Democracy, diversity and equal representation of all EU citizens are at the heart of the EU’s founding principles. Gender equality is part of the core values of the EU and it is a top priority for us as women entrepreneurs of Europe.

Women are the key upcoming elections are the key chain for the change we are after: parity democracy in the EU! We are supporting (EWL’s) 50% 50% campaign to encourage political parties to nominate equal number of women to men in the upcoming elections. While 52% of the EU’s population is female, currently, only 37,3% of the Members of the EP are female. That needs to change.

Only 30% of the entrepreneurs in Europe are female. Education, stereotypes, lack of confidence, work-life balance, and difficulties in accessing finance and business networks are the key barriers that are holding women from entering the market. We call on the new Commission to develop a specific Programme and an EU strategy for Women Entrepreneurs to foster women entrepreneurship in Europe.

Empowering women to participate equally in the global economy could add 28 trillion euros in GDP growth by 2025. Societies with greater gender equality not only offer better socio-economic opportunities for women, but also tend to grow faster and more equitably. We urge Member States to provide and ensure inclusive actions for inclusive female entrepreneurship. Programmes and actions targeting entrepreneurship in particular female entrepreneurship must give all people an equal opportunity to start up and operate businesses including under-represented groups in particular women without discrimination on the grounds of race, age, role, gender, colour, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation, marital status, dependents, disability, social class or political views.

We urge the EU and Member States to implement gender budgeting in all programmes and planning. Well-structured fiscal and gender responsive policies and programming could only benefit to Europe.

​We are committed to close the digital gap for more women digital entrepreneurs. The recent study on “Women in the Digital Age” shows that only 24 out of every 1000 female graduates having an ICT related subject - of which only six go on to work in the digital sector. If more women were to enter the digital jobs market, it could create an annual 16 billion euros GDP boost for the European economy. We need to invest in initiatives and develop programs that empower and advance women and girls in architecting and leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
This manifesto has been supported by
  • MEP Joseph Daul, EPP President
  • FEMM Committee
  • MEP Maria Grapini, S&D
  • MEP Claudia Tapardel, S&D
  • MEP Marlene Mizzi, S&D
  • MEP Julie Ward, S&D