16/12/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 16 December, the German Presidency of the EU Council published its ‘Presidency Conclusions on the Action Plan 2021-2025 for Gender Equality in EU External Relations’, (GAP III - see EUROPE 12609/20), welcoming an “ambitious programme”. As Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria did not wish to support the text, the EU Council was unable to adopt its own conclusions. These three delegations had already refused to support Presidency conclusions on gender equality in culture two weeks ago (see EUROPE 12614/26). At a Development Council meeting, and during a discussion on GAP III, Poland and Hungary also expressed their opposition to the use of the term ‘gender equality’, preferring equality ‘between women and men’ (see EUROPE 12608/17). See the Presidency Conclusions: https://bit.ly/3mpLRue (AC)