progress towards achieving parity in entrepreneurship.

Parliament also urged the Commission to address the specific challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in its next review and update of the Small Business Act (SBA). It also called for greater monitoring to avoid the phenomenon of women being used by men as ‘fronts’ in order to secure financing on easier terms.

Entrepreneurial education and training : Members highlighted the importance of education at all levels, both formal and informal and including lifelong learning, for boosting entrepreneurship and new business development, including in ICT, and especially in subject areas mostly studied by girls, such as healthcare and other services. They called on the Member States to collaborate with the public sector, the private sector, NGOs, universities and schools in order to establish more apprenticeships and non-formal and informal learning programmes and suggested training in new information and communications technologies, social networks, online commerce, networking.

Members also noted with concern that women often underrate their skills, probably as a result of stereotypes and stressed that there is thus a need for motivational and psychological support programmes to boost the self-confidence of female entrepreneurs.

Social entrepreneurship : lastly, Parliament stressed that alternative business models such as cooperatives and mutuals play an important role in promoting gender equality and advancing sustainable and inclusive development and growth. It called on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate and promote such alternative models .

Documents
2016/01/19
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2016/01/18
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2015/12/17
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality adopted the own-initiative report by Barbara MATERA (EPP, IT) on external factors that represent hurdles to European female entrepreneurship.

Members recalled that women only accounted for 31 % of entrepreneurs (10.3 million) in the EU-28 in 2012, and only 34.4% of the self-employed in the EU are women. Women are often only the officially registered owners of firms, for the sole purpose of securing financial concessions and advantageous conditions from credit institutions and European, national and regional public administrations.

They noted in particular that the obstacles to female entrepreneurship are:

the predominance of women in unemployment, the consistent gap in entrepreneurial activity, the under-representation of women in management activities.

In this regard, Members called on Member States and regions to put forward concrete strategies to promote a culture of female entrepreneurship , as well as different management and leadership styles and new ways of organising and managing companies.

Whilst stressing the need for gender-disaggregated data, including on various female entrepreneurship fields, Members called on the Commission to incorporate the issue of women’s entrepreneurship into its post-2015 strategy on equality between women and men.

Members called for a holistic approach to female entrepreneurship , aimed at encouraging and supporting women in building a career in entrepreneurship.

Work-life balance : Members called on the Commission and the Member States to recognise the value of entrepreneurship for the work-life balance of women and men, to eliminate barriers that hinder or even prevent female entrepreneurship , and to adopt a coherent framework of measures to support female labour market participation.

In the aftermath of the decision to withdraw the proposal to amend the Maternity Leave Directive and in order to safeguard progress on equality policies at EU level, Members encouraged a constructive dialogue among institutions to see how best to support and implement work-life balance policies as well as concrete steps, including legislative proposals, for increasing the participation of women in the labour market through measures to improve work-life balance.

The Commission and the Member States are called upon to:

implement the appropriate legislative and non-legislative actions on work-life balance; establish policies enabling effective reconciliation of family- and work-related responsibilities.

Information and networks : Members emphasised the great importance of public spaces in helping to develop projects (providing visibility and acting as incubators for companies) and providing financial and tax-related support, relevant and up-to-date information, and advice on starting up a business, in particular for new female entrepreneurs.

They stressed the importance of funds for business consolidation. In this regard, Members considered that European networks of women entrepreneurs should create a European and national network to facilitate and assist women in seeking financing and advice services for ease of access.

The Commission is called upon to emphasise the use of forums in its upcoming European ePlatform for Women Entrepreneurship, and to include a step-by-step plan for accessing European funding possibilities. It should also establish, with no impact on the Commission budget and in the framework of the existing structure, a European Business Centre for women , in close cooperation with Member States and companies from the private sector.

Access to funding : Members called on Member States’ governments, authorities and equality bodies (where they exist) to collaborate with the financial sector regarding their obligation to ensure equality between men and women in access to capital for freelancers and SMEs.

They suggested to the Commission the introduction of gender quotas in all forms of targeted support provided to under-represented and disadvantaged groups , in order to ensure progress towards achieving parity in entrepreneurship.

The Commission and the Member States should enhance the visibility of financing for entrepreneurial activity by drawing up aid maps for microfinance , among other measures, under the European Progress Microfinance Facility.

Members also urged the Commission to address the specific challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in its next review and update of the Small Business Act (SBA). They also called for greater monitoring to avoid the phenomenon of women being used by men as ‘fronts’ in order to secure financing on easier terms.

