MEPs at the Committee on Women's rights and Equal opportunities have approved a resolution in which they ask for introducing quotas to increase women's representation in political, administrative and business bodies and reducing the pay gap between women and men to respond to the current crisis.

The Committee on Women's Rights at the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which stresses that economic recovery projects that are under way focus on male-dominated jobs, while women are underrepresented in sectors such as renewable industry and science that are most likely to expand in the future. It therefore asks for the introduction of quotas to increase women's representation in political, administrative and business bodies. The European Parliament approved in 2011 a report in which already asked for the possibility of introducing quotas in 2012 in order to increase the number of women in corporate boards.

The resolution adopted with 16 votes in favour, 7 against and 5 abstentions, presents the annual report on the state of gender equality in the EU for 2011 and puts forward suggestions to improve it. Among the suggestions, the committee reiterates a demand for legislation to support equal payment for women and men for the same work and qualifications and calls for an EU equal pay target to reduce the gender pay gap by 10% in each EU country. The gender pay gap has been only marginally reduced in recent years and, on average, women in the EU still earn 17.5% less than men, even though they make up 60% of new university graduates.

In addition, MEPs also call on the Council to move forward on an amendment proposed by Parliament to the Maternity Leave Directive to ensure paid leave across the EU. With regard to the same sex couples' rights, the committee asks the Commission and national governments to guarantee the recognition of same-sex couples' civil unions and rights in those EU countries that have legislation in place and regrets that some Member States have introduced restrictive definitions of "family" that deprive these couples of legal protection.