MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) discussed, on Tuesday 20 May, the 782 amendments tabled to the non-legislative own-initiative report on the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030, for which Marko Vešligaj (S&D, Croatian) is rapporteur.
The debate reflected the differing approaches of progressive and conservative MEPs to sexual and reproductive rights, gender violence and intersectional issues.
Marko Vešligaj called for an inclusive framework and concrete measures.
“Such a large number of amendments shows just how important this subject is”, he said at the start of the discussion. Welcoming the diversity of the proposals, he said he wanted to arrive at “the best possible strategy for the European Union”.
The rapporteur has therefore made the fight against discrimination - particularly in access to employment and education - and obstetric violence, as well as women’s political representation and access to digital services, major issues.
To achieve these objectives, he called on the political groups to “work together to develop this strategy”.
He also defended an “ambitious” strategy, which “allows women to be present in different sectors, particularly defence”, and takes account of the issues linked to violence in virtual space.
The EPP, Renew Europe, S&D, Greens/EFA and The Left groups have expressed their willingness to cooperate to reach compromises.
Paulo do Nascimento Cabral (EPP, Portuguese) welcomed the constructive work on digital technology: “A world of opportunities, but also of risks. (...) Women need to be better represented in all areas. This is an ethical imperative, but it is also crucial for prosperity”.
However, criticism has come from further to the right of the political spectrum.
Laurence Trochu (ECR, French) denounced a report which, in her view, endlessly repeats the same ideological obsessions from the 1970s.
She pointed to the concepts of “intersectionality and inclusion (...) as the catechism of a new religion”.
She objected to what she saw as “the endless promotion of abortion as the only answer to women’s distress”.
Margarita de la Pisa Carrión (PfE, Spanish), for her part, rejected the gender perspective as “subjective aspects”.
Faced with these positions, Benedetta Scuderi (Greens/EFA, Italian) called for firm political action.
“We finally have the opportunity to build a new strategy that will recognise parity as a political and concrete responsibility”, she declared.
She went on to express her indignation at “the systematic determination of the far right to wipe out this strategy and destroy it from within”.
Similarly, Carolina Morace (The Left, Italian) denounced amendments that aim to “weaken, dilute or eliminate fundamental references such as the Istanbul Convention (...)”. And she added: “Women’s rights are not an ideology. Women’s rights are human rights”.
Following these speeches, Marko Vešligaj stated that “when we talk about gender ideologies, when we talk about new religions, (...) I don't even think it's worthy of a comment”.
To see the draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/gyp ; and the amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/gyn ; https://aeur.eu/f/gyo (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)