While steps have been taken over the past century to improve prospects for women and girls in science across the world, there is still a lot left to do. The global health crisis has put equalities at risk and slowed progress on a number of fronts. This podcast celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and looks at how women have contributed to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, while also being among those hit hardest by the health crisis.

Women in healthcare: COVID-19 and rising inequalities - EN

Vous êtes une femme? Vous exercez une activité indépendante et cherchez de l’aide pour lancer votre propre entreprise? Alors vous serez peut-être intéressée d’apprendre que l’Union européenne peut vous y aider. Voici comment.

Voici ce que l’Europe fait pour les femmes entrepreneures.

The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels on 10 July 2019, following the appointment of their members in the plenary sitting of 3-4 July. During the meetings, each committee and subcommittee will elect its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees will then start holding their regular meetings during the week of 22 July.

FEMM - Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Exposing and eradicating discrimination on the grounds of gender and sex remains a priority for the European Parliament. Through the&nbsp;FEMM Committee and plenary debates, MEPs frequently discuss&nbsp;the impact on women of social and economic changes.

The European Parliament aims to address and denounce events and policy that breach or threaten the rights of women,&nbsp;both within the EU and abroad.

During the last week of October 2023, the European Parliament holds its fourth European Gender Equality Week,&nbsp;at the initiative of the Women’s Rights Committee. Several committees will hold debates with a gender perspective to discuss policy shortcomings and achievements, and how to advance women's rights in all EU policy areas.

Women's rights

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.

The European Parliament first sounded the alarm about the problem of violence against women in a resolution of 11 June 1986. Since then, Parliament has played a particularly important role in the field, including through the work of its Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). As of October 2020, it has been signed by all EU Member States, and ratified by 21.

Violence against women (2019-2020)

Full gender equality is far from being achieved, and this has implications for the lives and life chances of individual women, girls, boys and men, the communities they live in and the EU as a whole. The European Parliament has consistently taken a strong, proactive stance on advancing gender equality, stressing the need to deliver on EU commitments.

The EP´s Committee of Women´s rights and Gender equality (FEMM) is in the heart of these discussions.

Options for further EU involvement could include better implementation and enforcement of existing legislation, moves to modernise it, fill gaps in protection and address emerging issues, and non-legislative measures such as data collection and monitoring, awareness-raising, and support for national and grassroots initiatives.

Promoting equal economic independence for women and men, closing the gender pay gap, advancing gender balance in decision making, ending gender based violence and promoting gender equality beyond the EU are the concrete areas of interest for the EU.

Gender balance

Helena Dalli, born on 29 September 1962, is a Maltese politician.

After the hearing by the Committees on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Helena DALLI, Commissioner-designate, Equality

To mark the 2024 International Women's Day (8 March), the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee is holding an inter-parliamentary committee meeting, gathering EU and national parliamentarians, to discuss the situation of women in sport today. Topics include eradicating gender stereotypes, abuse scandals and getting equal financial rewards and status. The experts to speak include Olympians Charline Van Snick (Belgium), Pia Sundhage (Sweden) and Katarzyna Zillmann (Poland). (Thursday 7 March).

FEMM- International Women’s Day/Women in Sport

FEMM - Achievements of the 9th parliamentary term

FEMM interparlamentary Committee meeting - Women in Sports

EMPL FEMM joint Committee meeting

LIBE FEMM - Public Hearing on ' the Implementation of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme '

Press conference Chair on Violence against women

LIBE/FEMM - Trilogue on Domestic violence

FEMM - Presentation of the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council

EMPL - FEMM joint Committee meeting

EMPL - FEMM Trilogue on Equality

FEMM Hearing on Gender Mainstreaming and EU climate policy

FEMM - EMPL Hearing on ' Harmful practices in the EU towards women and girls with disabilities '

FEMM - Hearing on municipalism and gender equality policies in the EU

Upcoming Belgian Presidency of the Council - Ambassador Willem VAN DER VOORDE meets with Robert BIEDRON, FEMM committee Chair

Trilogue on Equality Bodies

EMPL- FEMM - Standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment andoccupation

FEMM Committee - Exchange of views on pay transparency, gender pay gap and pension gap with Commissioner Dalli

FEMM Committee - Presentation by EIGE (European Institute for Gender Equality) of the Gender Equality Index

ECON FEMM - Women in Economics and Finance: Debate on the next challenges in the EU

