The History of the EUW

EUW Council Meetings

1953 Salzburg Foundation of the Union
1955 The Hague  The position of women in economic, social and political life
1957 Strasbourg The attitude of women towards Communism
1959 West Berlin Liberty, the foundation of a united Europe
1961 London Europe and the developing countries
1963 Rome Educational development of the European idea
1965 Vienna Cooperation of the peoples of Europe in the field of culture
1967 Munich We are the citizen’s of Europe
1969 Stockholm Europe in the world
1971 Paris On the road to European Unity
1973 Oxford Responsibility in the modern society
1975 Rome Equality, development and peace
1977 Turku A policy for freedom – our European challenge
1979 Bonn Child, family, society
1981 Interlaken Quality of life in Europe, individual & society
1983 Munich Women’s responsibility for the future
1985 Brighton New technologies – chance or danger?
1987 Vienna The challenge of the year 2000
1989 La Baule Our European identity
1991 St Gallen European cooperation – a challenge for women
1993 Warwick The new Europe
1995 Dresden Human rights – women’s rights
1997 Athens Women reshaping politics
1999 Stockholm Safeguarding future generations across Europe
2001 Athens Safeguarding future generations
2003 Graz Shared solutions to common problems
2005 Berne
2007 Hillerod Women facing real life
2009 Dijon Vision for the future
2011 Athens Responsibility across the nations
2013 Poitiers, France
Diamond Jubilee
Women & Economic Crisis 
2015 Warsaw, Poland

HISTORY OF THE EUW

EUW was founded in Salzburg in 1953, the inspiration of an Austrian Member of Parliament, Dr Lola Solar. The aim was to stimulate an interest in European affairs and to enable women to make their contribution to international understanding.

2013 Diamond Jubilee of the European Union of Women

The first conference was held in September 1953 in Salzburg, Austria, under the banner “First International Conference of Christian Democratic Women”.  The aim was to foster closer contacts with politically active women in all the democratic countries in Europe.

Issues debated were the continued existence of the family, the social protection and economic support of working women, and the necessity to influence the respective legislations in each country. The conference decided to cultivate and deepen this fruitful exchange of ideas.
After several preparatory meetings following this conference the first official general assembly of the Union of Women of Europe took place in The Hague in 1955.

Commission Topics - 2010/11

Economic & Employment
‘ Is the workplace efficient and trained?’

Culture, Education & Science
‘Mutual recognition of qualifications in Europe’

Environment, Local Government and Regional Planning
‘Nuclear power and/or renewable energy’

Family & Social Affairs
‘The 21st Century Family – new responsibilities’

Food, Agriculture & Consumers
‘The role of genetic modification in present and future agriculture’

Health
‘Euthanasia – ethical, financial and legal implications’

Information & Mass Media
‘Living with the Internet – risks and opportunities’

International Policy
‘Are our human rights infringed by our right to security?’

Judicial
‘Crime committed by minors’

Migrants, Refugees & Demography
‘Migrant streams in the wake of the economic crisis’

COMMISSIONS' ARCHIVES

INGO Conference 

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Universal Suffrage – Votes for Women

1906      Finland
1913      Norway
1915      Denmark
1917      Estonia
              Latvia
              Lithuania
              Poland
              Russia
              Ukraine
1918      Austria
              Germany
1919      Netherlands
              Luxembourg
              Sweden
1920      Albania
              Czechoslovakia
1921      Romania
              Sweden
1922      Republic of 
              Ireland
1928      United Kingdom
1931      Spain
1934      Turkey
1944      Bulgaria
              France
1945      Yugoslavia
              Italy
1947      Malta
1948      Belgium
1952      Greece
1960      Cyprus
1962      Monaco
1971      Switzerland
1976      Portugal
1984      Liechtenstein