Entrepreneurial education and training : Members highlighted the importance of education at all levels, both formal and informal and including lifelong learning, for boosting entrepreneurship and new business development, including in ICT, and especially in subject areas mostly studied by girls, such as healthcare and other services. They called on the Member States to collaborate with the public sector, the private sector, NGOs, universities and schools in order to establish more apprenticeships and non-formal and informal learning programmes and suggested training in new information and communications technologies, social networks, online commerce, networking.

Members also noted with concern that women often underrate their skills, probably as a result of stereotypes and stressed that there is thus a need for motivational and psychological support programmes to boost the self-confidence of female entrepreneurs.

Social entrepreneurship : lastly, Members stressed that alternative business models such as cooperatives and mutuals play an important role in promoting gender equality and advancing sustainable and inclusive development and growth. They called on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate and promote such alternative models .

Documents
2015/12/14
   EP - Vote in committee
2015/10/26
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2015/09/28
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2015/05/21
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2014/12/02
   EP - MATERA Barbara (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in FEMM

Documents

Activities

Votes

A8-0369/2015 - Barbara Matera - § 22 #

2016/01/19 Outcome: +: 367, -: 289, 0: 56
ES DE IT RO EL BG HR IE BE SE LU CY MT EE PT FI FR LT AT LV HU SI SK NL DK CZ GB PL
Total
50
87
70
32
20
15
11
9
19
18
6
6
6
6
19
12
73
8
18
8
20
7
13
26
13
20
71
48
icon: S&D S&D
182

Croatia S&D

2

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Malta S&D

3

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Netherlands S&D

3
3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
48

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
45

Italy GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

3

Ireland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
64

Germany ALDE

For (1)

Abstain (1)

4

Romania ALDE

3

Croatia ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Belgium ALDE

Abstain (1)

4

Sweden ALDE

Against (1)

3

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

Abstain (1)

3

Portugal ALDE

Abstain (1)

2

Finland ALDE

Against (1)

4

Lithuania ALDE

Against (1)

2

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Denmark ALDE

3

United Kingdom ALDE

1
icon: NI NI
14

Germany NI

Against (1)

2

Hungary NI

3

United Kingdom NI

Against (1)

1

Poland NI

Against (1)

1
icon: ENF ENF
37

Romania ENF

Against (1)

1

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

4

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1

Poland ENF

Against (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
42

Sweden EFDD

2

France EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1
icon: PPE PPE
208

Ireland PPE

Against (1)

4

Belgium PPE

4

Luxembourg PPE

Against (1)

3

Cyprus PPE

2

Malta PPE

Against (1)

3

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Finland PPE

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Lithuania PPE

2

Latvia PPE

For (1)

Abstain (1)

4

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
71

Italy ECR

2

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Finland ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

A8-0369/2015 - Barbara Matera - Résolution #

2016/01/19 Outcome: +: 532, -: 100, 0: 80
IT DE ES RO FR PL HU BG PT SE BE FI EL HR AT NL CZ LV SI LT LU IE EE MT SK CY DK GB
Total
70
89
50
32
73
48
21
16
19
18
18
12
20
11
18
26
20
8
7
8
6
9
6
6
13
6
13
68
icon: PPE PPE
209

Belgium PPE

3

Finland PPE

2

Lithuania PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
181

Croatia S&D

2

Netherlands S&D

3

Latvia S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
64

Romania ALDE

3

Croatia ALDE

2

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1
2

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Denmark ALDE

Abstain (1)

3

United Kingdom ALDE

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
48

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
45

Italy GUE/NGL

3

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Czechia GUE/NGL

2

Ireland GUE/NGL

3

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
42

France EFDD

1

Poland EFDD

1

Sweden EFDD

2

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
14

Germany NI

2

Poland NI

Against (1)

1

Hungary NI

3

United Kingdom NI

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
71

Italy ECR

2

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Finland ECR

Abstain (1)

2

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Latvia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

3
icon: ENF ENF
37

Romania ENF

1

Poland ENF

Against (1)

1

Belgium ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

4

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
106 2015/2111(INI)
2015/10/26 FEMM 106 amendments...
source: 569.860

