COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION - SYNOPSIS REPORT Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030
Date: 2026-03-05
Institutions: Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission
Subjects: EU strategy, education, equal pay, female work, gender equality, gender-based violence, health policy, position of women, women's rights, work-life balance

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 5.3.2026  SWD(2026) 82 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION - SYNOPSIS REPORT Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS  Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030      {COM(2026) 113 final}  
 
 
Fractal Consulting conducted the data analysis and drafted this report.  

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Table of Contents 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 3 

I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 4 

II. OVERVIEW OF CONSULTATION ACTIVITIES ...................................................................... 4 

III. CONSULTATION RESULTS ........................................................................................................ 6 

Current situation and priorities for gender equality ............................................................................ 6 
Actions for the Commission’s Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030 ................................................. 7 
Freedom from gender-based violence .............................................................................................. 7 
Highest standards of health ............................................................................................................. 8 
Equal pay and economic empowerment .......................................................................................... 9 
Work-life balance and care ............................................................................................................ 10 
Equal employment opportunities and adequate working conditions ............................................. 11 
Quality and inclusive education .................................................................................................... 12 
Political participation and equal representation ........................................................................... 13 
Institutional mechanisms & EU policy areas ................................................................................ 13 
Horizontal issues ........................................................................................................................... 15 
External action .............................................................................................................................. 16 

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Executive Summary 

Between May and August 2025, the European Commission undertook extensive consultations to inform 
the development of the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030. These activities aimed to take stock of 
the progress made on gender equality in the EU, under the current Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, 
and to identify ongoing challenges and priorities for further advancement under the post 2025 strategy. 
The consultation process engaged a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that future actions are evidence-
based, transparent, and inclusive. 

The following consultation activities took place: 
• 
• 
• 

an Open Public Consultation; 
a Call for Evidence; 
targeted consultations (social partners; international organisations and EU agencies; civil society 
organisations (CSOs).  

Across all consultation activities, stakeholders broadly welcomed a renewed Gender Equality Strategy 
and  asked  for  continuity  with  stronger  delivery, clearer  responsibilities,  and measurable  progress  over 
2026–2030. Priorities consistently included preventing and combating gender‑based violence, advancing 
equal pay and women’s economic empowerment, and improving women’s health and access to Sexual 
and  Reproductive  Health  and  Rights  (SRHR).  These  objectives  need  to  be  supported  by  gender 
mainstreaming and systematic use of sex‑disaggregated data across policies and programmes.  

Stakeholders  also  pointed  to  gaps  and  emerging  risks.  Inputs  highlighted  online  and  workplace 
harassment, AI‑related  bias  in  recruitment  and  progression,  and  occupational safety  and  health (OSH) 
blind spots in female‑dominated sectors, calling for guidance and indicators to ensure coherent prevention 
and response across services at EU and Member State level. Intersectionality was a recurring theme, with 
barriers  reported  for  racialised  and  migrant  women,  Roma  women,  LBTIQ  women,  and  women  with 
disabilities. Respondents called for inclusive language, better data disaggregation, and targeted measures 
where  needs  are  acute.  Health  actors  emphasised  life‑course  approaches,  links  between  gender-based 
violence  (GBV)  and  health  systems,  and  women’s  under‑representation  in  research  and  leadership, 
recommending common indicators in administrative data and integrated victim support pathways. 

Views diverged on the balance of legal and policy tools. Trade unions urged full and broad transposition 
and enforcement of existing acquis, and new minimum standards where gaps persist. This would include 
action  on  GBV  at  work  and  psychosocial  risks,  as  well  as  improved  job  quality  in  feminised  sectors. 
Employers  favoured  simplification,  practical  guidance,  exchange  of  best‑practice,  and  non‑legislative 
approaches  on  GBV  in  the  world  of  work,  alongside  support  for  implementing  pay  transparency  and 
enablers such as affordable childcare and flexible scheduling. Several contributions underlined structural 
levers,  such  as  tax  and  benefit  design,  childcare  and  long-term  care  capacity,  gender‑neutral  job 
classification, and investment in public services, as central to raising participation and closing pay gaps 
over time. 

There  was  broad,  though  not  universal  convergence  on  the  main  areas  to  be  tackled,  among 
respondents.  Some questioned  EU  action in specific areas,  two  opposed  elements  related  to  SRHR  or 
gender mainstreaming, while most asked for higher ambition and firmer measures where evidence shows 
persistent  gaps.  Support  was  widespread  for  stronger  monitoring  and  evaluation,  including  indicators, 
sex‑disaggregated data, and gender‑responsive budgeting within  the Multiannual Financial Framework 
(MFF)  and  programme  cycles,  to  enhance  transparency  and  accountability.  Stakeholders  encouraged 
coherent links with related EU initiatives and regular progress reporting, while recognising competence 
limits and the need to tailor approaches by sector and group. 

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I. Introduction  

In May 2025, the European Commission launched its consultation activities for the EU Gender Equality 
Strategy 2026-2030, to be published in early 2026. This initiative aims to build on progress under the 
2020-2025  strategy  and  the  Roadmap  for  Women’s  Rights  to  advance  gender  equality,  strengthen 
women’s rights, and combat gender-based discrimination in the European Union. 

This document provides an overview of all consultation activities conducted with stakeholders as 
part  of  the  drafting  of  the  EU  Gender  Equality  Strategy  2026–2030.  The  general  objective  of  all 
consultation  activities  was  to  collect  stakeholders’  views  on  the  current  challenges  and  situation  of 
gender equality in the EU, to enable the Commission to gather evidence on the areas requiring further 
action at EU level, drawing on a comprehensive, transparent, and inclusive stakeholder perspective. 
This  synopsis  report  summarises  inputs  across  all  channels  and  does  not  pre‑judge  Commission 
decisions. 

II. Overview of consultation activities 

The following consultation activities took place between May 2025 and August 2025: 

•  an Public Consultation (PC) through the ‘Have Your Say’ portal (19 May 2025 – 11 August 2025) 
which took the form of a questionnaire, respondents had an opportunity to contribute and also to 
attach a document. 

•  a Call for Evidence (CfE) through the ‘Have Your Say’ portal (19 May 2025 – 11 August 2025), 
allowed  stakeholders  to  give  feedback  via  open  text  input  and  gave  the  opportunity  to  attach  a 
position paper. 

