First EU ministerial meeting after accession on gender equality

The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality for Men and Women celebrated the historic occasion of Malta's entry into the EU, conscious of the positive contribution this would make to the promotion of equality for men and women in our islands.

It is significant that the first ministerial meeting to be held next week, after accession was actually for the EU Ministers for Gender Equality and will focus on New Horizons for Gender Equality, the National Commission said.

It added that EU accession will open new ways of participation by both genders in the political life and their interaction with policy-making institutions at national and international level.

However, it was evident that the implementation of commitments to gender equality required strong political will by both national governments and the European institutions as well as by all the stakeholders.

The commission insisted activities should be consistently targeted at ensuring equal opportunities and at breaking down the barriers that prevent the individual woman or man from contributing to broadening these new horizons.