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

events/3/docs
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Rules of Procedure EP 159
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  • date: 2015-12-14T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: S&D name: BORZAN Biljana group: ECR name: ŽITŇANSKÁ Jana group: ALDE name: BILBAO BARANDICA Izaskun group: GUE/NGL name: VALLINA Ángela group: Verts/ALE name: REINTKE Terry group: EFD name: AIUTO Daniela responsible: True committee: FEMM date: 2014-12-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Women’s Rights and Gender Equality rapporteur: group: EPP name: MATERA Barbara body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Industry, Research and Energy committee: ITRE
  • date: 2015-12-17T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2015-0369&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A8-0369/2015 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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  • date: 2016-01-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0007 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0007/2016 body: EP type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
commission
  • body: EC dg: Justice and Consumers commissioner: JOUROVÁ Věra
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Responsible Committee
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EP
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False
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docs
  • date: 2015-09-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE567.748 title: PE567.748 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2015-10-26T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE569.860 title: PE569.860 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2016-06-01T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=26549&j=0&l=en title: SP(2016)220 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2015-05-21T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2015-12-14T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2015-12-17T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2015-0369&language=EN title: A8-0369/2015 summary: The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality adopted the own-initiative report by Barbara MATERA (EPP, IT) on external factors that represent hurdles to European female entrepreneurship. Members recalled that women only accounted for 31 % of entrepreneurs (10.3 million) in the EU-28 in 2012, and only 34.4% of the self-employed in the EU are women. Women are often only the officially registered owners of firms, for the sole purpose of securing financial concessions and advantageous conditions from credit institutions and European, national and regional public administrations. They noted in particular that the obstacles to female entrepreneurship are: the predominance of women in unemployment, the consistent gap in entrepreneurial activity, the under-representation of women in management activities. In this regard, Members called on Member States and regions to put forward concrete strategies to promote a culture of female entrepreneurship , as well as different management and leadership styles and new ways of organising and managing companies. Whilst stressing the need for gender-disaggregated data, including on various female entrepreneurship fields, Members called on the Commission to incorporate the issue of women’s entrepreneurship into its post-2015 strategy on equality between women and men. Members called for a holistic approach to female entrepreneurship , aimed at encouraging and supporting women in building a career in entrepreneurship. Work-life balance : Members called on the Commission and the Member States to recognise the value of entrepreneurship for the work-life balance of women and men, to eliminate barriers that hinder or even prevent female entrepreneurship , and to adopt a coherent framework of measures to support female labour market participation. In the aftermath of the decision to withdraw the proposal to amend the Maternity Leave Directive and in order to safeguard progress on equality policies at EU level, Members encouraged a constructive dialogue among institutions to see how best to support and implement work-life balance policies as well as concrete steps, including legislative proposals, for increasing the participation of women in the labour market through measures to improve work-life balance. The Commission and the Member States are called upon to: implement the appropriate legislative and non-legislative actions on work-life balance; establish policies enabling effective reconciliation of family- and work-related responsibilities. Information and networks : Members emphasised the great importance of public spaces in helping to develop projects (providing visibility and acting as incubators for companies) and providing financial and tax-related support, relevant and up-to-date information, and advice on starting up a business, in particular for new female entrepreneurs. They stressed the importance of funds for business consolidation. In this regard, Members considered that European networks of women entrepreneurs should create a European and national network to facilitate and assist women in seeking financing and advice services for ease of access. The Commission is called upon to emphasise the use of forums in its upcoming European ePlatform for Women Entrepreneurship, and to include a step-by-step plan for accessing European funding possibilities. It should also establish, with no impact on the Commission budget and in the framework of the existing structure, a European Business Centre for women , in close cooperation with Member States and companies from the private sector. Access to funding : Members called on Member States’ governments, authorities and equality bodies (where they exist) to collaborate with the financial sector regarding their obligation to ensure equality between men and women in access to capital for freelancers and SMEs. They suggested to the Commission the introduction of gender quotas in all forms of targeted support provided to under-represented and disadvantaged groups , in order to ensure progress towards achieving parity in entrepreneurship. The Commission and the Member States should enhance the visibility of financing for entrepreneurial activity by drawing up aid maps for microfinance , among other measures, under the European Progress Microfinance Facility. Members also urged the Commission to address the specific challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in its next review and update of the Small Business Act (SBA). They also called for greater monitoring to avoid the phenomenon of women being used by men as ‘fronts’ in order to secure financing on easier terms. Entrepreneurial education and training : Members highlighted the importance of education at all levels, both formal and informal and including lifelong learning, for boosting entrepreneurship and new business development, including in ICT, and especially in subject areas mostly studied by girls, such as healthcare and other services. They called on the Member States to collaborate with the public sector, the private sector, NGOs, universities and schools in order to establish more apprenticeships and non-formal and informal learning programmes and suggested training in new information and communications technologies, social networks, online commerce, networking. Members also noted with concern that women often underrate their skills, probably as a result of stereotypes and stressed that there is thus a need for motivational and psychological support programmes to boost the self-confidence of female entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneurship : lastly, Members stressed that alternative business models such as cooperatives and mutuals play an important role in promoting gender equality and advancing sustainable and inclusive development and growth. They called on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate and promote such alternative models .