•  Targeted consultations (TC) were conducted with specific groups of stakeholders, in the form of 
hearings, in-person and online meetings. They were complemented by invitations to submit written 
inputs. Consultations included: 
o  Recognised European cross‑industry social partners and their national organisations under the 
Social  Dialogue  framework1  were  invited to  an  online  hearing  (26  June  2025), receiving  in 
advance steering questions for discussion, Roadmap principles, and proposed concrete actions.2  
o  International organisations (IOs) and EU agencies3 participated in an online consultation 
(24  June  2025)  to  discuss  key  challenges,  proposed  actions,  gender  mainstreaming  across 
policies, and the external dimension of the future Strategy.4  

o  Civil  Society  Organisations  were  invited  to  an  in‑person  consultation  in  Brussels  (4  July 
2025), and an additional online session (11 July 2025). The in-person meeting was divided into 
one session focused on key challenges and priorities, with a second session looking at gender 
mainstreaming and intersectional analysis.5 

•  Ad hoc contributions were also received via email from stakeholders. 

1 More information on social partners within the framework is available at the dedicated website. 
2 Submitted written contributions: BusinessEurope (Confederation of European Business); Confederation of German  
Employers’ Associations (BDA); Confederation of Danish Employers (DA); Services of General Interest Europe (SGI 
Europe); SMEunited (Association of Crafts and SMEs in Europe); CGIL (Italian General Confederation of Labour); DGB 
(German Trade Union Confederation); ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation); EUROCADRES (Council of 
European Professional and Managerial Staff); FNV (Netherlands Trade Union Confederation); ÖGB (Austrian Trade Union 
Federation); industriAll Europe (industriAll European Trade Union). 
3 Equinet, EU‑OSHA, ILO, OECD, UNFPA, UN Women, WHO 
4 Written submissions were received from Equinet, UN Brussels, and UN Women. 
5 Written submissions were received from 26 of the consulted CSOs. 

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The table below provides an overview of participation in each of the consultation activities: 

Public Consultation6  Call for Evidence 

Targeted consultations 

EU citizens 

NGOs/CSOs 

Public authorities 

Trade unions 
Academic/research institutions 
Companies/businesses 
Business associations 
Consumer organisations 
Non-EU citizens 
Others 

TOTAL contributions considered 

of which submitted open text or 
attached documents 

Additional late and email submissions 
(not considered in totals and 
participant breakdown above) 

287 (47%7) 

115 (19%) 

69 (11%) 

36 (6%) 
24 (4%) 
14 (2%) 
6 (1%) 
1 
18 (3%) 
35 (6%) 
60512  
180 open text + 83 
attached documents 

132 (38%) 

131 (38%) 

9 (3%) 

13 (4%) 
16 (5%) 
9 (3%) 
7 (2%) 
1 
3 (1%) 
26 (7%) 
34613 

346 

36 

30 CSOs8 (46 participants) in 
person + five online9 

1910 

16 

7 IOs and EU agencies11 

6 A more detailed presentation of the results of the Open Public Consultation is available in the summary report published on 
the ‘Have your say’ platform. 
7 All percentages refer to valid responses, i.e. calculated based those that answered the question and ignoring blank answers. 
8 AGE Platform Europe, Amnesty International, Autism Europe, Brussels Binder, Center for Reproductive Rights, 
Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union (COFACE), EuroCentralAsian Lesbian Community (EL*C), 
End Female Genital Mutilation European Network (End FGM), EuroHealthNet, European Family Justice Center Alliance 
(EFJCA), European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), European Disability Forum (EDF), European Federation of National 
Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA), European Network Against Racism (ENAR), European Network of 
Migrant Women (EnoMW), European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF), European Women’s 
Lobby (EWL), Gender Five Plus (G5+), International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF), Men 
Engage Alliance Europe (Men Engage), Organisation Intersex International Europe (OII Europe), Red Cross EU Office, 
European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance (ESWA), Siempre, Trans Feminist European Union (TFEU), Victim Support Europe, 
WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform, Women Against Violence Europe Network (WAVE), Women Engage for a Common 
Future (WECF), and Women Political Leaders (WPL). 
9 Men’s Perpetrator Programmes Europe (WWP), Women in Development Europe Plus (WIDE+), International Lesbian, 
Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association – Europe (ILGA-Europe), European Network of Women of African Descent 
(ENWAD), and European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network (ERGO). 
10 Employers’ delegation: BusinessEurope (Confederation of European Business), City of Vienna Public Utilities (Wiener 
Stadtwerke), Confederation of Danish Employers (DA), Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), 
Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO‑NCW), Confindustria (General Confederation of Italian 
Industry), Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-Based Industries (Ceemet), European 
Banking Federation (EBF), European Chemical Employers Group (ECEG), European Association of Hotels, Restaurants, 
Pubs and Cafés (HOTREC), Federation of Austrian Industries (Industriellenvereinigung), Polish Confederation Lewiatan, 
Services of General Interest Europe (SGI Europe), SMEunited (Association of Crafts and SMEs in Europe), Swedish 
Enterprise (Confederation of Swedish Enterprise), UNISOC (National Union of Social Profit Enterprises), and Italian 
Confederation of Craft Trades and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CNA).  
Trade unions’ delegation: CGIL (Italian General Confederation of Labour), CISL (Italian Confederation of Workers’ Trade 
Unions), DGB (German Trade Union Confederation), EFJ‑FEJ (European Federation of Journalists – Fédération Européenne 
des Journalistes), EFBWW (European Federation of Building and Woodworkers), EFFAT (European Federation of Food, 
Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions), Unión General de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores (UGT‑E), National Union of 
Autonomous Trade Unions (UNSA), ETF (European Transport Workers’ Federation), ETUC (European Trade Union 
Confederation), EUROCADRES (Council of European Professional and Managerial Staff), FERPA (European Federation of 
Retired and Older People), FNV (Netherlands Trade Union Confederation), FPU (Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine), 
LPSK (Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation), ÖGB (Austrian Trade Union Federation), TUC (Trades Union Congress), 
UIL (Italian Labour Union), USO (Workers’ Solidarity Union), and industriAll Europe (industriAll European Trade Union). 
11 Equinet, EU‑OSHA, ILO, OECD, UNFPA, UN Women, WHO. In addition to those participating in the targeted 
consultations, several EU and international agencies, as well as national public authorities also submitted responses: 
European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE); European Training Foundation (ETF); European Investment Bank (EIB); 
European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet); CEN and CENELEC (European Standardisation Organisations); German 
Federal Government; Government of Cyprus High-level Group on Gender Mainstreaming; French regional public authority 
Région Bretagne; Emakunde, the Basque Institute for Women (Spain); Belgium’s Walloon Public Service for Employment 
and Vocational Training (Forem); European Representation of French Social Security Institutions (Reif); and Equal 
Opportunities Office of the Municipality of Messina, Italy. 
12 Includes 8 responses to easy-to-read questionnaire. 

