EUROPEAN COMMISSION president José Manuel Barroso has asked all EU heads of state to consider nominating a female to the next EU executive.
The request is likely to make former justice minister Máire Geoghegan-Quinn the front runner for the Irish nomination, which is expected to be formally announced by Taoiseach Brian Cowen within the next two weeks.
In a letter to EU leaders yesterday, Mr Barroso asks EU leaders to pay particular attention to “the presence of women” in the commission when they make nominations. “To allow me to propose a properly balanced team to the Council and the European Parliament, I would therefore ask you all to see gender balance as a common goal and a shared responsibility,” says the letter, which reflects growing concern at the shortage of female nominees.
At least 11 countries have informally suggested candidates to Mr Barroso so far and only a handful are women. Luxembourger Viviane Reding and Cypriot Androulla Vassiliou are expected to serve another term in the commission while Denmark, Britain and Bulgaria may also appoint women.
Mr Barroso had hoped to have an equal division of men and women in the next 27-member EU executive but this is now considered unlikely. The letter to EU leaders is a reminder that a female candidate will have more of a chance of landing a top job in the commission, say commission sources.
The letter from Mr Barroso comes as Mr Cowen considers who to nominate as a commissioner to replace Charlie McCreevy. Speculation has focused on former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox, former taoiseach John Bruton, Fianna Fáil MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher and former Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan.
But a shortage of top quality female Irish candidates – no serving TD is expected to get the nomination due to the Government’s slim majority in the Dáil – increases the prospects for Ms Geoghegan-Quinn.
She is serving a second term at the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg.
Formal nominations are expected to begin after an EU summit on October 30th.