ALDE MEPs Anneli Jäätteenmäki,  Marielle De Sarnez and Diana Wallis outside the EU Council building in Brussels.

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament are backing their Vice-President Diana Wallis, in her campaign to raise concerns over the lack of female names being discussed as possible candidates for senior positions in the European Union's new institutional structure and in the new college of commissioners.Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader commented:

"The Europe that I and my group believe in is one where nationality and party membership count for less than ability and a pro-European conviction. It is no wonder that the Swedish Presidency is having such difficulty in finding a consensus with a relatively limited gene-pool of candidates, many of whom remain reluctant to declare an interest and with Member States insisting on geographical and political balance. This is all to the detriment of finding the right person for the right job."

"The current prospects of a gender balanced European Commission look bleak with so few female candidates nominated by Member States. Parliament is sure to take a dim view, during the approval process, of any College with a low percentage of women commissioners. We urge the Commission President to insist that more countries nominate able women."

Diana Wallis (UK, Lib Dem), ALDE Vice President of the European Parliament is leading the campaign for more women candidates to be proposed.

"To date the process for nominating candidates has been without transparency and represents the worst aspects of an old and unrepresentative EU.  EU leaders have a few days to make a difference and to inspire citizens to have more connection with the European institutions. If these posts were subject to an appointment process in any of our Member States, the process to date would be invalid for failure to respect our own legislation on non-discrimination and gender balance."