EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on violence against women: extracts from the debate (09/05), extracts from the vote and statement by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteur

Six years after the EU signed the Convention - the first legally binding international instrument for preventing and combating violence against women and girls - and despite Parliament’s multiple calls to this end, it has still not ratified it because of the refusal of a few member states. However, the EU Court of Justice’s opinion of 6 October 2021 confirmed that the European Union can ratify the Istanbul Convention even without having the agreement of all member states. MEPs debate the matter and vote. Extracts from the debate, the vote and statement by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteur.