Leaders say Europe needs more working women
Six prime ministers -- from Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Finland and the Czech Republic -- and French President Jacques Chirac sent the letter to the other 19 EU heads of government, seeking an enhancement of women's participation in the workplace.
In the letter, also addressed to the president of the executive EU Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, they propose a "European Pact for Gender Equality".
"Policies to promote women's employment and to ensure opportunities for both women and men to combine professional and private life are crucial for the maintenance of a competitive and prosperous Europe," the letter says.
However, no extra money will be needed to fund their initiative, according to the letter.
The letter comes amid the build-up to the March summit of the 25 heads of state, at which jobs and growth will top the agenda.
Action plans
At the meeting, EU leaders will review their action plans, sent to the Commission last month, which they hope will lift economic growth and increase employment in a continent with 19 million jobless -- 8.5 percent of the workforce.
Last year the Commission relaunched their plan, otherwise known as the Lisbon Agenda, in an effort to make Europe the most competitive economy by 2010.
"The Pact for Gender Equality should serve to enhance women's participation in the labor market and to promote equality between women and men," the letter says.
Some of the measures proposed by the six leaders are a closing of gender gaps and combating gender stereotypes in the labor market, promoting women's employment in all age brackets, equal pay for equal work, considering how to make welfare systems more friendly to women's employment and promoting women's empowerment in political and economic life.
On a social level, the six governments are seeking to improve the provision of care facilities for other dependents and to promote parental leave for both women and men.