This week the European Parliament is going to vote on
the EU strategy for equality between
women and men post 2015, also known as
the Noichl Report, so named after its rapporteur, Maria Noichl (S&D,
Germany).
This report, as it has been approved by the FEMM
Committee, goes clearly beyond the Treaties and breaches the principle of
Subsidiarity. By approving this text, the European Parliament would be
asking the European Commission to act in fields where it has no legal
authority, such as health policy and family law. We also believe that the use
of the word "gender" is not precise enough and is not entirely
appropriate when referring to non-discrimination between women and men, which
is the exact wording used by the EU Treaties. This does not seem to be the case
for the Draft Report, which tends to extend the notions of "gender"
beyond the EU legal basis.
In short (according to the Europe for Family
organization): this controversial (but, fortunately, legally non-binding)
report contains the following issues:
- 48% of paragraphs are in direct contradiction with the EU Principle of Subsidiarity
- 35% of paragraphs are “off topic” with regard to the stated subject matter of the report: Strategy on Equality between men and women post 2015.
- 17% of paragraphs entail serious risks of restrictions on freedom of speech of the media, freedom of education and freedom in the context of contractual agreements.
- 7 recitals (from S to X) contain unproven pseudo-scientific assertions as well as false allegations.
A strategy for equality between women and men
post-2015 should address the future that we want for our children. What is
the vision that the Members of the European Parliament want to transmit to the
other EU Institutions, to Member States and to all European citizens? Are we
sure that LGBT parenting (Cf. §31) and the promotion of medical
fertility for all (Cf. §59) are political initiatives in the best interest
of the children? Are we sure that the promotion of abortion in Member
States (Cf. §52) and in the EU Development policy (Cf. §68) will give us a
better future?
Here is what was said by Federation of Catholic Family Associations in
Europe (FAFCE) after the approval of the Panzeri Report, last
March. Hoping that the European Parliament will not repeat the same mistake.
We agree with with their following conclusions:
- Europe does not need less subsidiarity but more respect for the national legislations.
- Europe does not need abortions but better support for mothers and improved relationship and sexual education, whilst respecting the national competence on these issues.
- Children in Europe all need a mother and a father. Their needs should be respected, taking into consideration their best interest. Their needs cannot be neglected in favour of adults’ desires.
We need to reaffirm the principle of subsidiarity and,
foremost, to protect human dignity at every stage of life. Sign
also the petition:
Comments
Post a Comment