Commission strives for gender equality
Three days ahead of International Women’s Day, the European Commission presented its strategy for equality between women and men in Europe.
While more women graduate from universities than men, they earn on average 16% less, and according to the Commission, just 8% of CEOs in the EU’s largest companies are women.
The Gender Equality Strategy 2025-2025 aims to stamp out injustices between gender across the bloc.
“Gender equality is a core principle of the European union, but it is not yet a reality. In business, politics and society as a whole, we can only reach our full potential if we use all of our talent and diversity,” said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Using only half of the population, half of the ideas or half of the energy is not good enough.
“With the Gender Equality Strategy, we are pushing for more and faster progress to promote equality between men and women.”
According to the Commission, no EU Member State has achieved gender equality to date. The five-year strategy therefore outlines a set of key actions, including equal pay; and achieving gender-balance in decision-making and politics:
- In the EU 33% of women were subjected to physical and/or sexual violence, while 55% were sexually harassed. Women in Europe must be free from violence and harmful stereotypes. To achieve this, the Strategy calls for legal measures to criminalise violence against women. The Commission intends in particular to extend the areas of crime where harmonisation is possible across Europe to specific forms of violence against women, including sexual harassment, abuse of women and female genital mutilation. In addition, the Commission will propose the Digital Services Act to clarify what measures are expected from platforms to address illegal activities online, including online violence targeting women.
- Women in the EU earn on average 16% less than men and they still experience barriers to access and remain at the labour market. Gender equality is an essential condition for an innovative, competitive and thriving European economy. Given demographic challenges and green and digital transitions, supporting women to find jobs in sectors with skills shortages, in particular technology and AI sectors, will have a positive impact on Europe's economy. To address the unequal pay the Commission launches today a public consultation on pay transparency and will table binding measures by the end of 2020. To allow women to thrive in the labour market, the Commission will also redouble efforts to enforce EU standards on work-life balance to enable real choice for women and men to develop equally both personally and professionally. Gender equality in context of labour market, social inclusion and education dimensions, will continue to be monitored through the European Semester.
- Women remain underrepresented in leading positions, including EU's largest companies where only 8% of CEOs are women. To let women lead in business, among others, the Commission will push for the adoption of the 2012 proposal for gender balance on corporate boards. The Commission will also promote women's participation in politics, including in the 2024 European Parliament elections, including through funding and sharing best practice. To lead by example, the Commission will strive to reach gender balance of 50% at all levels of its management by the end of 2024.
Image: Getty/BulatSilvia