Public session - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
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Council of the European Union European Council
Follow its sittingsNorma Foley
Dear colleagues, competitiveness cannot be measured solely in economic terms. Europe's strength depends on its people. Everyone deserves the opportunity to contribute their skills and to realise their fullest potential. That is how societies become more innovative. Our diversity is our strength.
By approving these conclusions today, we jointly reaffirm the fact that equality is not simply a social objective. It is a foundation of Europe's future prosperity, resilience and competitiveness.
Colleagues, I am delighted to inform you that we have already reached consensus on these very important conclusions. And if anyone would like to take to the floor, Commissioner Dalli, perhaps you might like to intervene first with a few words.
Hadja Lahbib
Thank you, President, and thank you, dear Norma. I can't agree more, and I would like first of all to thank you for your work on the Council conclusions on equality as a driver for economic growth and competitiveness in the EU. It is excellent that the Irish presidency has chosen to give this topic priority and visibility as it responds to the main challenges the EU is exactly facing today. Harnessing the full potential of equality for competitiveness is also one of the Commission's top priorities, and this featured prominently in the Union of Equality strategy that we have renewed since the start of this mandate. These conclusions make a clear case for equality as a competitive advantage for the EU, and to give you an example, improving gender equality could increase EU GDP per capita by almost 10% corresponding to an increase of 3.15 million or trillion, sorry, euros by 2050.
And this is why the next multiannual financial framework must help turn our commitment to equality into action. We have proposed to double the budget of the CERV+ program, which is an integral part of the new Agora EU program. In their national and regional partnership plans, member states shall also take appropriate steps to prevent any discrimination, responding to the equality challenges of each member state. The gender employment gap still stands at 10 percentage points, and for people with disabilities, it stands at around 25 percentage points. Closing these gaps is both a matter of boosting competitiveness and delivering on our Union of Equality.
And I very much appreciate that the conclusions are truly comprehensive and intersectional, covering various key competitiveness challenges.
And I welcome the calls on the Commission to enforce our equality and non-discrimination legislation, to monitor and report on progress on our Union of Equality, to promote the collection, analysis and use of disaggregated equality data and to continue reinforcing equality mainstreaming. These calls are fully in line with our stated mission and intentions for the rest of the mandate. In this spirit, and knowing that we all share the same ambition to create a true Union of Equality, I look forward to today's approval of these Council conclusions to which the Commission remains committed to follow up. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Commissioner, thank you, Helena. I believe Belgium, Rob, you would like to say a few words.
Speaker 4
Thank you, dear colleagues, we would like to extend our warmest thanks to the Presidency for making the promotion of equality one of its top priorities. And we can endorse today's conclusions as they represent a significant step forward. Equality is a key driver of competitiveness and social cohesion in our societies, and we must develop and make the most of everyone's talents. But let us be frank: our ambition goes further. The current text doesn't meet our expectations regarding gender identity, as this is a recognized ground for protection at European Union level.
Everyone should be able to choose who they wish to be without facing any obstacles. And we will continue to advocate for the recognition and respect of the rights of non-binary persons throughout the European Union. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Rob. And so now I conclude that the Council has approved the conclusions on equality as a driver for economic growth and competitiveness in the EU as set out in document number 1438626. The statements by Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia as set out in addendum 1 to document 1438626 will be recorded in the minutes. So we now come to our exchange of views on delivering equality in the European Union: our values in practice. Colleagues, defending and promoting our shared values is a matter of upholding the very foundation of our Union.
Realizing those values is not optional, it is a shared responsibility under our treaties. And our values are not distant dreams.
They are resources that strengthen us here and now. We believe equality is one of our most precious values and a vital area of focus and policy work alongside other areas of focus for the Irish presidency of security and competitiveness. Indeed, equality, security and competitiveness are not separate but interdependent concerns. By taking determined action to promote equality, we are able to protect and advance the interests of our people in an unstable world. Colleagues, we can be proud of the progress that has been made over the past decades.
Working collectively on equality has seen a transformation for people's lives in Ireland and I know across member states. But let us also be honest. It is a sad fact that inequality and discrimination continue to cast a shadow over the daily lives of many people across Europe. As ministers, we have a responsibility to move beyond principles and words and to deliver practical results. This requires determined political leadership and effective implementation of existing commitments.
It requires ensuring that equality considerations are embedded across government policies and not treated as separate issues or mere aspirations. And it requires us to remain attentive to emerging challenges that risk undermining equal participation and inclusion. If we are serious about building a stronger European Union, we must also be serious about delivering equality in practice.
Once again, it is not only a matter of fairness. Equality strengthens social cohesion, reinforces democratic resilience, and helps create a more prosperous and inclusive Union for all. Let us use this discussion not only to take stock of where we stand today and not only to reflect on the challenges that remain, but to demonstrate our collective determination to act. At the end of the day, the credibility of our commitment to equality will be judged by the difference we make in people's lives. Let us make equality into a lived reality right across Europe.
We have prepared a steering note that you can find in document 1368526. I invite you to address two questions. Firstly, what have been the most significant social and economic benefits of progress on equality and non-discrimination in your Member State in recent years?
And secondly, given the clear evidence of persisting discrimination and inequality within the EU, what actions should Member States collectively prioritize over the next five years to advance equality and deliver measurable results, and how can this be better supported at the EU level? Commissioner Lahbib, Hadja, would you like to say a few words just to set the scene for us? Thank you.
Hadja Lahbib
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Norma. I will just reinforce your message. Equality is not only one of our fundamental values, it is one of the ways in which our citizens experience the added value of the European Union. Our treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights give us a strong foundation and responsibilities to make sure that these rights are felt and enjoyed in people's everyday lives.
The questions put forward for reflection are crucial. Over recent decades, we have developed a comprehensive EU framework against discrimination and we have also renewed our Union of Equality strategies for the period up to 2030.
Building on this framework, we will continue working towards a true Union of Equality by advancing the implementation of our strategies on gender equality, LGBTQI+ equality, the rights of persons with disabilities, anti-racism and Roma equality, inclusion and participation. Of course, the adoption of Member States' national strategies and plans are key to bring about the transformations towards more equal societies that our EU strategies envisage and move forwards. Let me therefore reiterate our call on all Member States to draw up strategic approaches on promoting equality and non-discrimination at national level. We will also continue to take stock of progress, identifying remaining challenges and strengthen our efforts to ensure that equality and non-discrimination are upheld in practice. Overall, discrimination on all protected grounds remains a reality for many Europeans in all areas of life.
This is why implementing and enforcing existing legal protections as well as closing the existing gaps must remain at the center of our efforts. We need timely transposition of EU legislation, effective remedies and enforcement, adequately resourced and independent equality bodies and meaningful engagement with stakeholders.
We must also look at equality in a comprehensive and intersectional way. Different forms of discrimination can reinforce each other, creating barriers that require joined-up responses across policy areas and levels of governments. This is also why we need better equality data. We cannot tackle inequality effectively if we cannot identify them, measure progress and understand where our policies are delivering and where they are not. To this end, I'm taking forward our work on a Commission recommendation on equality data and I'm looking forward to now hearing delegations on their priorities to move forward equality.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Commissioner. I now open the floor to the delegations and I kindly ask you to respect the time limit of three minutes for your intervention. So thank you. Do we have anyone from the floor that would like to add some commentary? So I will begin with Poland.
