Mon. Nov 25th, 2024

Main results of the EU EPSCO Council, 7 May 2024

May 8, 2024

Brussels, 7 May 2024

Economic empowerment and financial independence of women

The Council approved conclusions on the economic empowerment and financial independence of women as a pathway to substantive gender equality, based on a report by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).

The conclusions call for stronger measures to promote the economic empowerment and financial independence of women, including by integrating a gender equality perspective into economic and financial policies and legislation, tackling gender-based economic violence, addressing the gender pay gap, and improving the availability of sex-disaggregated data in key areas such as fiscal policies, economic violence, individual wealth and the care economy.

Financial independence is essential to true gender equality, as it enables women to take control of their lives and their choices. Too often, however, women are prevented from achieving financial independence by factors such as the gender pay gap, pension inequality, low participation in the workforce, and persistent gender stereotypes. In its conclusions, the Council calls for greater efforts at both EU and national level to better understand and address the obstacles preventing women in Europe from achieving financial independence.

Marie-Colline Leroy, Belgian State Secretary for Gender Equality, Equal Opportunities and Diversity

Equal Treatment Directive

Ministers held a policy debate on the proposed Council directive to implement the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in areas other than employment (the Equal Treatment Directive).

The discussion focused on progress already made in the negotiations and on the action that still needed to be taken in order to reach a general approach (a compromise on the Council’s position) during the Belgian presidency.

The vast majority of the member states expressed their support for the compromise text as it currently stood and called for the rapid adoption of the directive. However, two member states were still considering the potential financial and administrative impact of implementing the directive, and one member state questioned the need for legislation at EU level in this area.

Women in public life

The Council held a policy debate on the topic of women in public life, focusing in particular on the under-representation of women in leadership and political decision-making roles in the EU.

Ministers discussed the challenges facing women in politics, including gender-based violence (in particular online harassment and hate speech), gender stereotypes, and an unequal distribution of caring responsibilities, and noted that these issues were often more significant for women belonging to vulnerable groups. They presented the strategies and mechanisms used in their countries to increase women’s representation in decision-making and foster gender equality in leadership roles.

The member states also explored possible initiatives that could be introduced at EU level to further promote the participation of women in public life, including: the exchange of best practice; awareness-raising; mainstreaming a gender-equality perspective in all EU policies; equal representation of men and women in decision-making positions at EU level; and institutional mechanisms demonstrating a continued commitment to building a Union of Equality, including a new EU Gender Equality Strategy post-2025, a dedicated Commissioner for Equality, and a gender equal College of Commissioners.

Other business

The following items were dealt with under ‘other business’:

  • events organized by the Belgian presidency
  • information from the Belgian presidency concerning the possible change of the title of the Council configuration “Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs”, which does not include the term “Equality”
  • the state of play of the violence against women survey
  • the state of play of the implementation of the EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention
  • the state of play of the Commission’s upcoming communication on the implementation of its 2020-2025 LGBTIQ Equality Strategy
  • the state of play of the upcoming communication on progress made in implementing the EU action plan against racism
  • the candidate to represent the EU at the elections to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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A items

The Council also adopted, as A items, two directives to strengthen the role of equality bodies across the EU as well as a directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence.

Preparatory documents
Outcome documents
Press releases

 

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