Opening of the sitting

Conclusions of the recent European Council meetings, in particular on a new European Competitiveness deal and the EU strategic agenda 2024-2029 (debate)

Effective coordination of economic policies and multilateral budgetary surveillance - Speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure – amending Regulation - Requirements for budgetary frameworks of the Member States – amending Directive

Resumption of the sitting

Voting time

Combating violence against women and domestic violence (debate)

European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities - European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities for third country nationals legally residing in a Member State (joint debate - Disability cards)

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip (debate)

20240423-0900-PLENARY

Delegated acts (Rule 111(6)) (action taken)

Corrigenda (Rule 241)(action taken)

Attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society (debate)

Situation in Haiti (debate)

Withdrawal of the Union from the Energy Charter Treaty (debate)

EU-Egypt strategic and comprehensive partnership and agreements with key third countries (debate)

Production and marketing of plant reproductive material - Production and marketing of forest reproductive material (joint debate - Plant and forest reproductive material)

Establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans (debate)

Explanations of vote

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Plenary session

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

FEMM

Joint committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality and committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

LIBE

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality - Inter-parliamentary Committee Meeting on Women in Sport

Joint committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Joint committee on Employment and Social Affairs and committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

EMPL

Joint committee on Foreign Affairs and committee on Development and committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

AFET

DEVE

Press conference by Frances FITZGERALD and Evin INCIR, co-rapporteurs, Robert BIEDROŃ FEMM Chair and Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, LIBE Chair on Violence against women

Joint committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality and committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Joint committee on Development and committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality and in association with the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly and the Delegation to the Caribbean-EU Parliamentary Assembly

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71) (action taken)

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2023 and preparation of the Special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024 - Situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds (joint debate – European Council meetings)

Review of the economic governance framework (debate)

Quality jobs in a competitive future-oriented social market economy (topical debate)

Norway's recent decision to advance seabed mining in the Arctic

Improving the socio-economic situation of farmers and rural areas, ensuring fair incomes, food security as well as a just transition

Extending the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crime (debate)

Situation of fundamental rights in the EU in 2022 and 2023 (debate)

Rule of Law and media freedom in Greece (debate)

Situation in Serbia following elections (debate)

Geothermal energy (debate)

Gender aspects of the rising cost of living and the impact of the energy crisis (debate)

Addressing urgent skills shortages and finding the right talents to boost job creation (European Year of Skills) (debate)

The ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China, notably the case of Mr Ding Yuande

The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan

Tajikistan: state repression against the independent media

Closure of the sitting

Joint Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Composition of political groups

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2023 (debate)

Review of the Spanish Presidency of the Council (debate)

Composition of Parliament

Appointments to delegations

Voting time (continuation)

EU strategy to assist young people facing the housing and cost of living crisis (topical debate)

One year after Morocco and QatarGate – stocktaking of measures to strengthen transparency and accountability in the European institutions (debate)

Jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition of decisions and acceptance of authentic instruments in matters of parenthood and creation of a European Certificate of Parenthood (debate)

Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law (debate)

Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law (continuation of debate)

European Defence investment programme (EDIP) (debate)

The unknown status of Mikalai Statkevich and the recent attacks on Belarusian politicians’ and activists’ family members

The Maasai Communities in Tanzania

The abduction of Tibetan children and forced assimilation practices through Chinese boarding schools in Tibet

Frontex, building on the fact-finding investigation of the LIBE Working Group for Frontex Scrutiny (debate)

MEPs adopt the first EU-wide Disability Card and Parking Card for persons with disabilities during the plenary session in Strasbourg. The new rules, already agreed on by the Parliament and the Council, establishes an EU-wide disability card to make sure that, when travelling for a short period, people with disabilities have equal access to preferential conditions, such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access and access to reserved parking. Opening statements by Lucia ĎURIŠ NICHOLSONOVÁ (Renew, SK), Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), Alice KUHNKE (Greens/EFA, SE), Rapporteurs, Linus GLANZELIUS (S&D, SE), TRAN Committee, Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT (EPP, ES), FEMM Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint Debate - Disability cards: Opening statements by Rapporteurs, Linus GLANZELIUS (S&D, SE), TRAN Committee, Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT (EPP, ES), FEMM Committee

To mark the 2024 International Women's Day (8 March), the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM Committee) holds an inter-parliamentary committee meeting, gathering EU and national parliamentarians, to discuss the situation of women in sport today. Topics include eradicating gender stereotypes, abuse scandals and getting equal financial rewards and status. The experts to speak include Olympians Charline Van Snick (Belgium), and Pia Sundhage (Sweden). The footage also shows extracts from the statement by Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), FEMM Chair. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