Sebastian, you have the floor. Thank you.
Sebastian Gajewski
Szanowna pani przewodnicząca, szanowni państwo. Unia Europejska nie jest tylko organizacją gospodarczą, która skoncentrowana jest na wspólnym rynku.
Unia jest także wspólnotą wartości. Do tych wartości zalicza się równość i towarzyszącą jej niedyskryminację, tolerancję i poszanowanie praw osób należących do mniejszości. Zgodziliśmy się na nie wspólnie w Traktacie o Unii Europejskiej i musimy je rozwijać. Dlaczego? Dlatego, że ich wdrożenie gwarantuje poszanowanie godności każdego, daje każdemu szansę na pełny udział w życiu społecznym, politycznym i gospodarczym, a w konsekwencji tworzy wartość dodaną w każdym aspekcie naszej wspólnej rzeczywistości w Unii Europejskiej.
Dlatego Polska z uznaniem podchodzi do odnowienia strategicznych ram Unii równości. Polska poczyniła w ostatnich latach jeden z największych postępów w Gender Equality Index. Między 2020 a 2025 rokiem nasz wynik poprawił się o 5,9 punktu procentowego. Luka płacowa między kobietami a mężczyznami wynosi 7,8% wobec 12% średniej w Unii Europejskiej. Polska należy do sześciu państw Unii Europejskiej o najniższym zagrożeniu ubóstwem i wykluczeniem społecznym dzieci.
Polska zajmuje też trzecie miejsce w Unii Europejskiej pod względem udziału kobiet na stanowiskach kierowniczych. Konsekwentnie jednak doskonalimy ramy prawne równości kobiet i mężczyzn. W 2026 roku przyjęliśmy ustawę wdrażającą dyrektywę o kobietach w zarządach. Pracujemy ponadto nad projektem ustawy wzmacniającej aktywność obywatelską kobiet w samorządach. Polska wzmacnia także ochronę przed przemocą ze względu na płeć i przemocą domową.
Przygotowaliśmy również projekt krajowego planu działania na rzecz realizacji agendy ONZ dotyczącej kobiet, pokoju i bezpieczeństwa. Niezależnie od działań na rzecz zapewnienia równości i niedyskryminacji kobiet, staramy się identyfikować obszary wrażliwości związane z sytuacją mężczyzn i chłopców, tak aby odpowiadać na zróżnicowane potrzeby i wyzwania wszystkich. Takie podejście wzbogaca politykę na rzecz równości i warto mieć je na uwadze także na szczeblu unijnym. Od grudnia 2023 roku Polska zwiększyła swoje zaangażowanie na rzecz ochrony praw i urównouprawnienia osób LGBT+. W Polsce doszło do przełomowych zmian w traktowaniu par jednopłciowych.
Planowane zmiany obejmują penalizację kobietobójstwa jako odrębnego przestępstwa.
Polska od tego roku uznaje małżeństwa osób tej samej płci zawarte w innych państwach członkowskich i traktuje je na równi z małżeństwami osób różnej płci, między innymi w sferze świadczeń społecznych, ochrony zdrowia oraz prawa podatkowego. To ważny krok w kierunku zapewnienia godności i równości osób LGBT+. Niemniej wciąż pozostaje tu wiele do zrobienia, dlatego Polska z uznaniem odnosi się do strategii na rzecz równości osób LGBT+ na lata 2026-2030. Wyzwaniem pozostaje skuteczna integracja uchodźców wojennych z Ukrainy i innych migrantów. Dotychczasowe działania przynoszą rezultaty w postaci wysokiej aktywności zawodowej i partycypacji w edukacji.
Dodatkowo niezbędne jest przeciwdziałanie mowie nienawiści i innym przestępstwom wywołanym uprzedzeniami. Dlatego w Polsce prokurator generalny powołał sieć prokuratorów wyspecjalizowanych w zwalczaniu dyskryminacji i nietolerancji.
Równość to wartość, dzięki której każdy z nas może czuć się szanowany i bezpieczny, odnaleźć swoje miejsce w społeczeństwie i być w nim sobą. To wartość, która tworzy dobre społeczeństwo, ale i dobrą gospodarkę, bo daje szansę każdemu na pełne uczestnictwo i realizację swoich talentów. Dlatego pozostaje ona priorytetem rządu i musi pozostawać priorytetem Unii Europejskiej. Dziękuję za uwagę.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Sebastian, and I will now move to Sweden, followed by Lithuania and Luxembourg. So, Nina, you have the floor. Thank you.
Speaker 7
Thank you, Chair. Equality as well as gender equality has a clear value in its own right, but we also know that inclusive, equal, and gender-equal societies are more resilient and competitive. Addressing and preventing discrimination is therefore not only beneficial for the individual, but also an investment for Europe's economic strength and long-term resilience in an interconnected and fast-changing world. Economic growth and competitiveness can, in turn, contribute to greater equality. This is why we must invest in both.
Together, they help create a stronger society.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Commission for the strategies and reinforcement presented this year under the umbrella of the Union of Equality. It is important that the progress is monitored in a structured and consistent manner so that we can identify both achievements and remaining challenges. In this work, reliable information, including where available and appropriate disaggregated data, is key. Standardization, policies, and strategies play an important role, but I would also like to underline the importance of well-functioning legislation. In Sweden, comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation covering all areas of society has been in place for several years, and we see a clear value with it.
That is why we are convinced that harmonizing the rules of non-discrimination in line with the directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment would bring many benefits to society at large. The aim is, of course, to reach the same level of protection for all the grounds of discrimination. In line with the simplification agenda, it would also bolster our competitiveness and help to attract and retain talents from across the globe.
In short, equality is good business. Thank you, Chair.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Nina, and I will now move to Luxembourg followed by Slovenia and Hungary. Oh, excuse me, sorry, Lithuania, my apologies. So we will move to Inga, and you are very welcome, Inga. You have the floor.
Speaker 8
Ačiū, ministre, gerbiami kolegos. Pastaraisiais metais pažanga lygybės ir nediskriminavimo srityse Lietuvai suteikė svarbios socialinės ir ekonominės naudos. Tai padėjo kurti įtraukesnes institucijas, stiprinti tarpinstitucinį bendradarbiavimą ir labiau įrodymais grįstą politikos formavimą. Lietuva ne tik perkėlė į nacionalinę teisę moterų valdybose direktyvą, bet ir išplėtė jos taikymo sritį. Padidinome moterų dalyvavimą ekonomikoje ir sprendimų priėmime.
Speaker 9
Darbo rinka tapo labiau įtrauki. Praėjus tik metams nuo šios direktyvos perkėlimo, tikrai noriu pasidžiaugti rezultatais ir joje numatytą tikslą pasiekė jau net 46 procentai bendrovių.
