EC Press Conference 05.03.2026: Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030

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 05.03.2026 

European Commission Press Conference on the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030 by EVPMÎNZATU and Commissioner LAHBIB.

 

VOD & Press release

 

One year ago, EC Roadmap for Women’s Rights set the direction: 8 clear principles from ending violence against women to strengthening women’s economic opportunities.

 

Today’s strategy puts the roadmap into action: 30 measures to tackle discrimination and barriers girls and women face.

 

Objectives:

  • Continuing the fight against gender-based violence with a strong emphasis onfighting cyberviolence: via Digital Services Act, Violence Against Women Directive, new Action Plan on Cyberbullying
  • Improve the quality and accessibility of women's healthcare
  • Promoting gender equality across economic sectors: attracting women to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers
  • Tackling the gender pay and pension gaps:  via Pay Transparency Directive; joint work with EIB to improve female representation in the financial sector
  • Equal and safe participation in politics: upcoming Recommendation on safety in politics

Instruments:

  • The EC’s Union of Skills (2025) mainstreamed Gender Equality by setting a target: 1 million girls educated in STEM-related fields by the end of 2028.
  • Quality Jobs Roadmap (2025) and Quality Jobs Act (upcoming): bringing 50 million marginalised people, mostly women, into the workforce.
  • First ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy: coming in May 2026
  • European Social Fund+: almost €85bn of the fund’s resources contribute to gender equality-related priorities, out of which almost €4bn specifically targets supporting women in STEM.
  • EC response to My Voice, My Voice: improve access to safe abortion through ESF+

 

Q&A

 

There is currently a legislative attempt in the EP to define sex without consent as rape. Do you have concrete plans to propose legislation on this issue? Do you have a timeframe?

  • In the Violence Against Women Directive, EC made efforts to ensure a definition of rape based on the notion of consent was included. But we couldn’t reach an agreement at the time.
  • Since the Pelicot case, the mindset changed: we are now waiting for a mapping of legislative situation in MS; we will then decide if it’s time to propose a new legislative initiative.
  • We want to promote the central role of consent in sexual relationships.

 

What measures do you propose to implicate young men in the fight for gender equality?

  • Worrying figures: between 2019 and 2023, €1bn has been spent on campaigns against gender equality.
  • These movement are organised and funded: in a context of geopolitical polarisation, there is an underground battle aiming at polarisation between men and women.
  • 98% of AI deepfakes are pornographic: this is attacking the dignity of women, especially politicians.
  • We must activate the tools we have:  Digital Services Act (DSA), AI Act.
  • There is work to be done on labour sectors dominated by one or the other genders. It’s not just under-representation of women in STEM jobs. There is also a lack of men in sectors like education and healthcare, which are essential for social cohesion.
  • The Eurobarometer 2024 shows ¾ Europeans believe gender equality benefits everyone.

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