Senaste dokumenten

Sammanfattning : This briefing analyses, from a gender perspective, the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Social Fund (ESF) for the period from 2028 to 2034 (2025/0239 (COD)) and compares it with the framework for the 2021–2027 period. The briefing examines changes in objectives, funding mechanisms, implementation, scrutiny and safeguards with regards to gender equality and puts forward concrete policy recommendations and suggested legislative improvements. This document was prepared by Policy Department for Citizens, Equality and Culture at the request of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Right and Gender Equality.

Extern avdelning : ELOMÄKI Anna

Sammanfattning : This briefing analyses, from a gender perspective, the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the 'AgoraEU' programme for the period 2028-2034, and repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/692 and (EU) 2021/818) ((COM/2025/550 final)) and compares it with the framework for the 2021–2027 period. The briefing examines changes in objectives, funding mechanisms, implementation, scrutiny and safeguards with regards to the gender equality objective and puts forward concrete policy recommendations and suggested legislative improvements. This document was prepared by Policy Department for Citizens, Equality and Culture at the request of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Right and Gender Equality.

Extern avdelning : Elisabeth KLATZER

Sammanfattning : The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 9 to 19 March 2026. This year's priority theme, “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers”, strongly emphasizes the urgent need for judicial reform and gender-responsive legal frameworks in securing the fundamental rights and protections of all women and girls. The briefing has been prepared by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens, Equality and Culture at the request of the FEMM Committee.

Författare : GARCIA TAMARA Isabel

Författare : SERPIERI Margherita

Sammanfattning : This briefing provides background information for the mission of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) to India on 16-20 February 2026. The mission will allow Members to assess the implementation of the EU Gender Action Plan III (GAP III) in India and evaluate how EU external action supports gender equality and women’s empowerment in a key strategic partner country and Indo-Pacific actor. It also offers an opportunity to engage with key national stakeholders, including representatives from government institutions, EU Delegation officials, civil society organisations, think tanks, and private-sector actors as well as social enterprises implementing gender-inclusive initiatives. The briefing first provides an overview of India’s political, social, and economic context. It then outlines EU-India relations, their strategic partnership, and the recently concluded Free Trade Agreement. Chapter three introduces the European Gender Action Plan III. Chapter four examines the current state of gender equality in India. Chapter five highlights the contribution of EU action in India. Finally, the briefing offers concluding remarks.

Författare : VINSON Katharina

Sammanfattning : This briefing analyses, from a gender perspective, the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Global Europe (COM/2025/551 final) and compares it with the framework for the 2021–2027 period. The briefing examines changes in objectives, funding mechanisms, implementation, scrutiny and safeguards with regards to the gender equality objective and puts forward concrete policy recommendations and suggested legislative improvements. This document was prepared by Policy Department for Citizens, Equality and Culture at the request of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Right and Gender Equality.

Extern avdelning : Petra DEBUSSCHER

Sammanfattning : This briefing analyses, from a gender perspective, the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework and other horizontal rules for the Union programmes and activities (COM(2025) 545 final) and compares it with the framework for the 2021–2027 period. The briefing examines changes in objectives, funding mechanisms, implementation, scrutiny and safeguards with regards to the gender equality objective and puts forward concrete policy recommendations and suggested legislative improvements. This document was prepared by Policy Department for Citizens, Equality and Culture at the request of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Right and Gender Equality.

Extern avdelning : KLATZER Elisabeth

Sammanfattning : New digital technologies are a mixed blessing for women's rights and representation in the information sphere in general, and in the democratic debate in particular. Innovative digital tools often promise to make public debates more inclusive, for women too. In practice, recent AI-enabled technology – including deepfake tools – appears to facilitate an increasingly hostile information environment for women, with repercussions for their democratic participation both online and offline. At the same time, the ongoing global wave of autocratisation goes hand in hand with a backlash against women's rights and gender equality. Authoritarian regimes have strategic reasons for suppressing women, and often use gendered disinformation to undermine women opposition leaders, as well as to erode confidence in democratic values and rights. In the European Union, equality between men and women is a fundamental right and a founding value enshrined in the Treaties. Over the past decades, the EU has worked to increase gender equality at home, and used its global influence to support women's rights abroad. At the same time, its evolving digital regulatory framework aims to make the digital space safe for all, including by protecting the rights of women online.