International Women’s Day 2024: extracts from the Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on the occasion of International Women's Day

Press conference by Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE) and Evin INCIR (S&D, SE), Co-Rapporteurs, Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), Chair of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on Violence Against Women Directive. The legislation has the goal to enshrine minimum standards in EU law for criminalising certain forms of gender-based violence, improve access to justice, protection and support for victims, ensure coordination between relevant services, and prevent these types of crime. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE), Evin INCIR (S&D, SE), Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL) and Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES) on Violence Against Women

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) meet for a trialogue with the Commission and the Council on Violence Against Women in the European Parliament during the plenary session in Strasbourg

Violence Against Women trialogue negotiations with the Council: arrival and roundtable

Parliament calls on the Council to finally act to tackle hate speech and hate crime in the EU. The draft report asks for progress on classifying hate speech and hate crime as “EU crimes” - a process stalled in Council since 2022. MEPs highlight the need to ensure all individuals and groups that can become targets of hate are protected, and to ensure that freedom of expression is not exploited to protect hate speech and hate crimes. They are also set to call for an “open-ended” approach whereby incidents would be assessed based on their contextual circumstances. Opening statement by Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA (Renew, ES), Rapporteur, Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), FEMM Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check agaist delivery.

Extending the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crime: Opening statement by Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA (Renew, ES), Rapporteur, Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), FEMM Committee

MEPs discuss the wellbeing and the protection of children in Europe, marking the International Day on the Rights of the Child. The Parliament also debate how to strengthen the Child Guarantee, two years after its adoption in 2021. MEPs discuss a report to reduce inequalities and increase social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families. In the text, Parliament calls for better integrated social, educational and employment services to help break the vicious circle of poverty and to protect children and their families at risk of poverty, in particular in times of crisis. Opening statement by Sandra PEREIRA (The Left, PT), Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography and Ewa KOPACZ (EPP, PL), on behalf of the FEMM Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint debate International Day on the Rights of the Child: opening statement by Sandra PEREIRA, Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, VP of the EC in charge of Democracy and Demography and by Ewa KOPACZ, on behalf of the FEMM Committee

The European Gender Equality Week takes place on 23-29 October 2023 in the European Parliament and many other European as well as national institutions. This year's edition brings also a change: "Gender Equality: What's next?" The success of the previous editions in 2020, 2021 and 2023 was marked by the growing number of participating committees and delegations and organised events, as well as broader inclusion of partners. This footage shows the extracts from Committees meetings and events of the Gender Equality Week, and statement of Evelyn REGNER (S&D, AT), Vice-president of the European Parliament.

Gender Equality Week in the European Parliament: extracts from Committees meetings and events, and statement of Evelyn REGNER (S&D, AT), Vice-president of the European Parliament

Luis Planas (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food), Irene Montero (Minister for Equality), Diana Morant (Minister for Science and Innovation), Nadia Calviño (First Vice-President and Minister for the Economy and Digital Transformation) and Héctor Gómez (Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism) present the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the AGRI, FEMM and ITRE Committees in Brussels. Extracts from the presentation by Spanish Ministers in the EP Committee meetings (AGRI, FEMM and ITRE - 19/09).

Presentation of the EU Council's priorities by Spanish Ministers: extracts from the presentation by Spanish Ministers in the EP Committee meetings (AGRI, FEMM and ITRE)

MEPs debate on the Fit for 55 package. The new law on new energy saving targets requires an 11.7% reduction in primary and final energy consumption by 2030 (relative to 2020 projections). Every year until 2030, 1.5% of energy savings must be made, starting at 1.3% until 2025 and increasing to 1.9% by the end of 2030. Opening statements by Alexandr VONDRA - ENVI Committee; Bas EICKHOUT - ENVI Committee; Michael BLOSS - ITRE Committee; Tom BERENDSEN - TRAN Committee; Niklas NIENASS - REGI Committee; Alice KUHNKE - FEMM Committee; Sara SKYTTEDAL - ITRE Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint debate - Fit for 55: Opening statements by the Alexandr VONDRA - ENVI; Bas EICKHOUT- ENVI; Michael BLOSS - ITRE; Tom BERENDSEN - TRAN; Niklas NIENASS - REGI; Alice KUHNKE - FEMM; Sara SKYTTEDAL - ITRE

Jointly, LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) and FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) Committees vote on EU legislation to fight violence against women and domestic violence. MEPs want a uniform criminal definition of rape based on the absence of consent, for cyber violence to be a crime under EU law (including non-consensual sharing of intimate material), and safer and gender-sensitive procedures for reporting incidents.

