The EU Council adopted conclusions on Tuesday 10 December on equality between women and men in EU economies that avoid the most sensitive issues, such as LGBTQI. Poland and Germany have also clarified, in a separate declaration, the interpretation to be given to certain paragraphs.
The conclusions reference a series of principles already agreed, such as equal pay, equal employment or combatting violence. They welcome the fact that in 2020, the international community is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. It notes the problems that still exist. It also calls for a new autonomous European strategy on gender equality for the post-2019 period "which includes both specific measures and the integration of gender equality into the EU's policies and activities". A strategy that the new Equality Commissioner, Helena Dalli, promised the ministers would be presented quickly.
However, Poland and Germany wished to clarify certain points in a written statement. So, Warsaw indicated that the term "gender equality" should be understood as equality between women and men (in order to avoid any confusion with transgender people). For its part, Berlin specified that the reference to equality in the decision-making process "should not prejudge" draft legislation on quotas for women on the boards of directors of listed companies.
It should be noted that the adoption of these conclusions followed an exchange of views between the Ministers of Social Affairs on the issue of equality, after a brief presentation by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). Link to the conclusions: http://bit.ly/2PpYXJi (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)