Į nacionalinę teisę taip pat perkėlėme darbo užmokesčio skaidrumo direktyvą, sustiprinome moterų galimybes dalyvauti ekonominiame ir socialiniame gyvenime. Šiais metais skyrėme ypatingai didelį dėmesį seksualinio smurto prevencijai, padidinome apsaugą nuo smurto artimoje aplinkoje, pagerinome pagalbos nukentėjusiems prieinamumą, kartu su nevyriausybinėmis organizacijomis įkūrėme pagalbos liniją prabilk.lt. Papildomai planuojame įtvirtinti ilgalaikį apsaugos nuo smurto artimoje aplinkoje orderį, beveik dvigubai didinsime baudas už orderio tvarkos pažeidimą. Kiekviename specializuotos kompleksinės pagalbos centre bus prieinama skubi ir efektyvi pagalba nukentėjusiems nuo seksualinio smurto. Tokia pagalba apims informavimą, konsultavimą, teisinę ir psichologinę pagalbą.
Žvelgiant į ateitį, turime siekti panaikinti atotrūkį tarp teisės aktuose užtikrinamos lygybės ir praktikoje įgyvendinamos lygybės. Turime sutelkti dėmesį į tai, kad taisyklės būtų veiksmingai įgyvendinamos. Europos Sąjungos lygmeniu turime nuosekliai įgyvendinti atnaujintą lygybės sąjungos strateginę programą, taikyti bendrus stebėsenos metodus ir dalytis gerąja praktika. Ne mažiau svarbu užtikrinti tvarią finansinę paramą ir bendradarbiauti su pilietine visuomene. Ačiū.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Inga, and we will now move to Luxembourg, followed by Slovenia.
So, Max, you have the floor.
Speaker 10
Thank you. Mesdames et messieurs les ministres, pendant les dernières années, le Luxembourg a mis en œuvre un agenda ambitieux de réformes afin de mieux lutter contre les discriminations. Permettez-moi de citer quelques exemples. Premièrement, nous avons adopté en 2024 la loi relative au vivre-ensemble qui favorise la participation à la société de toutes les personnes résidant ou travaillant au Grand-Duché. Cette loi a notamment permis de renforcer la cohésion sociale par des instruments concrets d'accompagnement au niveau individuel et communal.
Deuxièmement, et dans une démarche globale visant à améliorer la qualité des services pour personnes âgées, le Luxembourg a mis en place depuis 2023 de nouveaux instruments.
Une nouvelle loi garantit la qualité des activités et services agréés pour personnes âgées, notamment par un registre national et public qui fournit des informations qui fournit des informations complètes et transparentes sur l'offre et le prix. De plus, le service national d'information et de médiation pour personnes âgées constitue désormais un point de contact pour les résidents et les usagers des services pour personnes âgées agréés ainsi que leur entourage et les organismes gestionnaires. Au niveau européen, il nous semble d'abord primordial de combler les vides juridiques existants dans l'acquis communautaire de la non-discrimination et de l'égalité. Concrètement, le Luxembourg continue à s'engager pour une adoption rapide de la directive horizontale sur l'égalité de traitement. En effet, nous plaidons à avancer conjointement au sein de l'Union européenne et ceci de préférence par l'adoption d'actes législatifs contraignants qui créeront un niveau harmonisé de protection contre les discriminations à travers de l'Union européenne.
Il serait selon nous aussi pertinent de s'intéresser aux nouvelles sources de discrimination comme les risques posés par les recours massifs à l'intelligence artificielle entraînés potentiellement avec des données biaisées. Le Luxembourg se montre aussi ouvert à un possible renforcement du suivi des inégalités au niveau européen.
Un meilleur échange de bonnes pratiques au niveau européen sur l'inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap dans la société et le premier marché de travail, notamment par une politique individualisée et favorisant l'autonomie des personnes concernées constituerait aussi une piste pour le Luxembourg. En guise de conclusion, permettez-moi de souligner que le Luxembourg tient fortement à une amélioration et un approfondissement continu de notre acquis communautaire afin de garantir une protection efficace et efficiente contre les discriminations dans le quotidien vécu par nos citoyens.
Speaker 11
Thank you Max, and we will now move to Slovenia followed by Hungary. So Mateja, you're most welcome. You have the floor.
Speaker 12
Spoštovana predsedujoča, komisarka Labib, kolegice in kolegi. Danes se vam prvič pridružujem v vlogi ministrice za demografijo, družino in socialne zadeve. Veselim se našega sodelovanja, še posebej pri obravnavi tako pomembnih vprašanj, kot so ta, o katerih bomo razpravljali danes. Enakost in nediskriminacija sta temeljni vrednoti Evropske unije in pogoj za vključujočo družbo, trajnostno gospodarsko rast in družbeno odpornost.
Slovenija ima nadpovprečno stopnjo zaposlenosti žensk in se uvršča med države članice EU z najvišjo stopnjo zaposlenosti žensk z otroki. K temu prispevajo dostopna in kakovostna predšolska vzgoja in varstvo otrok, starševski dopust z nadomestilom plače, neprenosljivi del starševskega dopusta za očete ter pravica do odsotnosti z dela zaradi oskrbe družinskih članov. Te politike ženskam in moškim omogočajo lažje usklajevanje poklicnih in družinskih obveznosti, spodbujajo sodelovanje žensk na trgu dela, omogočajo boljši izkoristek njihovih znanj in potencialov ter krepijo produktivnost in gospodarsko odpornost. Ključno je tudi, da družinam zagotavljajo večjo varnost in zaupanje pri odločanju za otroke. To je še posebej pomembno v luči demografskih sprememb in pomanjkanja delovne sile.
Zavezani smo tudi izboljšanju položaja invalidov. Med naše prednostne naloge sodijo dostopnost, samostojno življenje in enakopravno sodelovanje v družbi. Napredek pri zagotavljanju dostopnosti proizvodov, storitev, informacij in grajenega okolja ter osebna asistenca invalidom omogočata večjo samostojnost. In katere so prednostne naloge za prihodnjih pet let? Prvič, podpora družinskemu življenju mora postati osrednja prednostna naloga, določiti pa moramo tudi jasne demografske cilje.
Ženskam in moškim mora biti omogočeno, da uresničijo željo po ustvarjanju družine, ne da bi se bali, da bo starševstvo oviralo njihovo poklicno pot. Zlasti ženske se ne bi smele čutiti primorane odlagati rojstva otrok zaradi tveganja, da bi bile zaradi tega v slabšem položaju pri razvoju svoje poklicne poti. Drugič, zagotoviti moramo učinkovito izvajanje in uveljavljanje obstoječe zakonodaje EU, zlasti na področju preglednosti plačil, organov za enakost in boja proti nasilju nad ženskami, pa tudi spoštovanje zavez glede pravic invalidov in dostopnosti. Tretjič, potrebujemo zanesljive in primerljive podatke ter merljive kazalnike za ocenjevanje napredka, prepoznavanje preostalih neenakosti in oblikovanje politik, ki temeljijo na dokazih. In četrtič, načela enakosti in vidik invalidnosti morata biti vključena v vse politike, pri čemer ju mora podpirati ustrezno in ciljno usmerjeno financiranje v okviru naslednjega večletnega finančnega okvira.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Mateja. We will now move to Hungary, followed by Malta and Bulgaria. So, Vilmos, you have the floor. Thank you.
