Annexes to COM(2020)152 - Union of Equality: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025

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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.

dossier COM(2020)152 - Union of Equality: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025.
document COM(2020)152 EN
date March  5, 2020
agreements and to consider gender impact in trade initiatives.

In partner countries, the EU will make use of the External Investment Plan to promote women’s entrepreneurship and labour market participation. For instance, the Women’s Financial Inclusion Facility alone aims to leverage EUR 100 million for women’s access to finance. The EU Strategy with Africa in 2020 will also focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

In the EU’s external policies, gender mainstreaming is used in the budget process through the commitment of ensuring that 85% of all new programmes contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment 85 .


WORKING TOGETHER FOR A GENDER-EQUAL EUROPE

Achieving gender equality in the European Union is a joint responsibility. It requires teaming up and action by all EU institutions, Member States and EU agencies, in partnership with civil society and women’s organisations, social partners and the private sector.

The European Parliament 86 and the Council 87 have shown their commitment to gender equality in several resolutions and conclusions calling on the Commission to adopt a European Gender Equality Strategy and strengthen gender mainstreaming in all policy areas.

Working together, the EU institutions and Member States need to deepen their engagement with civil society, including women’s movements and organisations, international organisations, and governments, to progress on gender equality and continue being global leaders.

The Commission calls on the European Parliament and the Council to take forward their work on the existing and forthcoming Commission proposals in a timely manner. Member States should use all the tools at their disposal, in particular the possibilities offered for EU financial support and ensure the improvement in gender equality.

The key actions presented in this strategy will be regularly updated and supplemented. Their implementation will be monitored, and progress will be reported on an annual basis. These reports will serve as an annual political stock-taking of progress made. In addition to examples of good practice in the Member States, the annual reports will also include relevant data, including from Eurostat and Eurofound, as well as indicators for measuring progress, building on EIGE’s annual EU Gender Equality Index. EIGE will also provide data and research to feed into the evidence-based policy-making of EU institutions and Member States.

Working together, we can make real progress by 2025 in achieving a Europe where women and men, girls and boys, in all their diversity, are equal – where they are free to pursue their chosen path in life and reach their full potential, where they have equal opportunities to thrive, and where they can equally participate in and lead our European society.


(1)

See Articles 2 and 3(3) TEU, Articles 8, 10, 19 and 157 TFEU and Articles 21 and 23 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

(2)

  https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/social-summit-european-pillar-social-rights-booklet_en.pdf .

(3)

By 2050, improving gender equality would lead to an increase in the EU’s GDP per capita by 6.1% to 9.6%, which amounts to €1.95 to €3.15 trillion: https://eige.europa.eu/gender-mainstreaming/policy-areas/economic-and-financial-affairs/economic-benefits-gender-equality .

(4)

As regards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, according to the 2019 EM2030 SDG Gender Index:  https://data.em2030.org/em2030-sdg-gender-index/ .

(5)

The EU has adopted six Directives covering equality between women and men in the workplace, in self-employment, in access to goods and services, in social security, in pregnancy and maternity and on family-related leave and flexible working arrangements for parents and carers. Together they have progressively set a legal standard across Europe ensuring a broad protection from discrimination. Numerous cases brought to the European Court of Justice have further strengthened the principle of equality and delivered justice for victims of discrimination.

(6)

‘Gender’ shall mean the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for women and men, see Article 3(c) of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

(7)

See European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE): https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/2019 .  

(8)

Following the Commission's 2016-2019 strategic engagement for gender equality.

(9)

The expression ‘in all their diversity’ is used in this strategy to express that, where women or men are mentioned, these are a heterogeneous categories including in relation to their sex, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics. It affirms the commitment to leave no one behind and achieve a gender equal Europe for everyone, regardless of their sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

(10)

EIGE defines ‘intersectionality’ as an “analytical tool for studying, understanding and responding to the ways in which sex and gender intersect with other personal characteristics/identities, and how these intersections contribute to unique experiences of discrimination” (See: https://eige.europa.eu/thesaurus/terms/1263 ). According to Article 10 TFEU, when “defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall aim to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation”.

(11)

  https://beijing20.unwomen.org/en/about .

(12)

  https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/policies/sustainable-development-goals_en .

(13)

Article 3(d) of the Istanbul Convention.

(14)

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), ‘Violence against women: an EU-wide survey’, 2014 – see infographics.

(15)

Request for an opinion submitted by the European Parliament pursuant to Article 218(11) TFEU (Opinion 1/19).

(16)

Figures in the infographic are from recent studies by the End FGM European Network, see: https://www.endfgm.eu/female-genital-mutilation/fgm-in-europe .

(17)

Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime.

(18)

For instance, 34% of women with a health problem or disability have experienced physical or sexual partner violence, compared with 19% of women who do not have a health problem or disability. FRA, ‘Violence against women: an EU-wide survey’, 2014.

