EP plenary says "no" to a "men only" ECB

The European Parliament rejected on Thursday by 325 votes to 300, with 49 abstentions, the appointment of Yves Mersch to ECB Executive Board, as proposed by the Council.

During today’s session, the European Parliament Plenary adopted by a narrow margin the proposal recommended by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, to deliver a negative opinion on the Council recommendation to appoint Yves Mersch as a Member of the Executive Board of the ECB.

The EP requested that the recommendation be withdrawn and that a new one be submitted to Parliament.

The EP supports that the Council failed to commit to a better gender balance within what is effectively Europe`s most powerful financial institution, the European Central Bank.

“Mr Van Rompuy has not taken the opportunity to offer more than lip service to what is a very serious matter. 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”, Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee chair Sharon Bowles said.