EESC info: You have been elected president of the EESC Ad hoc group on equality. What are the most important tasks that the group will undertake?

Maria Nikolopoulou: The mission of the equality group is to promote a cross-cutting culture of equality and non-discrimination in the EESC. Therefore, the first step is to identify the areas where members might potentially receive unequal treatment due to their origin, gender, sexual orientation or beliefs. We also aim to enhance the participation of women in our Committee and reach gender balance as soon as possible. We currently have 108 female members (32.82%). On the one hand, we want to increase the number of female members in the medium/long term and on the other hand we want to make sure that we create space and the necessary conditions for women to be more active. One of the tools that we want to improve is data collection on the participation of women, not only as members but also as experts and speakers, in our activities.

How will the group cooperate with other EU institutions and organisations dealing with equality issues?

Last year we were in contact with the former chair of the European Parliament's FEMM Committee, Evelyn Regner, and the Parliament's Vice President for gender equality and diversity, Dimitrios Papadimoulis, to share ideas, best practices and actions. We were inspired by and replicated the Parliament's initiative to organise an Equality Week. We adapted this idea to our own work and timetable and, at the meeting of our sections at the end of the year, we held thematic debates on topics related to women, from gender-based violence to women in agriculture, water transport, the economy and external relations. In addition to this, we are currently organising an open event that we will broadcast and that we aim to hold every year, to mark International Women's Day on 8 March.

This year, on 8 March, we would like to target our activities at the public outside the Committee and draw their attention to the situation of women in the labour market.

EESC info: Why do you think it is important for civil society to have such a group?

The EESC is part of civil society. The organisations we as members belong to demand respect and promote equality at national and local level and we have to do the same at European level in the "house of organised civil society". To be consistent with our values and demands, we need to practise what we preach, making sure that we constantly foster a culture of equality.

Maria Nikolopoulou, EESC member, president of the Ad hoc group on equality