Vilmos Kátai-Németh
Tisztelt elnök asszony, tisztelt kollégák!
Magyarország számára nagyon fontos az esélyegyenlőség megteremtése. Magyarország nagyon sokat tett a nők, a férfiak, valamint a megváltozott munkaképességű és fogyatékkal élő személyek esélyegyenlőségének biztosítása érdekében. A nők esélyegyenlőségének biztosítása érdekében bevezettük a gyermekgondozási díjat, a nők munkaerőpiaci helyzetét rugalmasabbá tettük rugalmas munkaidőkeretekkel, illetve részmunkaidős lehetőségekkel, továbbá támogatjuk őket az apaszabadság bevezetésével, a női kvóta és a bértranszparencia irányelv átültetésével. Azonban az esélyegyenlőség megteremtésének van egy másik feltétele is, márpedig az oktatás, hogy a társadalmat felkészítsük az esélyegyenlőtlenségek leküzdésére. Fel kell tárnunk ezeknek a rendszerszintű akadályait, tehát az esélyegyenlőség megvalósításának rendszerszintű akadályait, hiszen a legfontosabb az, hogy mindenki egyenlő eséllyel férjen hozzá a foglalkoztatáshoz, az egészségügyhöz, a szociálpolitikai helyzet, szociális szolgáltatásokhoz vagy éppen a lakhatáshoz.
A gazdaság kérdéseit egyben esélyegyenlőségi kérdésként is kell kezelnünk. Köszönöm.
Thank you, Vilmos.
Norma Foley
We will now move to Malta, followed by Bulgaria and Croatia. So Michael, you have the floor. Thank you.
Speaker 15
Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Well, the term equality is indeed, I believe, one of the core values of the European project. If we look at the UN Declaration on Fundamental Human Rights, it outrightly states that all are born equal and free. Well, today we focus on equality more than anything else.
Speaker 16
Measuring equality and putting it into practice is not so easy, on the other hand. We should outrightly understand that providing equality does not mean making photocopies of individuals. Our own human nature defies that. But our obligation is to provide equal opportunities for all our citizens to reach their full potential. And that is key, the provision of opportunity to one to reach one's full potential.
Speaker 15
Equality also means the total absence of discrimination, be that based on sex, gender, ethnicity, race, color, all of that. Discrimination runs counter to any sense of equality, and that is something which we must push forward. If I have a brief look at a local level, in my country Malta, we have strived and done quite a bit to reach that goal. For example, as to the access of women to the workforce, today, within the last 13 years, we have moved from the lowest position to one of the highest positions, with free childcare, with tapering of benefits and the rest. Gender issues, we have also worked not only on that aspect, the economic aspect, but also of the presence of women in our own parliament, we have introduced a corrective measure there.
Speaker 16
If I move on to the rights of LGBTQ people, we have been championing these rights for this last decade. For various years, my country was at the forefront, we still are, and that is something which also we need to emphasize. If I may just mention the last point, it is the rights of people with disabilities.
Again, the potential is the aspect we must keep in mind, providing that opportunity for one's potential to be met. And if I may add a last tone or last thought, it is even more important, I believe, in the times we are living in, where social cohesion is not so strong, what we are seeing all around us, giving that sense of equality and fairness is paramount to our duties towards our citizens. Thank you very much.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Michael, and appreciate your intervention. We will now move to Bulgaria, followed by Croatia and Portugal. So, Natalia, you have the floor.
Natalia Efremova
Благодаря на председателството. Уважаема госпожо комисар, уважаеми колеги, интегрирането на равенството и борбата с дискриминацията донесе видими и измерими ползи в редица аспекти в моята страна. То също така намали риска от комбинирана дискриминация, особено за хората с увреждания, живеещите в слабо развити региони и различните групи, които не са заети. България е сред страните в Европейския съюз, в които жените поддържат традиционно високи нива на икономическа активност, защото са добре образовани.
Делът на работещите жени с висше образование на възраст между 30 и 34 години е почти 50%. България традиционно има голям брой жени на високи позиции в институциите, например в момента имаме първата жена президент, жени са и председателят на парламента, омбудсманът, председателят на Комисията за защита от дискриминация, министри и много други. България заема четвърто място в Европейския съюз по заети жени с образование в информационните и комуникационните технологии. Това е забележителен принос за постигането на цифровото равенство в Европа. Също така прилагаме политики за насърчаване на гъвкави решения за заетост, които осигуряват баланс между личния и професионалния живот на родителите и осигуряват възможности за младите хора.
Правят се и значителни инвестиции в осигуряването на грижи за децата и в дългосрочните грижи на възрастните хора и хората с увреждания. В момента се работи активно за транспонирането и на Директивата за прозрачност на заплащането с цел намаляване и премахване на разликата в заплащането и в пенсиите между половете.
С поглед в бъдещето считаме следните приоритети за такива от първостепенно значение. Първо, ясен и измерим политически ангажимент за интегриране на принципа на равенството в образованието, заетостта, здравеопазването, социалните услуги и при прилагането на националните и европейските правни рамки. Второ, по-силен акцент върху прилагането на правилата, но с фокус върху практическите им аспекти. Създаването и използването на инструменти, които измерват напредъка в намаляването на неравенствата е важно, но също толкова важно е да се отчита националният контекст и да се избягва административната тежест. Трето, използването на финансирането от Европейския съюз за подкрепа на реформи и политики за намаляване на дискриминацията и неравенствата.
Не на последно място на ниво Европейски съюз може да се предостави допълнителна подкрепа за укрепване на институционалния капацитет, техническата помощ, взаимното обучение и използването на надеждни, сравними данни за измерване на напредъка. Благодаря за вниманието.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Natalia. We'll move now to Croatia, followed by Portugal and Cyprus, so Ivan, you have the floor. Thank you.
Speaker 20
Thank you very much. Drage kolege, za Hrvatsku su jednakost i nediskriminacija pitanja temeljnih prava, ali i važan preduvjet nastavka našeg gospodarskog razvoja, socijalne kohezije i otpornosti tržišta rada. Hrvatska, moram reći, ima širok zakonodavni okvir kada govorimo o zaštiti diskriminacije. Naš Zakon o suzbijanju diskriminacije prepoznaje čak 17 osnova na temelju kojih je diskriminacija zabranjena te osigurava zaštitu u različitim područjima, uključujući rad, obrazovanje, socijalno osiguranje, zdravstvenu zaštitu i pristup uslugama. Međutim, jednako je važno da se načelo jednakih mogućnosti ostvaruje i u praksi.
Speaker 19
Upravo su u tome vidljive i konkretne koristi politika usmjerenih na uključivanje. Jedan od za nas važnih pokazatelja svakako su oni koji se tiču tržišta rada. U Hrvatskoj je stopa zaposlenosti u 2023. godini dosegla 74,4%, dok je stopa zaposlenosti žena iznosila 71,8%, čime je premašila prosjek Europske unije, a isto je kada konkretno govorimo o razlici u plaćama između muškaraca i žena i zaposlenosti. To su podaci da mi imamo na temelju ovog zakonodavnog okvira puno bolju situaciju.
