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| MEPs defiant over central bank role | MEPs defiant over central bank role |
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| A campaign to put more women at the top of EU institutions secured a notable victory today after the European parliament rejected plans to appoint Luxembourg banker Yves Mersch to the board of the European Central Bank. | A campaign to put more women at the top of EU institutions secured a notable victory today after the European parliament rejected plans to appoint Luxembourg banker Yves Mersch to the board of the European Central Bank. |
| MEPs rejected Mersch's candidacy for the six member board by 325 votes to 300, saying insufficient effort had been made to find suitable female candidates for the post. EU officials are expected to use powers to override the vote rather than re-open applications for the job when they meet in the next few days. | MEPs rejected Mersch's candidacy for the six member board by 325 votes to 300, saying insufficient effort had been made to find suitable female candidates for the post. EU officials are expected to use powers to override the vote rather than re-open applications for the job when they meet in the next few days. |
| Highlighting rising tensions over women's representation in senior positions, MEPs are prepared to carry on the fight despite six months of wrangling that failed to bring forward a compromise candidate. | Highlighting rising tensions over women's representation in senior positions, MEPs are prepared to carry on the fight despite six months of wrangling that failed to bring forward a compromise candidate. |
| The ECB lost its only female board member last year and many MEPs were upset when a male candidate was nominated as a successor. Mersch is Luxembourg's long standing central bank boss with a reputation as a pro-austerity hawk. | The ECB lost its only female board member last year and many MEPs were upset when a male candidate was nominated as a successor. Mersch is Luxembourg's long standing central bank boss with a reputation as a pro-austerity hawk. |
| It is understood the EU's Council of Ministers will still fast-track Mersch's appointment to suit an earlier agreement that Germany's finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble take over from Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the powerful Eurogroup of ministers. | It is understood the EU's Council of Ministers will still fast-track Mersch's appointment to suit an earlier agreement that Germany's finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble take over from Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the powerful Eurogroup of ministers. |
| Sharon Bowles, head of the economic affairs committee and a driving force behind the rejection, was especially critical of Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, for not putting forward any female candidates. | Sharon Bowles, head of the economic affairs committee and a driving force behind the rejection, was especially critical of Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, for not putting forward any female candidates. |
| The European Council represents member states and Van Rompuy has said efforts were made to secure female applicants, but it is up to member states to put forward qualified candidates. | The European Council represents member states and Van Rompuy has said efforts were made to secure female applicants, but it is up to member states to put forward qualified candidates. |
| "Van Rompuy has not taken the opportunity to offer more than lip service to what is a very serious matter," said Bowles, a candidate to be the Bank of England's next governor. | "Van Rompuy has not taken the opportunity to offer more than lip service to what is a very serious matter," said Bowles, a candidate to be the Bank of England's next governor. |
| "He has promised nothing, not even a road map, for appointing women to the ECB board in the future. European institutions should be leading by example, not dragging their feet," she said in a statement. | "He has promised nothing, not even a road map, for appointing women to the ECB board in the future. European institutions should be leading by example, not dragging their feet," she said in a statement. |
| The ECB's 23-member governing council is made up of the six executive board members and the 17 national central bank chiefs of euro zone states, all of whom are currently men. | The ECB's 23-member governing council is made up of the six executive board members and the 17 national central bank chiefs of euro zone states, all of whom are currently men. |
| If Mersch is appointed, the next board vacancy would not be until 2018, adding to the pressure for a female policymaker now. | If Mersch is appointed, the next board vacancy would not be until 2018, adding to the pressure for a female policymaker now. |
| The vote came in a week when the European Commission put off a proposal that would have obliged companies to allot 40% of their board seats to women by 2020, highlighting how gender issues are rising up the EU's agenda. | The vote came in a week when the European Commission put off a proposal that would have obliged companies to allot 40% of their board seats to women by 2020, highlighting how gender issues are rising up the EU's agenda. |
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