(19)

To implement the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recommendations for the EU, in particular concerning Articles 6 (Women with disabilities) and 16 (Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse).

(20)

According to EIGE, ‘masculinities’ refers to the “different notions of what it means to be a man, including patterns of conduct linked to men’s place in a given set of gender roles and relations”, see: https://eige.europa.eu/thesaurus/terms/1285 .

(21)

ILO, Violence and Harassment Convention (No. 190) and Recommendation (No. 206).

(22)

Directive 2006/54/EC on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation (recast).

(23)

  https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/new-eu-rules-e-commerce .

(24)

Based on cooperation under the EU Internet Forum, which led to the adoption of the EU Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online.

(25)

Trafficking in human beings is recognised as violence against women and girls, in line with Article 6 of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

(26)

Emanating from the Anti-Trafficking Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims.

(27)

Special Eurobarometer 465, June 2017 – see infographics.

(28)

European Commission, White paper on Artificial Intelligence - A European approach to excellence and trust, COM(2020) 65 final: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/commission-white-paper-artificial-intelligence-feb2020_en.pdf .

(29)

  https://ec.europa.eu/info/horizon-europe-next-research-and-innovation-framework-programme_en .

(30)

See, for example, 'Gender equality in the media sector', a study carried out for the FEMM Committee on women’s rights and gender equality, European Parliament, 2018.

(31)

  https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/node_en .

(32)

  https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/media-sub-programme-creative-europe .

(33)

Directive 2011/93/EU on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography.

(34)

In particular, Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, Directive 2011/99/EU on the European Protection Order, Regulation (EU) No. 606/2013 on mutual recognition of protection measures in civil matters and Council Directive 2004/80/EC relating to compensation to crime victims.

(35)

Eurostat, 2019, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-datasets/product?code=sdg_05_30 and https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=lfsi_emp_a&lang=en – see infographic.

(36)

  https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/35409.pdf and also FRA, ‘Roma Women in nine EU Member States’, 2019 – see infographic.

(37)

Eurostat, ‘Labour Forced Survey’, calculations done based on lfsa_eegan2 – see infographic.

(38)

See, for example, ENAR, ‘Racism and discrimination in Employment in Europe 2013-2017’, 2017.

(39)

Directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers.

(40)

The Work-Life Balance Directive shall be transposed by Member States by 2 August 2022 (and by 2 August 2024 as regards payment of the last two weeks of the minimum of two months of parental leave).

(41)

For existing measures, see European Commission, ‘Diversity and Gender Equality Report 2019’ (internal document).

(42)

  https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/eu-economic-governance-monitoring-prevention-correction/european-semester_en .

(43)

Principle 2 of the Pillar is about gender equality, while several other principles address gender-related challenges, including the principles on equal opportunities (principle 3), work-life balance (principle 9), childcare and support to children (principle 11), old age income and pensions (principle 15) and long-term care (principle 18).

(44)

International Finance Corporation, ‘Moving toward gender balance in private equity and venture capital’, 2019; Biegel, S., Hunt, S. M., Kuhlman, S., ‘Project Sage 2.0 Tracking venture capital with a gender lens’, 2019; and Atomico, ‘State of European Tech 2019 Report’, https://2019.stateofeuropeantech.com/chapter/state-european-tech-2019/article/executive-summary – see infographics.

(45)

  https://ec.europa.eu/research/eic/index.cfm .  

(46)

PISA report 2019, http://www.oecd.org/pisa/PISA%202018%20Insights%20and%20Interpretations%20FINAL%20PDF.pdf ; European Commission, ‘Women in the Digital Age – Final Report’, 2018; and World Economic Forum Global ‘Gender Gap Report 2020’ – see infographics.

(47)

Eurostat, ‘A decomposition of the unadjusted gender pay gap using Structure of Earnings Survey data’, Statistical working paper, 2018.

(48)

European Commission, ‘ICT for Work: Digital Skills in the Workplace’, 2017.

(49)

Information and Communications Technology.

(50)

  https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/EDN-20180425-1 .

(51)

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

(52)

  https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/9540ffa1-4478-11e9-a8ed-01aa75ed71a1/language-en .

(53)

2018 International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS).

(54)

  https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/eu-countries-commit-boost-participation-women-digital .

(55)

Eurostat, 2018 at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/product/view/SDG_05_20?lang=en ; https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_pnp13&lang=en and https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_pnp14&lang=en – see infographics.

(56)

One of the reasons is the fact that on average women spend fewer hours in paid work than men: whereas only 8% of men in the EU work in part-time, almost a third of women across the EU (31%) does so - see Eurostat, 2018, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/DDN-20190621-1 .

(57)

Evaluation of the relevant provision in Directive 2006/54/EC implementing the Treaty principle on ‘equal pay for equal work or work of equal value’, SWD(2020)50; Report on the implementation of the EU Action Plan 2017-2019 on tackling the gender pay gap, COM(2020)101.