Författare : BENTZEN Naja

Sammanfattning : The briefing provides background information for the inter-parliamentary committee meeting on ‘Women's rights and democracy: combating stereotypes, disinformation and violence in the digital age’, which will take place on 5 March 2026. The expansion of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), presents both transformative opportunities and profound challenges for the advancement of women’s rights. While these innovations have revolutionised access to education, economic empowerment, and global advocacy—amplifying feminist movements and breaking down structural barriers—they have also exacerbated gendered risks, from algorithmic bias and online harassment to the weaponisation of deepfake technology. The same tools that enable progress can equally entrench inequality. By embedding rights-based frameworks into AI, platform policies, and data systems, digital innovation can be transformed into a tool for empowerment.

Författare : SANDU Georgiana, CSÉBY RÓZA BELLA

Författare : SANDERSKI ANDRZEJ, SERPIERI Margherita

Författare : SANDERSKI ANDRZEJ, SERPIERI Margherita

Sammanfattning : On 21 October 2025, the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen's second mandate adopted its work programme for 2026 (2026 CWP). In line with the Commission President's political guidelines and letter of intent and highlighting the need for full implementation of Mario Draghi's competitiveness report, the 2026 CWP places a strong emphasis on competitiveness, innovation and collective security. In parallel, the Commission commits to advancing simplification, implementation, and this year, also to strengthening enforcement. These three areas will remain key horizontal priorities for the entire Commission mandate. Just like last year's CWP, the 2026 CWP adheres to the seven headline ambitions put forward in the political guidelines. It is accompanied by a report on implementation, simplification and enforcement, the first of its kind. This new annual report is set to replace the annual burden survey. Annex I of the 2026 CWP puts forward 70 major new legislative and non-legislative initiatives, 44 % of which fall under the competitiveness headline ambition. (Up to) 48 of the new initiatives are legislative, including three sector-specific omnibus packages (on energy product legislation, taxation and citizens). Of the forthcoming legislative initiatives, 67 % are likely revisions of existing legislation, while more than half have a strong simplification dimension. Unlike previous CWPs, the 2026 CWP does not indicate whether a legislative initiative will be accompanied by an impact assessment; this lack of transparency runs counter to the spirit of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making. Information on the Commission's 'Have your say' portal shows that, at the time of writing, two thirds of the up to 48 legislative initiatives were expected to be accompanied by an impact assessment (though the final number may be higher). The annual evaluation plan presented in Annex II of the CWP, comprising 20 evaluations, does not appear exhaustive. Finally, the communication on Better Regulation, expected in Q2 2026, may entail a revision of the Better Regulation Guidelines, the first since 2021.

Författare : ANGLMAYER Irmgard, DALLI HUBERT, IOANNIDES Isabelle

Sammanfattning : On 8 October 2025, the European Commission published its new LGBTIQ+ equality strategy for the period 2026 to 2030. According to the Commission, this strategy seeks to build on the ambition and achievements of the 2020-2025 equality strategy and is part of the EU's effort to build a Union where 'diversity is celebrated as part of our collective richness, where all people can be themselves without risk of discrimination, exclusion or violence'. While data from the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency show that LGBTIQ people's social acceptance has steadily increased across the EU, there is also evidence that discrimination, hate and violence against LGBTIQ communities not only persist but have reached a new high. Based on a comparative analysis, it appears that, overall, the Commission has followed up on most of its key actions proposed in the 2020-2025 strategy. By adopting a new LGBTIQ equality strategy for the period 2026 to 2030 and re-appointing an Equality Commissioner, the Commission met two key demands of stakeholders, including the European Parliament. Compared with the previous 2020-2025 strategy, the 16 key actions proposed under the new strategy concern mostly non-legislative and support measures. The Commission has proposed to more than double the funding for LGBTIQ support under the next multiannual financial framework. Consistent implementation and enforcement will be essential. This holds true for both the Commission and the Member States, particularly where the rule of law is under threat.

