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Resolution on the new strategy for women’s rights and gender equality in Europe post‑2015

2016/2526(RSP)

The European Parliament adopted by 337 votes to 286, with 73 abstentions, a resolution on the new Strategy for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in Europe post‑2015.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the S&D, ALDE, GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups.

Members recalled that the previous Commission strategy for equality between women and men for 2010-2015 was not comprehensive enough to contribute to gender equality at European and international level. They stated that a new post-2015 strategy will need to provide new impetus and deliver concrete action to strengthen women’s rights and promote gender equality.

Therefore, Members considered it regrettable that the 2016 Commission Work Programme made no specific mention of the EU Strategy for Gender Equality post-2015 and deplored the fact that on 3 December 2015 the Commission published only a staff working document entitled ‘Strategic engagement for gender equality 2016-2019’.

They deplored the fact that, on 7 December 2015, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) could not agree on an official position regarding several issues in favour of gender equality, including the ‘Women on Boards’ Directive, which has long been awaited by Parliament.

However, Members welcomed the Commission’s approach on strategic engagement for gender equality, but deplores the lack of concrete benchmarks and of a dedicated budget, without which progress on targets and indicators is neither measurable nor achievable.

Members called on the Commission to:

  • adopt a communication on a new Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Rights 2016-2020 which addresses gender equality issues and which is in line with the international agenda, namely the Beijing +20 outcome document of 2015 and the new framework for ‘Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Transforming the Lives of Girls and Women through EU External Relations (2016‑2020)’;
  • cooperate with Parliament and the Council, and calls for an EU summit on gender equality and women’s rights with a view to identifying the progress made, and to make renewed commitments within the framework of the forthcoming EPSCO Council in March 2016.