  • date: 2016-01-18T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20160118&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2016-01-19T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=26549&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2016-01-19T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0007 title: T8-0007/2016 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 582 votes to 100, with 80 abstentions, a resolution on external factors that represent hurdles to European female entrepreneurship. Parliament recalled that women only accounted for 31 % of entrepreneurs (10.3 million) in the EU-28 in 2012, and only 34.4% of the self-employed in the EU are women. Women are often only the officially registered owners of firms, for the sole purpose of securing financial concessions and advantageous conditions from credit institutions and European, national and regional public administrations. It noted in particular that the obstacles to female entrepreneurship are: the predominance of women in unemployment, the consistent gap in entrepreneurial activity, the under-representation of women in management activities. In this regard, Parliament called on Member States and regions to put forward concrete strategies to promote a culture of female entrepreneurship , as well as different management and leadership styles and new ways of organising and managing companies. It called on the Member States to collect at regional level gender-disaggregated data , including on various female entrepreneurship fields, in order to acknowledge female entrepreneurs’ contribution in the social field, and recommended that data be collected and consolidated at European level. It stated that particular attention should be paid to the experiences of women with multiple marginalised identities. Whilst stressing the need for gender-disaggregated data, including on various female entrepreneurship fields, Parliament called on the Commission to incorporate the issue of women’s entrepreneurship into its post-2015 strategy on equality between women and men. It called for a holistic approach to female entrepreneurship , aimed at encouraging and supporting women in building a career in entrepreneurship. Work-life balance : Parliament called on the Commission and the Member States to recognise the value of entrepreneurship for the work-life balance of women and men, to eliminate barriers that hinder or even prevent female entrepreneurship , and to adopt a coherent framework of measures to support female labour market participation. In the aftermath of the decision to withdraw the proposal to amend the Maternity Leave Directive and in order to safeguard progress on equality policies at EU level, Members encouraged a constructive dialogue among institutions to see how best to support and implement work-life balance policies as well as concrete steps, including legislative proposals, for increasing the participation of women in the labour market through measures to improve work-life balance. The Commission and the Member States are called upon to: implement the appropriate legislative and non-legislative actions on work-life balance; establish policies enabling effective reconciliation of family- and work-related responsibilities. Information and networks : Parliament emphasised the great importance of public spaces in helping to develop projects (providing visibility and acting as incubators for companies) and providing financial and tax-related support, relevant and up-to-date information, and advice on starting up a business, in particular for new female entrepreneurs. It stressed the importance of funds for business consolidation. In this regard, it considered that European networks of women entrepreneurs should create a European and national network to facilitate and assist women in seeking financing and advice services for ease of access. The Commission is called upon to emphasise the use of forums in its upcoming European ePlatform for Women Entrepreneurship, and to include a step-by-step plan for accessing European funding possibilities. It should also establish, with no impact on the Commission budget and in the framework of the existing structure, a European Business Centre for women , in close cooperation with Member States and companies from the private sector. Access to funding : Parliament called on Member States’ governments, authorities and equality bodies (where they exist) to collaborate with the financial sector regarding their obligation to ensure equality between men and women in access to capital for freelancers and SMEs. The Commission is called upon to diligently monitor the implementation of gender mainstreaming in the allocation of EU funds in relation to entrepreneurship. Parliament suggested to the Commission the introduction of gender quotas in all forms of targeted support provided to under-represented and disadvantaged groups, in order to ensure progress towards achieving parity in entrepreneurship. The Commission and the Member States are called upon to enhance the visibility of financing for entrepreneurial activity by drawing up aid maps for microfinance, among other measures, under the European Progress Microfinance Facility. Parliament suggested to the Commission the introduction of gender quotas in all forms of targeted support provided to under-represented and disadvantaged groups , in order to ensure progress towards achieving parity in entrepreneurship. Parliament also urged the Commission to address the specific challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in its next review and update of the Small Business Act (SBA). It also called for greater monitoring to avoid the phenomenon of women being used by men as ‘fronts’ in order to secure financing on easier terms. Entrepreneurial education and training : Members highlighted the importance of education at all levels, both formal and informal and including lifelong learning, for boosting entrepreneurship and new business development, including in ICT, and especially in subject areas mostly studied by girls, such as healthcare and other services. They called on the Member States to collaborate with the public sector, the private sector, NGOs, universities and schools in order to establish more apprenticeships and non-formal and informal learning programmes and suggested training in new information and communications technologies, social networks, online commerce, networking. Members also noted with concern that women often underrate their skills, probably as a result of stereotypes and stressed that there is thus a need for motivational and psychological support programmes to boost the self-confidence of female entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneurship : lastly, Parliament stressed that alternative business models such as cooperatives and mutuals play an important role in promoting gender equality and advancing sustainable and inclusive development and growth. It called on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate and promote such alternative models .
  • date: 2016-01-19T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
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  • The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality adopted the own-initiative report by Barbara MATERA (EPP, IT) on external factors that represent hurdles to European female entrepreneurship.