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III. Consultation results13 

The  following  analysis  of the consultation  results  focuses on feedback  received  to  contribute  to  the 
preparation of the EU gender equality strategy 2026-2030. The analysis combines insights and input 
received through all the consultation activities, presented thematically. For each topic, the analysis starts 
with  general  trends  identified  through  the  PC,  which  are  then  further  detailed  with  input  received 
through other channels – identified under “open text submissions”. The order in which these insights 
are presented does not reflect prevalence or ranking. 

Responses  to  the  Call  for  Evidence  and  to  the  PC  did  not  suggest  the  presence  of  organised 
campaigns.14 In the analysis below, statements on the number of respondents followed by  ‘and their 
networks’ indicates unique contributions, thus avoiding duplicate counts. 

Responses submitted to  the  PC  were  analysed manually  and through  statistical  software (JASP). 
Submissions to the Call for Evidence, including open text and attachments submitted to the PC, were 
analysed using qualitative analysis software (ATLAS.ti).  

Current situation and priorities for gender equality 

In the PC, respondents noted there is room for improvement as to the overall situation of gender equality 
in  the  world,  with  a majority (67%,  398  of  605 responses)  considering it  as  having  significantly  or 
slightly deteriorated. The situation in the EU and in the respondents’  home countries seemed more 
balanced, with comparable numbers of respondents seeing it as having deteriorated or improved. A wide 
range of groups is seen as very affected by gender inequality, chiefly women and girls (92%, 541 of 605 
responses),  but  also  LGBTIQ  people  (84%,  494  responses),  refugees,  asylum  seekers  and  migrants 
(83%, 485 responses), and women and men from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds (80%, 
469 responses). 

When  prioritising  principles  of  the  ‘Roadmap  for  Women’s  Rights’  for  action  by  the  European 
Commission in the next Gender Equality Strategy, the top-ranked priority was ‘freedom from gender- 

Figure 1 – Roadmap for Women’s Rights principles – ranked preference for action (from PC)15 

First choice 

            Last choice 

Freedom from gender-based violence 

Equal pay and economic empowerment 

The highest standards of health 

34

35

97

121

336

116

70

Equal employment opportunities and adequate 
working conditions 

21

49

77

108

114

84

50

32

28

17

14

106

90

80

70

74

69

45

61

70

42

65

90

Quality and inclusive education 

25

60

70

60

82

98

104

72

Political participation and equal representation 

37

76

58

51

51

82

127

Work-life balance and care 

Institutional mechanisms that deliver on 
women’s rights 

31

64

69

53

94

66

93

109

76

40

44

35

66

198

89

90

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

13 A total of 347 contributions were received. Of these, one was unpublished due to non-compliance with moderation rules 
i.e. due to abusive, slanderous or hateful content. The rules for feedback and suggestions are available on the ‘Have Your 
Say’ web portal. 
14 In the Call for Evidence, four networks of stakeholders submitted responses with some similar sections of text, each of 
which did not reach the threshold of ten responses to be considered a campaign. 
15 Blank submissions and data labels for values 15 and lower are omitted. 

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based  violence’  (first  choice  for  336  responses,  59%).  Other  high  ranked  areas  were  equal  pay  and 
economic  empowerment,  the  highest  standard  of  health,  and  equal  employment  opportunities  and 
adequate working conditions. 

Actions for the Commission’s Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030 

Overall, stakeholders considered the 2020-2025 EU Gender Equality Strategy a solid foundation for 
action  which  achieved  notable  milestones.  NGOs  appreciated  that  the  strategy  secured  dedicated 
funding for gender equality and measures to end gender‑based violence (GBV). Legislative progress 
clarified regulatory expectations (Women on Boards, Pay Transparency, Work-Life Balance), according 
to  international  organisations,  public  authorities  and  business  stakeholders.  Two  contributions 
expressed fundamental disagreement with the premise and concepts driving the strategy, one linking it 
to ‘gender ideology’. 

Freedom from gender-based violence 

Within the PC, respondents highlighted the need to prevent and combat GBV as the top priority for the 
next period. In term of actions, they called for all forms of GBV to be defined as EU crimes (ranked 
first for 206 responses, 37%), as well as for stronger action in prevention and against online abuse and 
harassment.  Respondents  stressed 
to  ensure  coherent 
implementation across Member States and organisations.  

importance  of  comparable  data 

the 

In their open text submissions to CfE and TC, respondents framed GBV as a systemic security issue 
linked  to  economic  and  structural  inequality.  Key  asks  from  NGOs,  trade  unions,  and  some  public 
authorities  revolved  around  effective  implementation,  close  monitoring,  and  where  appropriate, 
revision  of  the  Directive  on  Combatting  Violence  against  Women  and  Domestic  Violence  (VAW). 
Several NGOs requested clear, evidence-based guidelines for implementation, closer monitoring, and 
revision to explicitly cover consent-based rape, forced sterilisation, and femicide. Over ten NGOs and 
their networks (in 36 contributions) called for GBV to be listed as an EU crime (Article 83 TFEU).   

In the context of workplaces, sexual harassment is seen as a major, pervasive component of GBV 
that  disproportionately  affects  women  in  their  professional  lives,  as  well  as  LGBTQI  and  other 
marginalised groups. Among legislative asks, trade unions sought a directive to prevent and eradicate 
workplace  GBV  (including  third-party  and  cyber  violence).  One  NGO  called  for  including  sexual 
harassment in the scope of the VAW Directive, and another, EQUINET, called for the reversal of the 
burden of proof in cases of workplace sexual harassment to strengthen victims’ protection and access 
to  justice.  The  UN  Women,  NGOs  and  professional  societies  also  called  for  the  ratification  by  the 
missing  Member  States,  and  effective  implementation  of  the  Council  of  Europe  Convention  on 
preventing and  combating violence  against  women and  domestic violence  (Istanbul  Convention),  in 
particular as regards consent-based legislation on rape. 