Takvim rezultatima u praksi su pridonijele i naše mjere aktivne politike zapošljavanja te vaučeri za obrazovanje odraslih koji građanima u praksi omogućuju stjecanje vještina traženih na modernom tržištu rada. Posebnu pozornost posvećujemo osobama s invaliditetom, oni su nam zaista ciljana skupina i tu posebno ističem profesionalnu rehabilitaciju i još koncentriraniji bolji sustav poticaja za zapošljavanje osoba s invaliditetom. Takve mjere ne pridonose samo većoj zaposlenosti nego i ekonomskoj neovisnosti građana, smanjenju rizika od siromaštva i boljem korištenju potencijala radne snage. Kad je riječ o našim prioritetima za sljedećih pet godina, smatramo da je ključno usmjeriti se na učinkovitu provedbu postojećeg zakonodavstva jer je ono dobro i ostvarivanja prije svega mjerljivih rezultata. To podrazumijeva uklanjanje prepreka zapošljavanju i napredovanju, osobito za žene, osobe s invaliditetom, starije osobe i druge skupine izložene većem riziku od diskriminacije.
Mi konkretno pripremamo jedan poseban propis za zaštitu starijih građana. Jednako tako moramo nastaviti ulagati u vještine i cjeloživotno učenje kako bismo svima omogućili sudjelovanje u digitalnoj i zelenoj tranziciji. Ne moram ni reći koliko dodatno umjetna inteligencija stvara jednu potpuno novu situaciju koja isto tako prijeti isključivanjem, diskriminacijom i nejednakostima.
Važno je uvažiti nacionalne okolnosti i osigurati da mjere budu usmjerene na konkretne potrebe država članica. Za Hrvatsku je to usko povezano i s demografskim promjenama te nedostatkom radne snage, tako da moj finalni point ili točka je da si u osnovi... Hvala vam. Da si u osnovi ne smijemo dopustiti nejednakost i diskriminaciju i neiskorištavanje tog jednog vrijednog potencijala ljudskih resursa koji imamo u svakoj državi članici. Hvala vam.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Ivan, and we will now move to Portugal, followed by Cyprus. So, Maria, you have the floor.
Speaker 21
Thank you, Chair, dear colleagues. Para Portugal, garantir a igualdade de oportunidades e tratamento e combater a discriminação é mais importante hoje do que nunca. Uma Europa mais igualitária mobiliza melhor o seu capital humano e reforça a sua capacidade de crescer e competir. Portugal aposta numa abordagem transversal através da Estratégia Nacional para a Igualdade e Não Discriminação 2018-2030 e de instrumentos específicos em áreas como a igualdade no trabalho e os direitos das pessoas com deficiência. Os resultados são visíveis.
Na igualdade entre mulheres e homens, a diferença de remuneração média diminuiu de 17,9% em 2010 para 11,9% em 2024. Contudo, persistem desafios, nomeadamente na conciliação do trabalho com a vida pessoal e familiar, que continua a ser predominantemente feminina, e no acesso das mulheres a cargos de chefia. No domínio da deficiência, Portugal registou em 2023 uma taxa de emprego destas pessoas de 64,4% face aos 54,6 da União Europeia, o que significa a quarta menor disparidade de emprego da UE. A estratégia para os direitos das pessoas com deficiência adotada pelo governo procura consolidar estes progressos. As nossas políticas ativas de emprego asseguram também apoios à contratação e à qualificação profissional das pessoas com deficiência.
Além disso, em linha com o princípio do mainstreaming, Portugal defende que as implicações em matéria de igualdade entre mulheres e homens devem ser ponderadas em todas as políticas económicas e sociais, do emprego e das competências à proteção social e à competitividade.
O desafio é reduzir a distância entre a igualdade na lei e a igualdade na prática. Para os próximos anos, Portugal identifica três prioridades. Primeiro, completar e aplicar eficazmente o quadro europeu da igualdade entre mulheres e homens e não discriminação na área do trabalho e não discriminação em geral, concluindo o processo de transposição da diretiva da transparência salarial e avançando na diretiva horizontal da igualdade de tratamento. Segundo, reforçar a inclusão social das pessoas com deficiência, promovendo o acesso ao emprego e a participação plena na sociedade em linha com a nossa estratégia. Terceiro, ponderar transversalmente o princípio da igualdade nas grandes transformações económicas e sociais, garantindo que a transição digital e a inteligência artificial contribuem para diminuir e não para aumentar as discriminações.
Estes valores são comuns a toda a Europa, pelo que cabe à União Europeia dar seguimento a esta orientação, apoiando os Estados-Membros e reforçando a cooperação para o efeito.
Daqui a cinco anos, o sucesso deve medir-se pelas desigualdades que reduzimos, pelas oportunidades que criamos e pelas vidas que melhoramos. Muito obrigada.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Maria. We now move to Cyprus, followed by Czechia and Germany. Marinos, you have the floor. Thank you.
Speaker 22
Κύριε Πρόεδρε, για την Κύπρο η εμπειρία των τελευταίων ετών επιβεβαιώνει ότι η ισότητα και η καταπολέμηση των διακρίσεων δεν αποτελούν μόνο θεμελιώδη δικαιώματα και βασικές ευρωπαϊκές αξίες, αλλά και προϋποθέσεις για την κοινωνική συνοχή, την οικονομική ανάπτυξη και μια πιο ανταγωνιστική και συμπεριληπτική Ευρώπη. Σε εθνικό επίπεδο, η εθνική στρατηγική για τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα θέτει το ευρύτερο πλαίσιο προστασίας και προώθησης των δικαιωμάτων. Επιπρόσθετα, οι εθνικές στρατηγικές για την ισότητα των φύλων, τα δικαιώματα των ατόμων με αναπηρίες, τον αυτισμό, καθώς και η εθνική στρατηγική και σχέδιο δράσης για την πρόληψη και καταπολέμηση της βίας κατά των γυναικών, ενισχύουν το θεσμικό μας πλαίσιο. Παράλληλα, προωθείται στο παρόν στάδιο και η εκπόνηση της πρώτης στρατηγικής στην Κύπρο για τα δικαιώματα των ΛΟΑΤΚΙ+ ατόμων.
Οι πολιτικές αυτές μετουσιώνονται σε συγκεκριμένες δράσεις και νομοθετικές ρυθμίσεις. Η πρόσφατη θέσπιση νομοθεσίας για την ενσωμάτωση της διάστασης του φύλου στο δημόσιο τομέα, καθώς και η έναρξη των διαδικασιών για την ενσωμάτωσή της στον κρατικό προϋπολογισμό, ενισχύουν τη μετάβαση από τη νομική στην ουσιαστική ισότητα. Παράλληλα, η νέα νομοθεσία του 2022 για την κοινωνική συμμετοχή, συμπερίληψη και ανεξάρτητη διαβίωση των ατόμων με αναπηρίες, ενισχύει την αυτονομία τους μέσω νέων και αναβαθμισμένων κοινωνικών παροχών και υπηρεσιών σε είδος. Ιδιαίτερα σημαντική νομοθετική παρέμβαση των τελευταίων ετών αποτελεί επίσης η ποινικοποίηση των πρακτικών μεταστροφής, δηλαδή παρεμβάσεων που αποσκοπούν στην αλλαγή ή καταστολή του σεξουαλικού προσανατολισμού ή της ταυτότητας φύλου ενός ατόμου. Οι πολιτικές αυτές συμβάλλουν στην ουσιαστική ένταξη ατόμων σε ευάλωτη κατάσταση ή που διατρέχουν κίνδυνο διακρίσεων, στην ενίσχυση του εργατικού δυναμικού και στην ανθεκτικότητα της οικονομίας.
