On Monday 13 October, the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) adopted an own-initiative report on the future European gender equality strategy.
The text tabled by Marko Vešligaj (S&D, Croatian) was approved with 25 votes in favour, 8 against and one abstention. It will be used to draw up the resolution that Parliament must adopt in plenary before the Commission presents its 2026-2030 strategy.
The report calls on the Commission to work towards an ambitious plan, with legislative and non-legislative measures to ensure that gender-based violence is recognised as an EU crime under the TFEU, that femicide is classified as a separate offence and that a definition of rape based on consent is introduced into EU law.
MEPs also urge those Member States that have not yet done so to ratify the Istanbul Convention.
MEPs also want to see rules established to ensure equal access to sexual and reproductive health, as well as measures targeting the “gender health gap”.
With regard to the professional sector, the text calls for a reduction in pay and pension differentials, the application of directives on pay transparency and work-life balance, and the development of a ‘European Care Deal’.
A balanced representation of women in all decision-making bodies and support for civil society in the face of anti-gender movements is also called for.
However, two compromises supported by the rapporteur were rejected. These were CA39 and CA40, both dedicated to health.
The first focused on the fundamental right to quality care, reducing the gender gap in health, mental health and access in rural areas, while the second proposed a comprehensive European strategy that would take account of prevention, best practices, health coverage and common models for maternal health and the use of medicines during pregnancy.
After the vote, Marko Vešligaj stressed that this was not just a polite request, but a firm appeal to the Commission in the face of increasing attacks on the rights of women and girls.
The report: https://aeur.eu/f/iyj
Compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/iyk (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)