As regards criminal justice and law enforcement, organisations called for comprehensive victim-
survivor-centred justice reform to remove procedural barriers and ensure women’s privacy, safety, and 
access  to  support.  To  address  systemic  bias  and  inconsistent  responses,  submissions  called  for 
compulsory, continuous, gender-sensitive, and trauma-informed training for all justice professionals. 
This should be combined with greater specialisation within police and courts, including dedicated units 
on domestic and intimate partner violence. Inclusive survivor support is a priority for NGOs, notably 
through legal ‘firewalls’ to secure access to essential services and protection for undocumented women. 
During  targeted  consultations,  CSOs  recommended  improved  victim  support  with  coordinated  links 
between  health,  justice,  and  community  services.  Several  NGOs  also  recommended  that  ‘parental 
alienation’  in  domestic  violence  and divorce  cases  be  recognised  as  an aggravating  circumstance to 

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better protect women and children. On prevention, beyond education and awareness measures, the next 
Strategy  should  explicitly  promote  evidence-based  perpetrator  interventions  as  key  to  preventing 
reoffending and breaking cycles of violence.  

NGOs called for eliminating abusive and degrading pornography, noting prevalence of violence in 
content accessed by minors, which fuels toxic masculinities and teen violence. They urged the revision 
of the VAW Directive to explicitly classify the production and dissemination of pornographic material 
depicting acts of sexual violence as a crime and a form of sexual exploitation, covering all digital sexual 
forgeries.  Contributions  called  for  regulation  to  go  beyond  simple  age  verification  to  challenge  the 
harmful content itself, mandating platforms to regulate harmful content and be held accountable for 
online violence – areas where transposition of the VAW directive should be aligned with the Digital 
Services Act (DSA). 

A wide range of stakeholders actively advocated for increased and improved data collection. The 
broad consensus is that existing data is often insufficient, non-comparable across Member States, or 
lacks the disaggregation needed for effective, targeted policymaking. NGOs and UN Women called for 
harmonised definitions and categories to be used in regular data collection and sought systematic data 
collection on AI systems enabling technology-facilitated violence. 

Highest standards of health 

Within the PC, health also featured as a priority area where the EU can support and complement national 
action to ensure access to high‑quality services, including Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights 
(SRHR), and to embed sex‑ and gender‑responsiveness across research, diagnostics, and treatments.  

In their written submissions to CfE and TC, stakeholders identified health as integral to economic 
participation and to preventing violence. NGOs and academics proposed embedding SRHR in the EU 
Charter  of  Fundamental  Rights  and  addressing  denial  of  care.  NGOs  (12  organisations  and  their 
networks) made detailed requests for guaranteeing safe and accessible abortion across the European 
Union. They view abortion access as a non-negotiable component of equality and institutional health 
standards,  urging  the  EU  to  constitutionally  enshrine  the  right  and  eliminate  systemic  barriers  like 
conscientious objection. Nine NGOs and their networks explicitly indicated support to the ‘My Voice, 
My Choice’ European Citizens’ Initiative as the vehicle to create a cross-border funding mechanism for 
abortion care. Others focused on national reform, demanding abortion be decriminalised and covered 
by  health  insurance.  One  contribution  opposes  these  efforts,  arguing  that  abortion  violates  the 
‘fundamental right to life’. 

NGOs  strongly  urged  the  EU  to  combat  obstetric  and  gynaecological  violence  as  a  form  of 
institutional GBV, requiring mandatory professional training and criminalisation of harmful practices 
like forced sterilisation. They also called for the recognition of abortion as a fundamental component 
of obstetric care. UN Women emphasised guaranteeing universal, affordable maternal health and SRHR 
access for all, especially migrants and asylum-seekers. A local public authority stressed mainstreaming 
an  intersectional  health  perspective  and  reforming  care  systems.  Specialised  health  NGOs, 
pharmaceutical  and  medical  technology  industry  and  academia  called  for  substantial  investment  in 
research to combat the historical neglect of conditions like endometriosis, menopause, and menstrual 
health. 

The WHO and several CSOs during targeted consultations, along other stakeholders, recommended 
adopting  a  life-course  approach  to  women’s  health. This  should  address  chronic  conditions  such  as 
endometriosis and integrate menopause into labour and social policy to retain talent. NGOs stressed the 
need for consistent, intersectional data collection and recognizing menstrual health as a gender equality 

8 

 
 
and human rights issue. Trade unions call for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards to be 
updated to cover reproductive and menstrual health, including menopause and endometriosis.  

NGOs urged the EU to treat menstrual poverty as an economic barrier, demanding abolition of value 
added tax (VAT) on to menstrual products, subsidised access and ensuring free provision in schools, 
shelters, and public buildings. Policymakers  were urged to regulate product safety by banning toxic 
substances and mandating ingredient transparency in menstrual products. 

Health equity was presented by stakeholders as an area that requires addressing disparities that affect 
marginalised  groups,  such  as  migrant  and  undocumented  women.  Especially  for  women  with 
disabilities, healthcare interventions must rely solely on free and informed consent.  During targeted 
consultations, CSOs health proposals included addressing gaps in HIV care, transgender health, and 
cancer screening and treatment for LBTQI+ women.  

To combat systemic bias, researchers and NGOs sought mandatory sex/gender analysis in all EU-
funded health research, increasing women’s participation in clinical trials, and addressing diagnostic 
biases in clinical practice.  

Equal pay and economic empowerment 

Economic  equality  and  empowerment  emerged  as  a  central  theme  in  the  PC,  with  calls  to  address 
structural drivers of pay gaps and promote financial literacy. Contributions pointed to fiscal and social 
protection levers that shape incentives and security for second earners and caregivers, as well as the 
value of entrepreneurship support to reduce inequalities at work.  

