Margot Wallström has plenty of experience in politics. She has been Minister for Civil Service Affairs, for Culture and for Social Affairs in various Swedish Social Democratic governments. In 1999, she was appointed Environment Commissioner and in 2004, first Vice-President of the European Commission, becoming the first woman to attain this level in the EU hierarchy.
As a pre-eminent female leader, Margot Wallström has been awarded a place in the Women World Leaders network, together with other well-known Nordic politicians such as former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, former President of Iceland Vigdís Finnbogadóttir and the current President of Finland, Tarja Halonen.
The purpose of the 10-year-old network is to mobilise women at the highest political level for common action on issues vital for women and for the promotion of equality.
“The principal mission is to promote good leadership and strengthen global democracy by increasing the number of women leaders worldwide, and boosting their impact and visibility,” says Margot Wallström.
Ms Wallström is the chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative. Within the framework of this initiative, ministers and other women leaders work together within seven sectors: environment, finance, economy and development, equality, health and culture. For each sector, a separate network has been created.
“A key function of the network is to promote skills development for young female leaders,” says Margot Wallström. Cooperating with the universities of Harvard and Columbia, we have launched a trainee programme for promising young women, who are given the opportunity to work together with network members and other female leaders. To date, 62 young women and one man have participated in the programme.
When former Swedish Social Democratic Party leader Göran Persson announced that he would step down after the election defeat in 2006, many Social Democrats would have liked to see Margot Wallström as the new party leader. But she declined, on several occasions, stating as her reason that she wanted to fulfil her mission in Brussels. The mandate of the present European Commission will end in 2009.
No falling for dirty tricks
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| Photo: Roger Turesson/Scanpix |
The tense relations between Margot Wallström and Göran Persson have been much publicized. Mr Persson made no secret of his efforts to bring back Ms Wallström from Brussels. Her answer was still no. It was also Mr Persson who delayed the decision of nominating her as Swedish EU Commissioner the second time around. In the run-up to the Swedish elections in 1998, the two of them were supposed to lead the Social Democrat campaign together. However, the press conferences where they were both present are today often used to illustrate techniques for maintaining male dominance: when Ms Wallström was talking, Mr Persson looked away, fiddled about with the microphone and seemed disinterested. Margot Wallström herself seems weary of being reminded of this episode.
“After 30 years in politics, I know better than to fall for dirty tricks that are used to belittle me as a politician and a human being,” she says.
In Swedish politics, Ms Wallström has experienced both ups and downs. Are things any different in the EU, then?
No women in top positions
“In my experience, there is a workaholic culture in the European Commission. It is a culture that does not favour women.”
“The opposition to women politicians at the highest level in the EU is often reflected in what is not done. Not enough women commissioners are appointed, and the same is true for ministers, director-generals and other top positions.”
In 2009, four European top positions will be filled, namely the posts of President of the European Commission, President of the European Council, President of the European Parliament and High Representative for Foreign Policy. None of the candidates put forward for these posts is a woman.
“This is a great mistake, because this reinforces the image of the EU as a male dominated project,” says Ms Wallström.
Has the equality situation been better or worse in the EU, compared to your time as a minister in Sweden?
“In Sweden, gender equality issues are more visibly included on the political agenda. There is a greater general consciousness as to equality.”
“The EU consists of 27 member states, and the level of equality varies from country to country. It is a well-known fact that the Nordic countries are more progressive in equality matters than most. But this gives no reason for bragging or believing that this is true in all fields relating to equality. On particular points, other countries may be more advanced. Thanks to the EU, Sweden has introduced legislation against the discrimination of part-time workers, for example.”
Are there areas where the EU is doing better on equality than Sweden?
“One of the strengths of the EU is that all 27 member states are pulling in the same direction for improved gender equality. Little by little, this will leave its mark on the formulation of EU policies, which hopefully will favour both women and men. A single country like Sweden cannot influence European policies in the same way.”
Do you have any tips for a young woman or man who wants to be a politician?
“Be proud of yourself and of what you are doing. Create a network you can turn to for support.”
This article has been published in NIKK magasin 1 2009 © NIKK