Combating violence against women and domestic violence: extracts from the vote, statements by Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE) and Evin INCIR (S&D, SE), Co-rapporteurs, Joint meeting of LIBE and FEMM Committees

Mariyah, une jeune femme musulmane qui porte le hijab, subit l’islamophobie au quotidien. Au lieu de rester sans rien faire, elle a décidé d’agir, en créant une plateforme pour faire entendre les voix musulmanes et en organisant des rencontres interculturelles pendant le ramadan. Cet entretien s’inscrit dans le cadre du projet «Actif en Europe: Façonnez le monde que vous voulez», une collection d’histoires personnelles filmées lors de la Rencontre des jeunes européens 2023.

Rencontre des jeunes européens | L’histoire de Mariyah: «Rassembler les gens est une si belle façon de les sensibiliser»

Samira RAFAELA (Renew, NL), Kira Marie PETER-HANSEN (Greens/EFA, DK), Rapporteurs on the pay transparency directive, and by Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), FEMM Chair and by Dragoş PÎSLARU (Renew, RO), EMPL Chair give a joint press conference in the European Parliament in Brussels, after the votes in the hemicycle. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

Press conference by Samira RAFAELA (Renew, NL), Kira Marie PETER-HANSEN (Greens/EFA, DK), Rapporteurs on Pay transparency directive Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), FEMM Chair and by Dragoş PÎSLARU (Renew, RO), EMPL Chair

Energy poverty is a significant problem in many parts of Europe, as households struggle to pay rising energy costs. The women’s rights and gender equality committee meet with members of national parliaments from EU countries ahead of International Women’s Day (on 8 March) and discuss the gender aspects of energy poverty. Extracts from the meeting, statement by Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), FEMM Chair and extracts from the exhibition on "Generation Equality - Picture it".

Gender aspects of energy poverty - Inter-parliamentary meeting on International Women’s Day 2023: extracts from the meeting, statement by Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), FEMM Chair, and extracts from the exhibition on "Generation Equality - Picture it"

Ahead of each new rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union (every 6 months), the ministers of the holding country present their priorities in a series of meetings with parliamentary committees related to their political area. On January 2023, the committees of FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality), REGI (Regional Development) and DEVE (Development) welcomed the Sweden's ministers, including Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment, Peter Kullgren, Minister for Rural Affairs, Johan Forssel, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

Presentation of the EU Council's priorities by Swedish Ministers: extracts from the EP Committee meetings (FEMM - REGI - DEVE)

MEPs debate on the CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU) Implementation of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy - annual reports 2022. Opening statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE) and by Tom VANDENKENDELAERE (EPP, BE), Rapporteurs, by Victor NEGRESCU (S&D, RO) AFCO and Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ (Renew, ES) FEMM and by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World.

Joint debate - CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU) Implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy: opening statements

The FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) and LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) Committees debate in a joint hearing on the consequences of the abortion ban in Poland with Barbara SKROBOL, sister-in-law of Ms Izabela SAJBOR, the first known victim of the de facto abortion ban, Kamila FERENC, Lawyer of FEDERA Foundation, and Caroline HICKSON, Regional Director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network.

Consequences of the de facto abortion ban in Poland - FEMM/LIBE Committees: extracts from the joint hearing

Backlash against women's rights in Poland, including sexual and reproductive health and rights – findings of FEMM delegation to Poland. Press conference by Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), Chair of FEMM Committee. Additional statements by Urszula GRYCUK, Vice-President of the FEDERA Foundation for Women and Family Planning Jolanta BUDZOWSKA, lawyer of the family of Izabela Sajbor, the first known victim of the abortion ban in Poland.This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference on the backlash against women's rights in Poland by Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), Chair of FEMM Committee

The European Parliament organises the 3rd edition of the European Gender Equality Week from the 24 to the 27 of October 2022. Evelyn REGNER (S&D,AT) EP Vice-President for Gender Equality Week and by Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D,PL), FEMM Chair give statements about the stakes of the EU Gender Equality Week.

European Gender Equality Week: statements by Evelyn REGNER (S&D,AT) EP Vice-President for Gender Equality Week and by Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D,PL), FEMM Chair

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