In  their  CfE  and  TC  open  submissions,  stakeholders  emphasised  that  equal  pay  and  economic 
empowerment  require  addressing  structural  financial  and  labour  market  inequalities.  Many  trade 
unions, NGOs, and some public authorities was to call for the full transposition, as well as rigorous 
monitoring of the Pay Transparency Directive, although two employer/business organisations expressed 
concern about the resulting administrative burden. Stakeholders, including a national public authority, 
suggested collecting and publishing disaggregated data on d pay and benefits.  

To  ensure  women’s  long-term  financial  security,  NGOs  suggested  reforming  pension  systems, 
specifically  by  adopting  an  ‘equal-earner-equal-carer’  model  and  developing  EU  standards  for  care 
crediting  toward  pension  entitlements.  Furthermore,  a  national  public  authority,  along  with  NGOs, 
noted the need to address features of the tax system that disincentivize secondary earners -primarily 
women-from working or increasing their hours.  

NGOs and Business stakeholders further recommended specific reforms including conducting gender 
impact  assessments  of  national  tax  regimes,  such  as  joint  taxation  models,  and  promoting  the 
individualisation of tax regimes to treat liable family members as individuals. NGOs and academics 
also noted that access to safe and affordable housing is a key element of gender equality and economic 
independence. Women’s homelessness is an under-recognised and gendered issue, often manifesting as 
‘hidden homelessness’ (sofa surfing, staying in unsafe situations). They called for integrating gender-
responsive frameworks into the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and the EU Affordable Housing Plan, further 
recommending  supporting  social  housing,  enforcing  anti-discrimination  laws  in  rental  markets,  and 
adopting Housing First models specifically designed for women, particularly survivors of GBV. 

UN Women, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and several NGOs supported expanding 
EU funding, grants, and microcredit programmes for women entrepreneurs, particularly for SMEs in 
the  digital  and  green  sector,  coupled  with  supporting  networking  platforms  and  mentorship 
programmes. An  NGO  network  suggested  applying  gender  impact  assessments  to  EU  financial  and 
capital policies, such as those under the Savings and Investment Union. UN Women, EIGE and NGOs 

9 

 
 
also  recommended  launching  gender-sensitive  financial  literacy  campaigns  and  providing  targeted 
guidance on debt, investments, and digital financial literacy.  

Dismantling  horizontal  and  vertical  occupational  segregation  would  require  robust  measures  to 
challenge stereotypes and boost women’s participation in high-growth fields like STEM. To make male-
dominated sectors (like STEM/ICT) attractive for women, UN Women, businesses and NGOs suggested 
expanding  STEM  education,  digital  literacy,  and  targeted  mentorship  or  scholarship  programmes. 
Establishing quotas in underrepresented sectors, including STEM, was supported by one NGO network. 

Work-life balance and care 

In the PC, prioritised care and work‑life balance actions included engaging men in the sharing of unpaid 
care and household tasks, normalising flexible and reduced working arrangements without stigma, and 
investing in childcare, care, and long‑term care services.  

In CfE and TC contributions, stakeholders identified the unequal distribution of unpaid care as the 
principal  structural  obstacle  to  women’s  economic  independence,  stressing  that  women  continue  to 
perform the bulk of informal care. The OECD pointed to the challenge presented by gender gaps in paid 
and unpaid work.  

A  key  demand  by  the  UN,  EIGE,  NGOs  and  trade  unions  was  substantial  public  investment  in 
affordable, high-quality care services. NGOs also called for acknowledging the central economic value 
of unpaid care work and fully integrating the value of unpaid care into economic analyses. NGOs and 
trade unions called to move beyond the current European Care Strategy to introduce a comprehensive 
‘Care Deal for Europe’ in synergy with the Green Deal, recognising care work as a fundamental pillar 
of the economy, not subjected to market logic. A national authority called for stronger monitoring and 
implementation  of  the  revised  Barcelona  targets  on  Quality  Early  Childhood  Education  and  Care 
Systems, with a professional association urging the development of comparable targets for long-term 
care access and quality. 

There was broad support for the strict implementation and strengthening of the Work-Life Balance 
Directive. Trade Unions noted that parental leave in some Member States remains unpaid. An academic 
suggested removing mandatory concurrent parental leave periods to promote shift use, as designs that 
mandate  or  encourage  simultaneous  take-up  hinder  the  father  from  taking  on  a  primary  carer  role, 
reinforcing gender roles. To achieve genuine work-life balance, NGOs and trade unions argued that the 
focus  must  shift  from  the  ‘male-breadwinner’  to  the  ‘equal-earner-equal-carer’  model,  including  by 
introducing  gender-equal  care  credits  for  pension rights  to  formally  recognise time  spent  out  of the 
labour market for care responsibilities.  

Promoting  flexible  work  was  viewed  as  a  necessary  tool  to  improve  work-life  balance  for  all 
workers.  Stakeholders  cautioned  that  certain  flexible  forms  may  heighten  discrimination  risks  for 
pregnant workers or those taking leave and called for safeguards. A professional association suggested 
a Flexible Working Time Act to promote the equitable sharing of care. 

Furthermore, policies must actively challenge gender stereotypes, using role models and campaigns 
to normalise male caregiving. CSOs called for campaigns to challenge stereotypes portraying men as 
incompetent caregivers and promote positive patterns of masculinity. 

A  trade  union  noted  that  special  attention  was  needed  for  intersectional  issues,  such  as  ensuring 
rights for migrant care workers, while an NGO called for legally recognising LBQ caregivers in family 
leave entitlements. 

10 

 
 
Equal employment opportunities and adequate working conditions 

In the PC section on equal employment opportunities and working conditions, contributions pointed 
first to measures to prevent and address harassment, including sexual harassment, in the workplace. 
They further called for measures to support sustained labour‑market participation for specific groups of 
women  in  a  situation  of  vulnerability  and  address  discrimination  based  on  pregnancy  or  maternity. 
Respondents  further  supported  using  social  dialogue  to  improve  balanced  representation  and  tackle 
gender inequalities in the workplace. 

