On Wednesday 10 May, the European Parliament agreed to the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) by the European Union. Meeting for the plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs gave the green light to the two draft EU Council decisions for ratification by a large majority.
The decision on the application of the Convention within the EU institutions and administrations received 472 votes in favour, 62 against and 73 abstentions, while the decision on judicial cooperation, asylum and non-refoulement received 464 votes in favour, 81 against and 45 abstentions.
All political groups supported the texts, with the exception of ID and the ECR, which rejected them or abstained. The two groups denounced the “instrumentalisation” of the fight against violence against women to promote “gender ideology” and “limit the state sovereignty of the Member States” with regard to international agreements.
While welcoming a “historic” moment for the Union, the rapporteurs, Arba Kokalari (EPP, Swedish) and Łukasz Kohut (S&D, Polish), called on the six Member States that have not ratified the Istanbul Convention to take action. “We must remind you that for full protection, the individual ratification of other states is necessary. And we will be watching you - Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Latvia - don’t be afraid”, Kohut said in a debate the day before. Indeed, as it is a “mixed” agreement, the EU can only ratify the convention in the areas in which it has competence (see EUROPE 13126/12).
The Council of the EU must now formally approve these decisions with a qualified majority to ratify the Convention (see EUROPE 12806/20).
To view the consent reports that have been adopted, go to https://aeur.eu/f/6tj (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)