5. Stresses the Commission's commitments (in the Annual Report on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the European Union 2002 (COM(2003) 98)) to developing the participation of women in decision-making and making financial resources available in 2003 to promote gender-balanced representation in decision-making fields; in particular, asks the Commission to initiate dissemination of information - before the European election 2004 - on the concept of parity democracy, including information on the lessons learned from those countries (e.g. France and Belgium) which have enshrined the principle of parity democracy in their constitutions ...[+++], or introduced specific legislation on the subject;

- having regard to the Public Hearing of its Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities "Elections 2004 - How to ensure balanced representation of women and men", held in the European Parliament, on 11 June 2003, at which all experts spoke out for electoral systems which ensure equal representation of women and men,

At the sitting of 3 July 2003, the President of Parliament announced that the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities had been authorised to draw up an own-initiative report, pursuant to Rule 163 of the Rules of Procedure, on Election 2004 : How to ensure balanced representation of women and men .

on Election 2004 : How to ensure balanced representation of women and men (2003/2108(INI))

It proposes an objective and transparent approach based on the following principles: the approach used must provide for fair and balanced representation of new Member States in the Commission staff; the recruitment procedures must ensure a high level of staff qualifications which will facilitate integration of new personnel; and, in achieving balanced representation, the principles of equal treatment and gender balance will be applied.

11. The European Parliament called on relevant stakeholders to reinforce their actions in order to achieve a balanced representation of women and men in decision-making both in its resolution on the "Representation of women among the social partners of the European Union" and in its resolution on "Election 2004: How to ensure balanced representation of women and men".