About the European Union of Women

About The EUW

When the EUW was founded in 1953, the principal aim was to encourage European women in different countries to study and resolve common problems. The EUW believes that women should be encouraged to play an active part in civic life, and membership includes business and professional women, MPs, MEPs and local Councillors. EUW maintains regular dialogues between the National Sections through the work of the EUW Commissions and the visits organised by Europe Alive. Particular attention is paid to issues that concern the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

The European Union of Women (EUW) has addressed women’s issues at local, national and international levels since it was founded in 1953

Today, we are a growing network which aims to be a powerful and effective advocate for women’s rights to equality of education and opportunity and of the empowerment of women in society and the workplace.
The British Section is the UK arm of EUW International, a Europe-wide NGO comprising of 15 member countries.
We work, socialise and build long-term connections and friendships across Europe, based on mutual understanding and the shared values of equality, freedom and understanding.
The EUW has general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and has participatory status with the Council of Europe.
Our members include influential career women and retirees, including women leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, professionals and politicians.

THE EUW STORY

The European Union of Women (EUW) was originally born out of the drive and determination of women in Cold War Europe to promote freedom, justice, equality and cultural enlightenment.

These brave women were real pioneers. Out of their foresight and tenacity a movement was formed that now reaches across Europe, pre-dating the European institutions we know today.

Members of the EUW have always known that the world is a better place when values are shared and women are treated as equal and given a voice.

As time has moved on we now understand that gender equality is good for children and their education; gender equality is good for marginalised racial groups; gender equality is good for business and the economy and gender equality fosters peace. In this sense the EUW was way ahead of its time and remains as relevant today as it has ever been.

Our values and our commitment to democracy and dialogue have been and remain a critical foundation to peace in Europe.

the British Section of the EUW

British Section Chairman
Ms Aminda Leigh

First Vice-Chairman
Mrs Sue Tinney

Second Vice-Chairman
Mrs Dina Black

Vice-Chairman Commissions
Cllr Jackie Branson

Treasurer
Ms Fay Buglass

President
Mrs Patricia Taylor

The Management Committee of British Section comprises the officers and the Regional Chairmen. The Management Committee meets four times per year. The Council of British Section comprises those on the Management Committee, Branch Chairmen, Commission leaders and full members, and those with special responsibilities. The Council meets twice a year, one of the occasions usually being during the Spring Break.

Structure and Relationships

The History of The EUW

The 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.

The EUW has sections in the following countries – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The British Section is a non-governmental organisation, with consultative status with the Council of Europe and with Special Consultative Status with the Economic & Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).

AlISon Tennant

Alison Tennant was one of the founding members of the EUW and Chairman of the British Section from 1955 to 1969. She founded ‘Europe Alive’, a part of the EUW which promotes cultural and political exchanges between member countries. Throughout the 30 years and more of her involvement with the EUW, Alison played a significant role in the drafting and development of the Constitution and without her, the British Section might not have been established. As Chairman of the British Section, her terrific enthusiasm inspired others.

Each year, a Memorial Lecture is held in her honour. The first Alison Tennant Memorial Lecture was given by The Rt Hon Geoffrey Howe in July 1988. Since then, at the invitation of the EUW British Section, the Lectures have been given annually by a distinguished personality who is deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to his or her country. The theme of the lectures is Europe and the EUW.

We are very pleased that each year members of Alison Tennant’s family attend the Lecture at the invitation of the EUW.

2024 - Joe Ryrie and Daisy Greenwell, Co-founders of Smartphone Free Childhood *view recording*
2023 - Professor Mala Rao OBE, Director of the Ethnicity & Health Unit & Senior Clinical Fellow, Imperial College London
2022 - Dr Hannah White, Acting Director at the Institute of Government
2021 - Sajda Mughal OBE, CEO of JAN Trust
2020 - The Rt Hon. Stephen Dorrell, Chair, European Movement UK
2019 - Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Government
2018 - Sir Ivan Rogers
2017 - Gillian Keegan MP
2016 - Angela Knight CBE, Chair of the Office of Tax Simplification
2015 - Flick Drummond MP
2014 - Dame Mary Archer DBE
2013 - Richard Ashworth MEP, Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament
2012 - Lady Barbara Judge CBE
2011 - Mrs Eleanor Laing MP
2010 - Countess Walburga Habsburg-Douglas, International Chairman of EUW
2009 - Angela Knight CBE, Chief Executive of the British Bankers’ Association
2008 - Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP
2007 - Caroline Spelman MP
2006 - Mrs Ingrid Tichy-Schreder, International President of the European Union of Women
2005 - Air Marshal Peter Walker CB CBE
2004 - Digby Jones, Director-General of the CBI
2003 - Rt Hon Lord Brittan of Spennithorne QC
2002 - Ian Taylor MBE MP
2001 - Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP
2000 - His Excellency Dr George Bonelle DuPuis, Maltese High Commissioner
1999 - Lord Henley
1998 - Margaretha af Ugglas, Chairman of the European People’s Party
1997 - Viscount Montgomery of Alamein CBE
1996 - The Baroness Cumberledge
1995 - Rt Hon John Gummer MP
1994 - Hon Virginia Bottomley MP
1993 - Sir Christopher Prout MEP
1992 - Rt Hon Douglas Hurd MP
1991 - Rt Hon Tom King MP
1990 - Rt Hon William Waldegrave MP
1989 - Baroness Elles MEP
1988 - Lord Howe

We campaign, we network, we understand and are politically aware

EURoPEAN UNION OF WOMEN

ABOUT US