During targeted consultations, the ILO recalled the unprecedented pace of changes in the world of 
work and related challenges including those linked to the digital transition and to the use of AI (such as 
bias in recruitment processes). They emphasised occupational segregation, GBV and harassment in the 
world  of  work  (including  the  need  for  proper  reporting  mechanisms  and  enforcement  measures), 
difficulties women face to gain and retain access to full-time, regular employment, the persistence of 
discrimination based on maternity and pregnancy, and of the gender pay gap – stressing the link of all 
these challenges to the dimension of care. According to the ILO, focusing on fundamental rights and 
principles at work is key to ensure that women are equipped to participate fully in the world of work. 

According to CfE and TC open submissions, ensuring equal employment opportunities and adequate 
working  conditions  requires  decisive  legislative  and  cultural  shifts  addressing  deeply  entrenched 
structural barriers and systemic risks. Trade unions were unanimous in demanding a new directive on 
the prevention and eradication of GBV and harassment in the world of work, while NGOs stressed the 
need for full ratification and implementation of ILO Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment, 
by all Member States. There was demand by social partners to promote workplace policies against GBV 
through  collective  bargaining,  implementing  zero-tolerance  policies  with  clear  reporting  and 
enforcement  mechanisms,  and  establishing  anonymous  whistleblower  systems.  During  targeted 
consultations,  employers  emphasised  best‑practice  exchange  and  non‑legislative  tools  on  workplace 
gender‑based violence. 

This must be complemented by strengthening gender-responsive Occupational Health and Safety 
(OSH) frameworks. During targeted consultations, EU-OSHA noted as challenges gendered exposure 
to risk factors linked to sectoral segregation, the invisibilisation of risks present in female-dominated 
sectors,  the  ‘double  burden’  faced  by  women,  as  well  as  gender  bias  in  ergonomics  and  workplace 
standards. They recommended working with standard setting bodies, establishing indicators to monitor 
gender equality progress in OSH, and tackling stigma and social norms.  

Trade  unions  advocated  for  revising  OSH  regulations  to  reflect  gender-specific  needs  and 
experiences,  including  reproductive  systems  and  Personal  Protective  Equipment  (PPE).  This  also 
requires systematically integrating gender-based analysis in risk assessments. OSH strategies should 
use social dialogue and collective bargaining to incorporate women’s specific health issues, such as 
menstrual  health,  menopause,  and  breastfeeding/lactation.  Domestic  workers,  who  are  often  in 
vulnerable situations, must not be forgotten and should be included in OSH frameworks, ideally through 
ratification of ILO Convention No. 189 on Domestic Workers, by all Member States. 

Measures must target management culture and decision-making structures to achieve inclusion. A 
trade union and NGO network called for binding measures, including quotas, to public administration, 
mid-sized companies, and sectors facing segregation (STEAM, ICT, care). Others considered incentives 
should be offered to promote equal participation in leadership positions. Organisational culture must be 
made more gender-responsive, including actively removing gendered references in job descriptions and 
rewarding participation in equality initiatives. Stakeholders urged mandating comprehensive training 
on  gender  equality,  anti-discrimination,  and  unconscious  bias  for  all  staff  and  high-level  decision-
makers.  

11 

 
 
To dismantle career barriers, the Strategy must strengthen protections against widespread pregnancy 
and  maternity  discrimination  and  target  precarious  forms  of  work,  particularly  affecting  women. 
Inclusion  efforts  must  prioritise  targeted  support  and  vocational  training  for  disadvantaged  groups, 
notably migrant women and women with disabilities, ensuring reasonable workplace accommodation 
is  provided.  The  ILO  and  other  stakeholder  argued  the  full  potential  of  social  dialogue  must  be 
harnessed, supporting trade unions and collective bargaining efforts to mainstream equality, secure safer 
jobs, and improve working conditions.  

Quality and inclusive education 

In the PC, education themes focused on widening opportunity, with support for gender‑responsive up‑ 
and  reskilling,  balanced  perspectives  across  curricula,  and  measures  linked  to  outcomes  such  as 
comprehensive sexuality education where relevant to Member State contexts.  

In their open submissions to CfE and TC, stakeholders positioned inclusive education as the engine 
for  cultural  and  economic  change  to  reduce  segregation  and  combat  limiting  stereotypes.  EIGE 
recommended  an  EU-wide  long-term  prevention  strategy  that  includes  a  review  of  curricula  and 
providing publishers with anti-bias guidelines to dismantle segregated career choices. The UN Brussels 
Team called for Gender Transformative Education Systems to encourage boys into traditionally female-
dominated fields (like care and teaching) and counter narratives that affect boys’ disengagement from 
education.  NGOs  advocated  for  effectively  dismantling  occupational  segregation  through  the 
development of a gender-neutral education system and career planning. 

Legally  mandated,  age-appropriate  Comprehensive  Sexuality  Education  (CSE)  that  is  inclusive, 
comprehensive and evidence-based was a high priority for two national authorities, the UN,  and 17 
NGOs  and  their  networks.  To  dismantle  entrenched  labour  market  imbalances,  stakeholders  urged 
coordinated  EU  action  to  encourage  girls  into  STEM/digital  and  vocational  fields  and  to  actively 
promote boys/men into undervalued sectors like care and teaching. Educational underachievement of 
boys and young men (e.g., in literacy and tertiary attainment) should also be targeted through support 
programmes – a suggestion also supported by CSOs during targeted consultations. Stakeholders sought 
mandatory,  continuous  gender  equality  training  for  all  educational  professionals  to  eliminate 
unconscious bias and ensure curricula, learning materials, and career guidance reflect an intersectional, 
non-discriminatory perspective.  

Political participation and equal representation 

To  strengthen  political  participation  and  equal  representation,  PC  contributions  proposed  action 
targeting decision‑makers and institutions to reduce bias, empowerment programmes such as training 
and mentorship to increase participation in decision making and political leadership, potential use of 
quotas, and protections against online harassment in public and political life.  

In their open submissions to CfE and TC, stakeholders identified that achieving meaningful political 
participation, and representation requires legislative mandates for parity in democracy, advocating for 
shifting the goal from aspirational targets to binding gender quotas and mechanisms. A public authority 
suggested  adopting  mandatory  gender  parity  in  the  EU  Commission,  as  Commissioners  and 
Directorates-General should serve as role models. The EIGE suggested  the zipper system across all 
governmental, parliamentary, and administrative structures, while the UN and NGOs particularly urged 
reform of the EU electoral law to embed gender equality as a core democratic principle. Trade unions 
recommended  expanding  the  scope  of  binding  quotas  beyond  corporate  boards  to  include  public 
administrations. 