Καίριο σημείο αποτελεί μεταξύ άλλων η εξασφάλιση ισότιμης συμμετοχής των γυναικών στην αγορά εργασίας. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, μέτρα όπως η ενίσχυση των γονικών αδειών και των υποδομών φροντίδας συμβάλλουν στη συμφιλίωση επαγγελματικής και οικογενειακής ζωής.
Κοιτάζοντας προς τα επόμενα πέντε χρόνια, η πρόκληση είναι να μετατρέψουμε τις δεσμεύσεις μας σε απτά και μετρήσιμα αποτελέσματα. Αυτό προϋποθέτει την πλήρη εφαρμογή του ευρωπαϊκού κεκτημένου, ισχυρούς μηχανισμούς παρακολούθησης και λογοδοσίας, την οριζόντια ενσωμάτωση της διάστασης της ισότητας στις δημόσιες πολιτικές και στους προϋπολογισμούς, τη χρήση αξιόπιστων και συγκρίσιμων δεδομένων, καθώς και την περαιτέρω προώθηση της οικονομικής ισότητας και της συμμετοχής όλων στην αγορά εργασίας και στη λήψη αποφάσεων. Σε ό,τι αφορά τη λήψη μέτρων σε επίπεδο Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, θεωρούμε ότι ο συντονισμός ανάμεσα στα κράτη μέλη και η ανταλλαγή βέλτιστων πρακτικών μπορούν να ενισχύσουν τη λήψη εθνικών μέτρων και να εξασφαλίσουν πιο στοχευμένη εφαρμογή. Επιπρόσθετα, στρατηγικές που υιοθετούνται σε επίπεδο Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης μπορούν να δώσουν το έναυσμα στα κράτη μέλη να αναλάβουν νέες πρωτοβουλίες ανταποκρινόμενες στις σύγχρονες κοινωνικές ανάγκες. Η κατεύθυνσή μας είναι σαφής: να περάσουμε από τις δεσμεύσεις στην αποτελεσματική εφαρμογή και από τις εθνικές προσπάθειες σε μια πιο συντονισμένη ευρωπαϊκή δράση.
Ευχαριστώ.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Marinos. We now move to Czechia, followed by Germany, Italy, and Spain. So, David, the floor is yours. Thank you.
Speaker 23
Děkuji za slovo, vážená paní předsedkyně. Česko vnímá rovnost a zákaz diskriminace jako jednu ze základních hodnot demokratického právního státu. Tyto principy jsou zakotveny v Listině základních práv a svobod i v antidiskriminačním zákoně. Jejich naplňování podporuje také veřejný ochránce práv jako orgán pro rovné zacházení. Vedle právního rámce se dlouhodobě zaměřujeme na praktickou podporu znevýhodněných skupin.
Speaker 24
Pravidelně přijímáme strategie a akční plány v oblasti rovnosti žen a mužů, práv Romů, osob se zdravotním postižením, seniorů i dětí. Za významné kroky v posledních letech považujeme přijetí jednotné definice anticikanismu v roce 2024, lepší propojení zdravotních a sociálních služeb nebo posílení komunitních, terénních a ambulantních služeb pro rok 2025. Mezi nejvýznamnější sociální a ekonomické přínosy pokroku v oblasti rovnosti patří vysoká zaměstnanost a nízká míra ohrožení chudobou, což potvrzují i poslední data Eurostatu, kdy Česko má nejnižší míru chudoby a sociálního vyloučení v rámci sedmadvacítky.
Tyto výsledky přispívají k sociální soudržnosti a umožňují začlenění širokého spektra obyvatel do pracovního i společenského života. Prioritou vlády zůstává nadále zajištění důstojných důchodů, zejména pro nejstarší generace obyvatel. Za nejdůležitější úspěch považuje Česko také relativně nízký rozdíl mezi výší důchodů žen a mužů. Pozitivní dopad na postavení žen seniorek má i takzvané výchovné jako opatření reagující na příjmové nerovnosti v důsledku péče o děti. Naopak přetrvávající výzvou zůstává rozdíl v odměňování žen a mužů.
V této souvislosti vláda schválila novelu zákoníku práce a dalších zákonů transponující směrnici o transparentním odměňování. Pokud jde o budoucnost, Česko se domnívá, že evropský právní rámec pro rovnost a nediskriminaci je již dostatečný. Prioritou by nyní měla být především kvalitní implementace stávajících pravidel, výměna zkušeností a sdílení dobré praxe mezi členskými státy.
Neméně důležité je zajistit odpovídající finanční podporu prostřednictvím víceletého finančního rámce, která umožní členským státům efektivně realizovat opatření na podporu rovnosti, inkluze a ochrany před diskriminací. V příštích letech bychom měli soustředit pozornost zejména na dostupné bydlení, kvalitní služby péče o děti a seniory, reakci na demografické změny a ochranu před násilím. Klíčové je také pracovat s kvalitními daty, vyhodnocovat dopady přijímaných opatření a úzce spolupracovat s dotčenými skupinami obyvatel. Jen tak můžeme zajistit, aby všichni lidé mohli svá práva využívat na rovné základě. Děkuji.
Norma Foley
Thank you, David, and we will now move to Germany, followed by Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. So, Helen, you have the floor. Thank you.
Helen Winter
Herzlichen Dank an den irischen Vorsitz, dass Sie dieses so wichtige Thema zum Gegenstand der heutigen Orientierungsaussprache gemacht haben. Mit der erfolgreichen Initiierung und Neuauflage aller Strategien der Union der Gleichheit hat die EU einen wichtigen Meilenstein erreicht, damit Gleichheit endlich für alle Menschen in Europa Realität wird. Dass wir noch längst nicht am Ziel sind, zeigen uns nicht nur die Daten und Studien.
Besonders brutal wurde uns dies am, also in Berlin am 26. Juli diesen Jahres vor Augen geführt, als ein islamistischer Attentäter am Rande der Feierlichkeiten zum Christopher Street Day einen furchtbaren Anschlag verübte, bei dem ein Mensch starb und viele weitere schwer verletzt wurden. Auch nach dem 7. Oktober 2023 beobachten wir in Deutschland einen erschreckenden Anstieg von antisemitischer Gewalt, aber auch antimuslimischen Vorfällen. Antisemitismus, Muslimfeindlichkeit, Queerfeindlichkeit, Rassismus und Antiziganismus, aber auch die anhaltend hohen Zahlen im Bereich geschlechtsspezifischer Gewalt und Gewalt gegen Menschen mit Behinderung machen deutlich, wo unsere Aufgaben liegen. Gleichheit ist eines der Werte, auf die unsere Union gegründet wurde. Ihn zu schützen heißt, unsere freiheitlichen Demokratien zu verteidigen.