(58)

To be launched together with this strategy.

(59)

Final report of the High-level group of experts on pensions, December 2019,
https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regexpert/index.cfm?do=groupDetail.groupDetail&groupID=3589 .

(60)

Maldonado, L. C., & Nieuwenhuis, R., ‘Family policies and single parent poverty in 18 OECD countries, 1978–2008’. Community, Work & Family, 18(4): 395–415.

(61)

  https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---cabinet/documents/publication/wcms_713376.pdf .

(62)

Eurofound, ‘Striking a balance: Reconciling work and life in the EU’, 2018 – see infographics.

(63)

Hoffmann, F., & Rodrigues, R., ‘Informal carers: who takes care of them?’, Policy brief, April 2010, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna – see infographics.

(64)

  https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/bcn_objectives-report2018_web_en.pdf .

(65)

This includes the recast Directive on gender equality in employment and occupation, the Directives on gender equality in self-employment, in access to goods and services, in social security, in pregnancy and maternity, the Directive on part-time work, the Directive on transparent and predictable working conditions, the Recommendation on access to social protection, and the Recommendation on equality bodies.

(66)

EIGE Gender Statistics Database, National parliaments: Single/lower house, 2019 – see infographic.

(67)

ILO, ‘The business case for change’, 2019; McKinsey, ‘Women Matter report’, 2017; Catalyst, ‘Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter’, 2018; Rohini Anand, ‘Gender-Balanced Teams Linked to Better Business Performance: A Sodexo Study’, 2016.

(68)

EIGE, Gender Statistics Database, Women and men in decision-making, 2019 – see infographic.

(69)

COM(2012)614 final.

(70)

Positive results are shown in several countries that have introduced relevant legislative measures, including France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, and more recently Austria and Portugal. See https://eige.europa.eu/publications/gender-equality-index-2019-report/more-gender-equality-corporate-boards-only-few-member-states .

(71)

  https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/tackling-discrimination/diversity-management/eu-platform-diversity-charters_en .

(72)

Relevant projects include European Women on Boards: https://europeanwomenonboards.eu/ .

(73)

Regulation 2018/673 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations, recital 6.

(74)

In 2019, 41% of managers in the Commission were women (up from 30% in 2014). This included 37% of senior managers (up from 27%) and 42% of middle managers (up from 31%).

(75)

For existing measures: European Commission, ‘Diversity and Gender Equality Report 2019’, Brussels, 6 November 2019.

(76)

More than 3 out of 4 EU agencies are currently headed by men.

(77)

  https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/gender-equality/who-we-work-gender-equality/mutual-learning-programme-gender-equality_en .

(78)

The Task Force will facilitate the mainstreaming of equality relating to six grounds of discrimination: sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation.

(79)

In both cases, specific attention towards elderly people (in terms of future-proof renovations or, for climate adaptation policies, measures during heat waves to improve hydration) will, for example, have a positive impact on women in particular as they form the majority of the elderly population.

(80)

COM/2018/375 final.

(81)

  https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/news/how-big-eus-blue-economy-eu-report-potential-coasts-and-oceans-provide-sustainable-economic-growth .

(82)

  http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2014_2019/plmrep/COMMITTEES/FEMM/DV/2018/09-03/20180828DraftResolutionGenderBudgetingintheEUBudget-thewayforward_EN.pdf .

(83)

  https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/articles/eu-gender-action-plan-ii-how-eu-delegations-contribute-gender-equality-worldwide .

(84)

 The EU Strategic Approach to Women, Peace and Security (WPS) is annexed to the Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on WPS adopted on 10 December 2018, (Council document 15086/18), https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/37412/st15086-en18.pdf ,
and the EU Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) 2019-2024, of 4 July 2019 EEAS(2019) 747, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/register/en/content/out?&typ=ENTRY&i=ADV&DOC_ID=ST-11031-2019-INIT .

(85)

The measurement is done according to the OECD Gender Equality Policy Marker. Specifically for humanitarian aid, the Commission applies its own humanitarian Gender-Age marker.

(86)

Recent resolutions of the European Parliament on gender equality include: European Parliament resolution 2019/2870(RSP) of 30 January 2020 on the gender pay gap; European Parliament resolution 2019/2855(RSP) of 28 November 2019 on the EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention and other measures to combat gender-based violence; European Parliament resolution 2016/2249(INI) of 14 March 2017 on equality between women and men in the European Union in 2014-2015.

(87)

Recent Council Conclusions on gender equality include: Council Conclusions of 10 December 2019 on gender equal economies in the EU: The way forward – taking stock of 25 years of implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; Council Conclusions of 24 October 2019 on The Economy of Wellbeing; Council Conclusions of 13 June 2019 on Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Key Policies and Measures.