Increasing  participation  also  hinges  on  the  urgent  need  to  strengthen  protections  for  female 
politicians  and  activists  against  sexist  attacks,  gender-based  hate  speech,  and  cyberviolence. 
12 

 
 
Contributions  also  sought  robust  measures  to  ensure  women’s  safety  in  public  life,  alongside  the 
systematic inclusion of marginalised groups. 

NGOs also highlighted the ‘well-funded’ anti-gender backlash that aims to undermine SRHR and 
democratic  values. They  demanded  legal  action,  including  integrating  a  gender  perspective  into  the 
European Democracy Shield to combat gendered disinformation. Stakeholders recognised the threat of 
growing polarisation and conservative push-back among young men, demanding strengthened critical 
media and digital literacy education to counter the influence of the  ‘manosphere’. The UN Brussels 
Team  emphasised  expanding  campaigns  to  counter  the  impact  of  media  representations  on  harmful 
social norms. Academics classified anti-gender mobilisation as a systemic threat linked to democratic 
backsliding  and  misinformation,  demanding  the  activation  of  Rule  of  Law  Mechanisms.  EIGE 
recognised  the  political  instrumentalisation  of  gender  issues  through  sophisticated  disinformation 
campaigns and stressed the necessity of strengthening critical media and data literacy.  

Institutional mechanisms & EU policy areas 

In terms of institutional mechanisms, participants in the PC backed gender mainstreaming and gender 
budgeting. These are horizontal enablers to deliver coherence, impact, and accountability throughout 
the policy cycle and EU spending. Respondents also emphasised the value of enforcing the existing 
acquis, addressing gaps through binding rules, and providing sustained funding for civil society and 
grassroots organisations working on gender equality. As regards areas for strengthened integration of 
gender  perspectives  across  EU  policy,  contributions  mentioned  justice  and  fundamental  rights, 
migration and home affairs, economic and financial affairs, education and youth, and employment and 
social affairs.  

Figure 2 – Institutional mechanisms: prioritized actions (from PC) 

0%

20%

40%

60%

80% 100%

Ensure that a gender responsive approach is adopted throughout all 
policies at EU level (gender mainstreaming) 

Strengthen gender equality through binding rules (legislation) 

Ensure that public spending at EU level adopts a gender responsive 
approach (gender budgeting) 
Provide funding to civil society and women’s rights organisations 
and networks working on gender equality 
Support the implementation and stepping up the enforcement of 
existing EU gender equality legislation 

Provide funding for grassroot projects that advance gender equality 

378

376

348

332

286

234

Improve the collection of gender-disaggregated data 

Support and promote equality bodies in their tasks of promoting 
gender equality and assisting victims of discrimination 
Training and capacity-building of professionals on gender equality 
topics 

Launch information and awareness-raising campaigns 

Support mutual learning and the exchange of good practices on 
gender equality policy between Member States 

202

176

147

132

119

In their open submissions to CfE and TC, stakeholders made recommendations focused on achieving 
structural  change  by  solidifying  institutional  roles,  ensuring  robust  coordination,  and  mandating 
transparent accountability mechanisms. A public authority and multiple NGOs suggested that each EU 
Commissioner should mandate a full-time staff member as a gender focal point, or an EU Coordinator 
be appointed at cabinet level to ensure EU policies mainstream gender horizontally. The EIGE as well 
as several NGOs demanded the formation of a formal Council of the European Union configuration 
dedicated to gender equality that regularly gathers ministers responsible for gender equality and gender 

13 

 
 
 
 
mainstreaming.  EIGE  further  recommended  establishing  a  network  on  gender  equality/gender 
mainstreaming in EU funds, issuing guidance and technical support for managing authorities and desk 
officers. CSOs during targeted consultations underlined the need for strengthened rule‑of‑law tools and 
monitoring, and coherent, cross‑sectoral implementation to overcome silos and backlash, supported by 
mainstreaming, indicators, regular reporting.  

When highlighting, in their open submissions, EU policy areas in which gender perspectives should 
be  integrated,  public  authorities,  the  UN  and  several  NGOs  underscored  the  importance  of  gender 
mainstreaming  and  gender  budgeting.  This  should  apply  to  all  EU  funding  mechanisms  (including 
Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), structural funds, 
and the EU Competitiveness Fund), as well as all levels of public administration. Some NGOs and trade 
unions also voiced strong demand for mandatory gender budgeting across all EU budgets and the next 
MFF,  allowing  to  shift  accountability  from  coordination  structures  to  financial  compliance.  The 
European Semester was also mentioned as an instrument to reinforce gender commitments in National 
Reform Programmes (NRPs). Fundamental to this integration is the systematic use of Gender Impact 
Assessments (GIA), which NGOs and academic institutions demanded be compulsory for all new EU 
legislation, especially in complex areas such as the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and new EU 
climate/environmental  policies  (European  Green  Deal).  Some  contributions  suggested  that  the 
upcoming revision of the Public Procurement Directive integrates gender mainstreaming as a criterion 
and conditionality for accessing contracts. 

Other recommendations included: A public authority and EIGE further suggested promoting a broad 
understanding  of equality as regard  to  digital  participation, AI literacy,  and accessibility in  a digital 
society.  

Horizontal issues 

In  the  PC,  participants  asked  the  Commission  to  tackle  gender  stereotypes  through  awareness, 
evidence, and partnerships. Priority actions included EU‑level campaigns, dedicated funding for proven 
initiatives, systematic data collection on stereotype prevalence, and active engagement of men and boys 
as  allies  and  participants  in  programmes  that  reshape  norms  in  care,  education,  and  work.  Closer 
cooperation  with  media,  advertising,  commercial  sectors  and  cultural  industries  could  help  remove 
gendered cues and amplify diverse role models. 

Stakeholders  across  all  groups  called  in  their  open  submissions  to  CfE  and  TC  for  integrated 
measures  to  dismantle  entrenched  gender  stereotypes,  namely  awareness,  education,  media 
representation, cultural norms, and targeted action in traditionally segregated sectors. Public authorities 
and academics suggested promoting positive male role models and systematic training for education 
and employment professionals. Public authorities, the United Nations and NGOs suggested adopting 
broad  preventive  measures  from  an  early  age  to  modify  sexist  attitudes  and  address  destructive 
masculinity norms. Equinet suggested launching an EU survey on sexism to identify issues and tackle 
access to justice for victims of discrimination. 

