Issue 112
December 2022
ISSN 2315-0017
Spotlight on a Union of equality
Equality implies a society that offers everyone equal rights and opportunities to live, thrive and lead, regardless of differences based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. It is a founding principle of the European Union, which has established some of the most extensive anti-discrimination legislation in the world. Nevertheless, even in the EU, full equality is not yet a reality. According to a 2019 Eurobarometer on discrimination in the EU, more than half of respondents think discrimination based on ethnic origin and sexual orientation is widespread in their country. 44% believe the same for discrimination against people with disabilities and 35% when it comes to whether a person is a man or a woman.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has made achieving a Union of equality a key priority for the Commission she leads: ‘A prosperous and social Europe depends on us all. We need equality for all and equality in all of its senses.’ A dedicated portfolio and task force were set up to promote equality and inclusion and combat discrimination in all its forms.
Three years of action have brought tangible results. The Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 has set out key actions towards a gender-equal Europe and commits the Commission to include an equality perspective in all EU policy areas. In this context, the Gender Balance on Boards directive adopted recently by the Council and the European Parliament, signifies another step towards gender equality in the EU. The EU anti-racism Action Plan strengthens the legal framework to fight discrimination based on ethnic origin. The EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation provides targets to be achieved by 2030. And the first-ever EU Strategy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) equality addresses the inequalities and challenges affecting LGBTIQ people, setting out a number of targeted actions, including legal and funding measures.
This edition of our newsletter brings a selection of EU publications on equality, with a particular focus on gender equality, along with publications on other interesting topics, from EU Law to new technological solutions for border management.
2022 report on gender equality in the EU PDF
This report by the European Commission focuses on key actions and achievements on gender equality by EU institutions and EU countries in 2021, second year of implementation of the European Commission’s Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025. It showcases some inspiring practices and innovative projects and presents key trends and the newest available data.
Available in English
Union of equality: LGBTIQ equality strategy 2020-2025 PDF
Building a Union where you are free to be yourself
This factsheet presents the first ever EU Strategy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) equality. The strategy sets out a number of targeted actions, including legal and funding measures to address the inequalities and challenges affecting LGBTIQ people.
Available in all official languages of the EU except Irish
Union of equality: Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 PDF
The strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 aims to protect persons with disabilities from any form of discrimination and violence. This factsheet summarises its key points.
Available in English, French and German
Gender equality index 2022 PDF
The COVID-19 pandemic and care
The Gender equality index developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality is a tool tracking the progress of gender equality in the EU since 2010. The 2022 index presented in this publication has a thematic focus on care in the pandemic and explores how women and men divide informal childcare, long-term care and housework between them.
Available in English
Discrimination in the European Union PDF
Report
This 2019 Eurobarometer report on discrimination illustrates the extent and nature of the problem of inequality as perceived by citizens across the EU.
Available in English
Upward convergence in gender equality PDF/Paper
How close is the Union of equality?
Achievements in gender equality vary considerably among EU countries. It is important to understand the evolution of these disparities and the implications they have for upward economic and social convergence in the EU. This policy brief investigates patterns of convergence in gender equality over the 2010–2018 period.
Available in English, French, German and Spanish
The macro-economic benefits of gender equality PDF
First and foremost, equality is a moral principle of any society. However, there are also strong economic arguments for it. This paper discusses the economic dividends of gender equality, which should be especially welcome in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in view of the demographic transition, where EU countries invariably face a decline in the proportion of the population at working age.
Available in English
Support for female entrepreneurs PDF
Survey evidence for why it makes sense
Three surveys by the European Investment Bank showed that supporting female-led businesses makes good economic sense, as these companies generate wider economic, social and environmental benefits. Notably, support for female-led businesses can contribute to raising female labour force participation, thereby helping to reduce poverty risks. This report summarizes the evidence and further discusses the topic.
Available in English
Research and innovation
CORDIS results pack on gender equality in research PDF
This pack highlights six EU-funded frontier research projects on gender equality in addition to three successful EU-supported actions to further gender equality in research. The projects cover a wide array of aspects, including a gendered understanding of law, individual and structural drivers of gender disparity, and gender biases in education, employment and healthcare, among others.
Available in English
(Individual article also available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish on the CORDIS website)
Also out recently
70 Years of EU law PDF
A union for its citizens
This monumental publication, with a preface by Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, sets out how EU law, the guiding element of European integration, benefits EU citizens in all its areas. It is addressed to both lawyers and the broader public.
Available in English – more language versions are to follow
EU COVID-19 vaccine procurement PDF
Sufficient doses secured after initial challenges, but performance of the process not sufficiently assessed
The EU launched its COVID-19 vaccine procurement strategy in June 2020. By the end of 2021, it had signed €71 billion worth of contracts securing up to 4.6 billion doses. This report by the European Court of Auditors assesses the process, draws lessons, and offers recommendations in the context of the updated pandemic preparedness.
Available in all official languages of the EU
Education and training monitor 2022 PDF/Paper
Comparative report
This report comprises a broad, cross-EU analysis of education and training systems. It tracks progress towards achieving the EU-level targets agreed as part of the strategic framework for European cooperation in this field.
Available in English
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Key figures on Europe PDF
2022 edition
This annual publication offers a selection of key indicators for the European Union and its individual Member States, drawing from the rich collection of Eurostat’s data. It contains intuitive visualisations, innovative data presentations and concise text, so that users can rapidly obtain an understanding of sizes for the whole EU and differences between EU countries.
Available in English, French and German
Weak signals in border management and surveillance technologies PDF
This report presents a list of emerging technological solutions relevant for the European Integrated Border Management. The main objective is to contribute to Frontex’ efforts to assess opportunities in emerging technologies and science. Such opportunities may help to address operational needs of the European Border and Coast Guard and enhance the management of the EU external borders.
Available in English
Schengen PDF/Paper
Your gateway to free movement in Europe
Schengen, a village in southern Luxembourg on the river Moselle, located where the territories of the initial contracting parties of the Schengen Agreement (France, Germany and the Benelux States) meet, has become a synonym for the abolition of internal border controls and for free movement in Europe. Read more interesting facts about the Schengen agreement and how it works in this brochure.
Available in all official languages of the EU
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