Energy: women as equal players in the 21st century

EESC opinion: Energy: women as equal players in the 21st century

Key points:

  • The EESC recommends that the Commission encourage all decision-making authorities to: create the conditions for access to energy for all, reduce energy poverty, and gather qualitative and gender-specific data with appropriate indicators; strengthen and enforce existing legislation; provide for a targeted policy on gender equality in the energy sector.
  • The Committee likewise invites the Commission to encourage all decision-making authorities to create a level playing-field for training in energy-related careers in the Member States and at European level – to set up a European science, technology, engineering and mathematics college, as well as to create a level playing-field on the labour market in the energy sector.
  • With regard to the labour market in the energy sector, the EESC calls on the Commission to encourage all decision-making authorities to present gender-specific data for all parts of the sector, including renewable energy; consider the opportunities for women, but avoid the energy and digital transitions trammelling women's careers and salaries; introduce binding measures regarding the transparency of salaries and remuneration because this is a prerequisite for real equal pay across the board, and enforce equality on company boards.
  • Furthermore, the Committee recommends that the Commission encourage all decision-making authorities to develop social dialogue and collective agreements throughout Europe on equality in companies in the energy sector; to help change the mindsets of women about themselves by means of role models, and to create a network of EU outreach teams. Similarly, measures should be taken to promote a change in men's mindsets and management training approaches.