Programme

SOC/849 – Union of Equality: LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026-2030

The EESC will hold a public hearing to examine the recently adopted LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030. The event will bring diverse stakeholders to discuss opportunities and challenges in implementing the strategy’s actions, enforcement of anti-discrimination norms, and strategies to ensure that EU policy frameworks meaningfully foster the Union of Equality. Key questions will focus on mainstreaming LGBTIQ+ equality, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, mechanisms for Member State engagement, and strategies for bridging gaps between EU-level and national practices.

Public hearing

Thursday, 29 January 2026, 9.30-13.00

European Economic and Social Committee, Rue Belliard 99-101, 1040 Brussels, room JDE 63 & and online with Q&A via SliDo*

* Event website with a web-stream link: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our-work/opinions-information-reports/opinions/union-equality-lgbtiq-equality-strategy-2026-2030

 

09.30 - 09.40 | Welcome and introduction 

  • Juliane Marie Neiiendam, Member - Group II, EESC

09.40 - 10.45 | Panel I

Chaired by: Maria del Carmen Barrera Chamorro, Member - Group II, EESC

  • Susanne Knoefel, European Commission: Non-Discrimination: LGBTIQ, Age, Horizontal Matters Unit – DG JUST
  • Marc Angel, European Parliament
  • Miltos Pavlou, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
  • Gabriella Calleja, Council of Europe: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Unit
  • Susanne Wahlström, Committee of the Regions

Q&A

10.45 - 11.45 | Panel II

Chaired by: Juliane Marie Neiiendam, Member - Group III, EESC

  • Peter Dunne, University of Bristol
  • Tobias Holfelt, The European LGBTIQ Chamber of Commerce
  • José Juan Álvarez Alejandro, Unión General de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores

Q&A

11.45 - 13.00 | Panel III

Chaired by: Ionuţ Sibian, Member - Group III, EESC

  • Katrin Hugendubel, ILGA EUROPE
  • Bianca Oprea, Civil Society Development Foundation Romania
  • Isa Nico Borrelli, Transgender Europe
  • Ilaria Todde, Euro Central Asian Lesbian Community

Q&A

Interpreting: Participants can speak in: French, English and Spanish and listen to: French, English and Spanish.

Downloads

  • Union of Equality: LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026-2030