The Council of the EU, meeting in the ‘General Affairs’ Council (GAC) on Tuesday 21 February, formally requested the approval of the European Parliament to adopt the decisions on the ratification by the EU of the Istanbul Convention. This is a promising step forward, to which the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council committed itself (see EUROPE B13107A12, B13093A8), even though 6 years have passed since the Union signed the reference text on the fight against violence against women.