17/12/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament adopted a resolution (see EUROPE 12624/28) on Thursday 17 December by a very large majority (505 votes in favour, 146 against and 37 abstentions) calling on the EU Council to set up a configuration of ministers and secretaries of state responsible for gender equality. Only the ID and ECR groups expressed their opposition to this initiative during the debate on the subject held the previous day in plenary. MEPs believe it is essential that equality issues can now be discussed “at the highest political level”. This would allow progress to be made on issues some of which have been blocked for decades and discussions to begin on topics such as adding gender-based violence to the EU list of crimes or adopting a future directive on gender-based violence. (AC)