    Members recalled that women only accounted for 31 % of entrepreneurs (10.3 million) in the EU-28 in 2012, and only 34.4% of the self-employed in the EU are women. Women are often only the officially registered owners of firms, for the sole purpose of securing financial concessions and advantageous conditions from credit institutions and European, national and regional public administrations.

    They noted in particular that the obstacles to female entrepreneurship are:

    • the predominance of women in unemployment,
    • the consistent gap in entrepreneurial activity,
    • the under-representation of women in management activities.

    In this regard, Members called on Member States and regions to put forward concrete strategies to promote a culture of female entrepreneurship, as well as different management and leadership styles and new ways of organising and managing companies.

    Whilst stressing the need for gender-disaggregated data, including on various female entrepreneurship fields, Members called on the Commission to incorporate the issue of women’s entrepreneurship into its post-2015 strategy on equality between women and men.

    Members called for a holistic approach to female entrepreneurship, aimed at encouraging and supporting women in building a career in entrepreneurship.

    Work-life balance:  Members called on the Commission and the Member States to recognise the value of entrepreneurship for the work-life balance of women and men, to eliminate barriers that hinder or even prevent female entrepreneurship, and to adopt a coherent framework of measures to support female labour market participation.

    In the aftermath of the decision to withdraw the proposal to amend the Maternity Leave Directive and in order to safeguard progress on equality policies at EU level, Members encouraged a constructive dialogue among institutions to see how best to support and implement work-life balance policies as well as concrete steps, including legislative proposals, for increasing the participation of women in the labour market through measures to improve work-life balance.

    The Commission and the Member States are called upon to:

    • implement the appropriate legislative and non-legislative actions on work-life balance;
    • establish policies enabling effective reconciliation of family- and work-related responsibilities.

    Information and networks: Members emphasised the great importance of public spaces in helping to develop projects (providing visibility and acting as incubators for companies) and providing financial and tax-related support, relevant and up-to-date information, and advice on starting up a business, in particular for new female entrepreneurs.

    They stressed the importance of funds for business consolidation. In this regard, Members considered that European networks of women entrepreneurs should create a European and national network to facilitate and assist women in seeking financing and advice services for ease of access.

    The Commission is called upon to emphasise the use of forums in its upcoming European ePlatform for Women Entrepreneurship, and to include a step-by-step plan for accessing European funding possibilities. It should also establish, with no impact on the Commission budget and in the framework of the existing structure, a European Business Centre for women, in close cooperation with Member States and companies from the private sector.

    Access to funding: Members called on Member States’ governments, authorities and equality bodies (where they exist) to collaborate with the financial sector regarding their obligation to ensure equality between men and women in access to capital for freelancers and SMEs.

    They suggested to the Commission the introduction of gender quotas in all forms of targeted support provided to under-represented and disadvantaged groups, in order to ensure progress towards achieving parity in entrepreneurship.

    The Commission and the Member States should enhance the visibility of financing for entrepreneurial activity by drawing up aid maps for microfinance, among other measures, under the European Progress Microfinance Facility.

    Members also urged the Commission to address the specific challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in its next review and update of the Small Business Act (SBA). They also called for greater monitoring to avoid the phenomenon of women being used by men as ‘fronts’ in order to secure financing on easier terms.

    Entrepreneurial education and training: Members highlighted the importance of education at all levels, both formal and informal and including lifelong learning, for boosting entrepreneurship and new business development, including in ICT, and especially in subject areas mostly studied by girls, such as healthcare and other services. They called on the Member States to collaborate with the public sector, the private sector, NGOs, universities and schools in order to establish more apprenticeships and non-formal and informal learning programmes and suggested training in new information and communications technologies, social networks, online commerce, networking.

    Members also noted with concern that women often underrate their skills, probably as a result of stereotypes and stressed that there is thus a need for motivational and psychological support programmes to boost the self-confidence of female entrepreneurs.

    Social entrepreneurship: lastly, Members stressed that alternative business models such as cooperatives and mutuals play an important role in promoting gender equality and advancing sustainable and inclusive development and growth. They called on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate and promote such alternative models.

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