A few days before we mark International Women’s Day and as we anticipate the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW69) in New York, this is a good time to reflect on and evaluate achievements in gender equality. It is also the right time to look towards the future and continue paving the way forward.
A few days before we mark International Women’s Day and as we anticipate the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW69) in New York, this is a good time to reflect on and evaluate achievements in gender equality. It is also the right time to look towards the future and continue paving the way forward.
In terms of the legislative framework, we note improvements: more women are active in the labour market, earning better incomes, attaining higher levels of education, increasing their political representation, and holding more positions of power. However, progress has been slow and uneven across the Member States.
But as long as structural inequalities, gender stereotypes and backlashes against women’s rights persist, women will continue to be under-represented in the public sphere, in politics and in STEM education, they will be exposed to online and offline violence and they will lack access to resources and capital for entrepreneurship. They will also be more prone to suffering time and money poverty and the pay and retirement gaps will take too many years to close.
Moving forward is all about training, funding, and commitment. We need resources to boost women’s skills for the digital and green just transition, to fund national action plans to combat violence against women, and to provide training for all personnel working with survivors of violence.
We need to finance entrepreneurial projects and establish affordable, accessible, and high-quality child and elderly care services to lift the burden of unpaid care-giving responsibilities from women's shoulders. Additionally, we need a strong commitment to creating safe spaces, involving more women in local, national, and EU parliaments, and ensuring their active participation in non-violent conflict resolution and peace-building processes, while also promoting gender-inclusive approaches within these efforts.
On top of that, having a broad European strategy for Agenda 2030 would help us move much faster in making gender equality a key part of our policies. The Sustainable Development Goals should be tackled as a whole, not one by one.
In the EU, progress is 'good'. But 'good' is not good enough for the men, women and girls in the EU that are fighting for effective gender equality for the years to come. Our role as civil society is to step up the pressure on policy-makers to move things forward fast.
Ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March and the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW69) — the main global body promoting women's rights — EESC member Maria Nikolopoulou, rapporteur for the opinion entitled EESC contribution to the EU’s priorities at the UNCSW69, writes about the EU's progress on gender equality. While many improvements deserve recognition, women are still far from having the same rights as men. Many gaps remain to be closed, and many more battles must be won.
Ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March and the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW69) — the main global body promoting women's rights — EESC member Maria Nikolopoulou, rapporteur for the opinion entitled EESC contribution to the EU’s priorities at the UNCSW69, writes about the EU's progress in gender equality. While many improvements deserve recognition, women are still far from having the same rights as men. Many gaps remain to be closed, and many more battles must be won.
Compared to its global peers like the United States, the euro area is facing pressing challenges: low labour productivity, weakening competitiveness and slowing economic momentum. To reverse this trend, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is calling for an urgent and coordinated strategy.
Compared to its global peers like the United States, the euro area is facing pressing challenges: low labour productivity, weakening competitiveness and slowing economic momentum. To reverse this trend, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is calling for an urgent and coordinated strategy.
In its opinion Euro area economic policy 2025, the EESC outlines a plan to drive growth by deepening the internal market, cutting regulatory red tape and ensuring fiscal sustainability. At the same time, policies must address transformative trends like artificial intelligence (AI) and the pressures of an ageing population.
After external shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis, the euro area is being confronted with major economic challenges. While stabilisation efforts have been made, issues such as domestic uncertainty, demographic shifts and rising fiscal pressures demand bold reforms.
The EESC puts forward a three-step approach to enhance productivity and competitiveness: deepening the internal market, coordinating industrial policy and cutting red tape. Fiscal sustainability is crucial, requiring a balanced framework, stronger EU collaboration and efforts to tap into untapped revenues. Investment remains a weak point, with a need for expanded venture capital and innovation-friendly policies.
Labour market resilience is also key, necessitating flexibility, fair wages, social security reforms and AI-driven skills development. The EESC stresses the need for shared accountability between the EU and its Member States, advocating enhanced policy coordination. With decisive action and strategic investments, the euro area can build a resilient, competitive and sustainable economy for the future (tk).