Denn resiliente Demokratien leben von einem Grundkonsens zur Freiheit, Demokratie, Gleichheit, Rechtsstaatlichkeit und der Wahrung der Menschenrechte. Damit ist Gleichheit eine Grundvoraussetzung, um die Demokratie und die Wirtschaft in Europa zukunftsfest zu machen. Bei allen Maßnahmen ist für die Bundesregierung dabei zentral, dass es sich um eine evidenzbasierte Politik handelt, die ziel- und wirkungsorientiert ausgestaltet ist und keine zusätzlichen Belastungen für die Wirtschaft mit sich bringt. Im Bereich der Gleichstellung der Geschlechter begrüßen wir die vorgelegte Strategie sehr. Sie unterstreicht den wichtigen Stellenwert, den die Geschlechtergleichstellung in der Europäischen Union innehat.
In Deutschland nehmen wir verstärkt Jungen und Männer in den Fokus. Es ist eine demokratiepolitische Aufgabe, jungen Männern Räume für Orientierung und konstruktive gesellschaftliche Teilhabe zu eröffnen. Wir werden am 20. November 2026, also in ein paar Wochen, in Berlin eine große internationale Konferenz zu den Herausforderungen der Jungen- und Männerpolitik veranstalten, zu der wir Sie erneut herzlich einladen. Herzlichen Dank.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Helen, appreciate that. And now we will move to Italy, followed by the remaining Spain and Netherlands. So, Marco, I invite you to take the floor. Thank you.
Speaker 26
Grazie, Presidente, Signora Commissaria. Promuovere l'uguaglianza e contrastare le discriminazioni significa non solo tutelare i diritti, ma anche investire nella crescita economica, nella competitività e nella coesione delle nostre società, valorizzando i talenti di tutti. È questa la prospettiva che guida l'azione del nostro Paese. Si tratta di un obiettivo importante, messo al centro dei lavori della Presidenza irlandese, che ringraziamo. Negli ultimi anni abbiamo compiuto progressi significativi nel nostro Paese.
La partecipazione delle donne al mercato del lavoro, seppur ancora sotto la media europea, è in crescita. La presenza femminile nei consigli di amministrazione delle società è salita al 44%.
15.000 sono le imprese che hanno ottenuto la certificazione della parità di genere. Sono risultati importanti che intendiamo consolidare, anche attraverso il sostegno alla genitorialità, una migliore conciliazione tra vita e lavoro, nonché il coinvolgimento delle imprese per ambienti di lavoro più equi e inclusivi. L'Italia ha sviluppato diverse strategie nazionali volte a prevenire e combattere la discriminazione in tutti i contesti, rafforzando il coinvolgimento delle amministrazioni, dei territori e delle società civili. Particolare attenzione rivolgiamo all'inclusione sociale, sanitaria e abitativa delle persone più vulnerabili e ai centri contro le discriminazioni. Dal 2027 il nuovo organismo nazionale per la parità contribuirà a rafforzare ulteriormente queste tutele.
Guardando ai prossimi cinque anni, riteniamo essenziale concentrare l'azione comune su alcune priorità. Innanzitutto, rafforzare i servizi di cura e le politiche di conciliazione, contrastando le penalizzazioni legate alla maternità, anche nella prospettiva di incrementare l'occupazione femminile. In secondo luogo, combattere gli stereotipi di genere, coinvolgendo anche uomini e ragazzi per superare la segregazione formativa e professionale e favorire la presenza delle donne nei processi decisionali.
Infine, dobbiamo rendere più efficaci gli strumenti di tutela, contrastare la mancata denuncia delle discriminazioni e disporre di dati affidabili e comparabili per misurare i progressi. Occorre anche rafforzare l'equità tra le generazioni, intervenendo precocemente sulle condizioni di svantaggio dei bambini e tutelando la dignità, l'autonomia e la partecipazione sociale delle persone più anziane. L'Unione Europea può offrire un contributo decisivo attraverso una cooperazione più stretta fra gli Stati membri, lo scambio di buone pratiche e l'integrazione della prospettiva di genere nelle politiche economiche, occupazionali e sociali. Grazie.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Marco. We will now move to Spain, then the Netherlands, Finland and Romania. So, Oriol, thank you, you have the floor.
Oriol Escalas Nolla
Gracias, presidenta. Los avances en materia de igualdad generan innegables beneficios sociales y económicos. Como muestran las políticas desarrolladas en España, la transparencia salarial, la reducción de la temporalidad y las subidas del salario mínimo interprofesional han reducido la brecha salarial de género a mínimos históricos.
Los permisos por nacimiento y para el cuidado, plenamente igualitarios e intransferibles entre hombres y mujeres, han favorecido la permanencia a largo plazo de las mujeres en el empleo. Esta medida, unida a otras como el denominado Plan Corresponsables, con una financiación superior a 1.000 millones de euros desde 2021, promueve masculinidades corresponsables e igualitarias. El esfuerzo de la protección de las víctimas de género, como ha hecho España con la renovación del Pacto de Estado contra la Violencia de Género, contribuye de manera decisiva a una sociedad más igualitaria y justa. Hemos reforzado el marco legal para la igualdad y trato y la no discriminación, y específicamente para la protección de los derechos de las personas LGTBI con la creación de la Autoridad Independiente para la Igualdad de Trato y la No Discriminación. España por todo ello reafirma su compromiso irrenunciable de garantizar que la igualdad, la no discriminación y la diversidad formen parte de la agenda política al más alto nivel dentro de la Unión.
La UE debe seguir asumiendo un papel activo en la defensa de los derechos humanos y de los derechos de las mujeres frente a las tendencias de retroceso.
Es imprescindible reforzar al Instituto Europeo de la Igualdad de Género con una mayor autonomía y con un presupuesto adecuado y sería útil crear una formación específico del Consejo de la UE dedicado a la igualdad. Debemos garantizar la efectiva transposición de la directiva de lucha contra la violencia contra las mujeres y es necesario adoptar la directiva de igualdad de trato e intensificar la lucha contra los delitos de odio, el racismo, el antigitanismo y la discriminación múltiple. Finalmente, debemos garantizar la protección efectiva de las personas LGTBI+ con reconocimiento de la identidad sexual y una respuesta europea común frente a las prácticas de conversión, en línea con el objetivo planteado por la Comisión. En efecto, queda camino por recorrer, pero en un contexto europeo donde resurgen discursos reaccionarios, debemos situarnos en la defensa firme de los avances logrados y en la apuesta por avanzar hacia un marco de convivencia que garantice la igualdad, la justicia social y el derecho humano a una vida digna. Gracias.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Oriol. We will now move to the Netherlands, followed by Finland and Romania. So, Carola, you have the floor. Thank you.
Carola Rackete
Thank you, Madam Chair. And just as you and also the Commissioner pointed out in the very beginning, equality enhances prosperity by enabling everyone to contribute to economic growth and societal well-being. In the Netherlands, we have seen progress in this area.