Författare : EISELE Katharina, DE GROOT DAVID ARMAND JACQUES GERA

Sammanfattning : This study examines how the gender health gap, and in particular the gender inequalities in medical research, drug development and access to care, affect women's bodies and lives. The study identifies fragmented policy responses and provides concrete policy recommendations relevant to EU decision-making aimed at closing highlighting the gender-based health gap in the EU. This document was prepared by Policy Department for Citizens, Equality and Culture at the request of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Right and Gender Equality.

Extern avdelning : DAVAKI Konstantina

Författare : SANDERSKI ANDRZEJ, SERPIERI Margherita

Sammanfattning : This study examines how structural labour market inequalities affect women’s mental health in the EU. It highlights the gender pay and pension gaps and new forms of work as drivers of poorer well-being among women. The study identifies fragmented policy responses and recommends coordinated, gender-responsive action across labour, health and gender equality domains.

Extern avdelning : Yuliia SHEVCHENKO, Cecilia FRANCISCO CARCELÉN, Hedvika JANEČKOVÁ, Hans Magnus GIELGE, Eva PADROSA SAYERAS,

Sammanfattning : This briefing has been prepared by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens, Equality and Culture at the request of the FEMM Committee, in the framework of the workshop ‘Consent-based rape legislation in the EU’ (organised on 19 May 2025). It provides a brief overview of literature and guidance as regards understanding consent, and highlights examples of evidence-based consent education and awareness raising initiatives.

Extern avdelning : Axelle Bavré, Kristien Michielsen, Tara De Laet and Erick Janssen

Sammanfattning : The European Parliament is vested with powers of democratic oversight and political scrutiny vis-à-vis the European Commission. These powers of Parliament enhance the democratic legitimacy of the EU as a whole, and help increase the transparency and accountability of the Commission as the EU's executive body. This study examines Parliament's oversight and scrutiny powers over the Commission. It focuses mainly, but not exclusively, on the powers that are enshrined in specific provisions of the EU Treaties. This includes Parliament's role in the Commission's investiture, in motions of censure, parliamentary questions, committees of inquiry and special committees, and in the Commission's obligations to report, consult and inform. It also looks into Parliament's scrutiny over budgetary issues, of delegated acts, in the context of the EU legislative procedure and agenda-setting, of legal proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union, and of the EU's external relations. The study builds on a previous EPRS study on parliamentary scrutiny of the Commission, originally requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) in 2018. The data presented in this edition focus on the ninth term parliamentary term (2019 to 2024).

Författare : TENHUNEN Susanna, EISELE Katharina, AHAMAD MADATALI HANNAH NAFIZE, JANSEN Talander Hugo

Sammanfattning : This briefing contains background materials for the FEMM Committee mission to Nicosia, Cyprus (26-28 May 2025), with a focus on the legacy of conflict and trauma for women and girls, including conflict-related sexual violence. The briefing has been prepared by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens, Equality and Culture at the request of the FEMM Committee.

Författare : SANDU Georgiana, AMBROSIO ILENIA

Sammanfattning : This briefing contains background materials for the FEMM Committee mission to the sixty-ninth session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which focuses on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. The briefing has been prepared by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens, Equality and Culture at the request of the FEMM Committee.

Författare : GARCIA TAMARA Isabel

Sammanfattning : This briefing was commissioned by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens, Equality, and Culture at the request of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality ahead of the Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on the occasion of the International Women's Day. The briefing gives an overview of the Women and Peace and Security Agenda and the current situation at global and European Union level. It examines women’s participation as active agents in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction. It also offers a brief outline of the role of international humanitarian and human rights law in the protection of women and their rights.

Författare : SANDU Georgiana, AMBROSIO ILENIA

Sammanfattning : Commitments made at the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate 2024-2029