Intersectionality was repeatedly stressed by stakeholders in their open submissions. It was framed 
as a foundational and non-negotiable principle that must be fully integrated into the 2026-2030 Gender 
Equality  Strategy  to  ensure  its  effectiveness  and  legitimacy.  Stakeholders  considered  that  an 
intersectionality  lens  could  help  identify  risks  and  structural  aspects  of  inequality  more  accurately, 
segmenting  groups  of  ‘even  higher  risk’.  Intersectionality  is  also  key  to  ensure  policies  target  ‘all’ 
women  and  gender  diverse  people  who  are  affected.  In  this  sense,  an  NGO  urged  that  the  strategy 
consistently use the phrase ‘in all their diversity’ to cover sexual orientation, gender identity, gender 
expression, and sex characteristics.  

14 

 
 
Stakeholders  across  all  groups  also  made  consistent  recommendations  as  to  intersectionality 
requiring deliberate alignment of gender equality efforts with policies targeting other diversity groups 
such as LGBTIQ, racialised communities, disability, and the Roma population. UNFPA suggested to 
consider  designing  and  implementing  targeted  intersectional  interventions,  moving  beyond  mere 
analysis. A regional public authority stated that gender equality serves as a lever for acting effectively 
against other discriminations, while another national education authority recommended that achieving 
gender  equality  depends  on  progress  on  a  range  of  factors  including  race  equality,  precarious 
employment,  and  family  status  and  disability  equalities.  CSO  inputs  during  targeted  consultations 
highlighted  specific  gaps  affecting  racialised  and  migrant  women,  Roma  women,  and  LGBTIQ 
communities, and encouraged inclusive language and closer alignment with anti‑racism and sectoral 
policies in education, health, justice, housing, and employment. 

Stakeholders were also unified in demanding data collection to underpin the EU Gender Equality 
Strategy. They recognised that current gaps severely hamper effective policy design and accountability, 
and called for it to be systematic, comprehensive, and intersectional. A core recommendation across all 
groups was to mandate the collection and publication of sex-disaggregated data (by ethnicity, disability, 
migration  status,  and  age)  for  all  key  policy  areas,  especially  GBV,  pay  equity,  and  SRHR.  NGOs 
stressed the need to leverage existing tools like the EIGE Gender Equality Index and Social Scoreboard 
by  integrating  detailed  gender  and  intersectional  indicators,  thereby  strengthening  EU-wide 
comparability  and  monitoring  mechanisms.  Furthermore,  to  combat  data  bias  and  ensure  evidence-
based policy, specific recommendations included mandating Sex and Gender Analysis (SGBA) in all 
EU-funded research and health initiatives, supporting qualitative, community-informed research, and 
ensuring data collection methods and reporting tools are fully accessible to marginalised communities. 

To  strengthen  coordination  among  Member  States,  neighbouring  third  Countries  and  other 
stakeholders,  respondents  consistently  emphasised  the  need  for  robust  mechanisms.  These  should 
ensure  effective  cooperation,  policy  coherence,  and  the  exchange  of  best  practices  across  national 
borders, institutions, and civil society, particularly in facing contemporary challenges like democratic 
backsliding and rising anti-equality movements. Public authorities considered it essential to intensify 
and consolidate effective coordination between local and regional, national, and European authorities 
to  guarantee  multilevel  governance  and  ensure  that  objectives,  policies,  and  actions  are  mutually 
reinforcing. Public authorities also voiced the need to recognise regional and local governments as key 
strategic partners in implementation, monitoring and evaluation, while preserving their role in managing 
EU cohesion funds. 

External action  

As regards external action policies, including security and defence mentioned in open submissions to 
CfE and TC, NGOs were the stakeholder group to make most recommendations, stressing the need for 
mandatory  gender  impact  assessments  for  all  EU  trade,  investment  and  development  cooperation 
agreements; full implementation of the Gender Action Plan III and committing to ambitious Gender 
Action  Plan  IV  post-2027;  as  well  as  developing  EU-level  guidelines  for  gender  sensitive  asylum 
procedures.  

UN  Women,  along  with  other  NGOs,  urged  strengthening  and  making  explicit  the  links  to  the 
Women,  Peace  and  Security  (WPS)  agenda  in  the  new  strategy,  as  well  as  addressing 
underrepresentation of women among negotiators, mediators and signatories of peace agreements. One 
NGO recommended promoting the recruitment and retention of women in the military, and integrating 
gender  perspectives  in  military  planning  and  operations,  which  ensures  the  protection  and 
empowerment of women in conflict zones and contributes to more effective engagements. NGOs further 
deemed that a gender perspective must be mainstreamed in security policies using tools such as gender 
15 

 
 
analysis,  gender  impact  assessments,  and  gender  statistics.  The  shift  in  political  priorities  toward 
defence and security necessitates ensuring that these goals do not compromise progress toward gender 
equality. NGOs further called for humanitarian programming to be gender-responsive, urging the EU 
to guarantee the provision of comprehensive SRHR (with a Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP)) 
in all humanitarian and conflict-related responses. 

A local public authority noted the need to address gender equality in crisis preparedness and civil 
defence, making women’s needs visible, especially regarding climate crises, pandemics and geopolitical 
threats. An  academic  contribution  suggested  recognising  ‘anti-gender’  mobilisations  as  a  systemic 
threat  linked  to  democratic  backsliding  and  use  EU  Rule  of  Law  Mechanisms  (e.g., Article  7 TEU 
procedures) to address systemic violations. 

Stakeholders  recommended  mainstreaming  gender  equality  in  enlargement.  NGOs  called  for  the 
integration  of  gender  equality  into  Accession  and  Neighbourhood  policies,  viewing  these  as  vital 
mechanisms  for  systemic  change  beyond  the  EU  borders.  They  specifically  called  for  enlargement 
policy to establish robust indicators on SRHR for assessing candidate countries against the Copenhagen 
criteria. The UN Brussels Team emphasised that gender equality must be a necessary precondition for 
a stable expansion of the Union.  

16