For example, women's financial independence increased from 45% in 2014 to 60% in 2024. Alongside a narrowing gender pay gap and increased labor market participation, women benefit from greater freedom and autonomy, although we are not there yet. More generally, the government's gender and LGBTQ+ strategy focuses primarily on health, freedom, and safety. Last year, we launched a national awareness campaign coined "Man, Speak Up". This campaign aims to reduce sexism and serves as a mirror for men to make them more aware of inappropriate behavior and their role in preventing and promoting equality.
The first evaluation of this campaign shows a very positive result. We are pleased to see that the campaign fosters a safer society for everyone, and we are committed to building on these efforts in the future. Now looking ahead, we believe that vulnerable groups that are prone to discrimination and racism, including Sinti and Roma, should be more actively involved in the design and implementation of national and EU policies that affect them. Their meaningful participation helps ensure that policies are more effective in practice. And lastly, we are convinced that the horizontal equal treatment directive can prevent discrimination beyond the workplace and advance equality across many dimensions.
Therefore, we call on all of us for a speedy adoption of this directive. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you very much, Carola. We will now move to Finland, Romania, and then Greece. So, Lauri, you have the floor. Thank you.
Speaker 31
Thank you, Chair, Commissioner. We would like to thank the Presidency for taking up this important topic. In these times of uncertainty, we need to continue progress in the field of equal treatment, gender equality, and non-discrimination, which are foundational values of the European Union. Apart from being fundamental rights, these values have a positive impact on economy. They also strengthen social cohesion, democracy, and security.
Speaker 30
I would like to take up a few examples of promoting equality in Finland. To strengthen democracy, facilitated dialogues concerning young people's trust in the future and open society have proved to be an important and useful method. Promoting equality and inclusion of people with disabilities, as well as mainstreaming disability in decision-making, are essential for making socially and economically sustainable decisions.
Regarding the priorities in the EU, we must show a strong political and institutional commitment to our common EU values. This requires us to turn our values into action. In the current geopolitical context, we need to strengthen equality and gender mainstreaming, particularly in security policies. It is also time to find concrete measures to combat intersectional inequalities. Linking different equality strategies together is one way to do this.
Furthermore, in order to make knowledge-based decisions, we need coherent data on equality, including the impact of different policy and legislative measures. The European Institute for Gender Equality and the Fundamental Rights Agency have done excellent work in this field. We hope this work continues and is supported by the member states and the Commission. Finally, we need to take a stand in the face of hate. Grassroot-level organizations do important work to support victims and strengthen social cohesion.
Despite progress, LGBTQI+ people continue to face violence and discrimination in their daily lives. Trans and intersex people are the most affected. This is unacceptable.
We have the responsibility to protect everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable. In this vein, we would have liked to see stronger texts regarding the references to gender identity and LGBTIQ+ in the Council conclusions on equality we just adopted. This is about equality and it is about the values on which our democracies are built. Thank you, Chair.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Laurie. We will now move to Romania, followed by Greece and Slovakia. So, Dragoș, you have the floor. Thank you.
Dragoş Pîslaru
Thank you very much, dear Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues. I would like to thank the Irish presidency and the Commission for this timely debate. Of course, Romania has endorsed the Council conclusions and we share the view that has been expressed by many of you before, that equal opportunities and non-discrimination are not only fundamental values, but basically they are essential conditions, I would like to say and stress that out, for competitiveness. And sometimes our colleagues in the other Council formation, in economy, finance, I mean, they should realize that this is not just an EPSCO business.
This is an important debate for the cohesive society, for having a resilient Union and a competitive economy. In Romania, the enforcement of anti-discrimination legislation and the strengthening of institutional protection mechanism was really an important fight. And the fight, for instance, for the anti-discrimination work has been spearheaded by our National Council for Combating Discrimination. And it's quite important to highlight the fact that in our case they have direct sanctioning power, quasi-judicial authority. And unlike many other European equality bodies that can only mediate or assist victims in court, our structure has successfully used its power to investigate and directly issue administrative fines, which was really a cost-free, much faster route to justice for victims compared to the traditional civil court system.
Also very, very important, in our case was quite significant that our body penalized high-profile hate speech. So consistently applied fines and public warnings to top-tier politicians. That's how you make friends in the political world. And I'm talking here about state officials and sports figures very well known for racist, sexist and homophobic statements.
And this was very important in establishing strict legal boundaries for political and media discourse, so freedom of speech cannot be against these particular values. Also targeting Roma school segregation is one of the things that I wanted to highlight. Working closely with human rights NGOs, the equality body in Romania has tackled systemic discrimination by investigating and penalizing schools and local inspectorates that separate Roma students into different classes or buildings. It's very important to understand that our institutions have successfully held large corporate entities accountable, fining major banks, national railway operator, and retail chains for failing to provide wheelchair access or denying service for people with disabilities. And these are all important things.
However, we acknowledge that disparities persist and that the lack of sufficient comparable data limits our ability to fully assess progress. Therefore, over the next five years, we believe that our shared priority must be to move from legislative commitments to effective implementation and measurable results. And I would like to highlight the fact that we must strengthen further the national equality bodies by ensuring their independence. In this regard, we welcome the two directives on standards for equality bodies. This agenda needs to go further.
Thank you so much.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Dragoș, and we will now move to Greece, followed by Slovakia and Estonia.
So Efthimios you have the floor. Thank you.
Efthymios Costopoulos
Yes thank you thank you chair and thanks for putting this item on the agenda. The discussion on equality and values is very topical. And that is not first of all because equality is a fundamental European value but it is also an economic necessity. It is an asset for our competitiveness. So at a time when Europe faces demographic pressures and labour shortages we certainly cannot afford to leave people's skills and potential untapped.
So this is particularly clear when we look at gender equality. So of the 51 million working age people outside the EU labour market 32 million are women. So this represents not only an inequality but also an enormous reserve of talent that our economies cannot afford to overlook. So in Greece we are working to remove some of the practical barriers that prevent women from entering or remaining in employment. And actually we managed in recent years to increase very substantially the participation of women in the workforce.
So one example of such measures is our nationwide neighbourhood nannies programme which provides families with a monthly childcare voucher to help cover the cost of a registered caregiver.
Another example is our childcare voucher scheme, which supports families in accessing nursery and early childhood care systems, care services, sorry. And we have also removed income eligibility thresholds for families with four or more children, recognizing their greater care responsibilities. So by making childcare more accessible and affordable, we help parents, especially mothers, reconcile work and family. The economic benefit is straightforward: greater labor market participation, a broader talent pool for employers, and stronger household incomes. So the same logic applies with persons with disabilities.
Their contribution to our economy is too often limited, not by their abilities as such, but by barriers in the environments around them. So through Greece's accessibility and home program, we support adaptations that make everyday life more accessible. Especially for people who work from home, a more accessible home environment can also make professional activity easier and more sustainable. Now, looking ahead, we would like to highlight two priorities for the next five years. First, we should make equality policies more practical: affordable care, accessible environments and workplaces, and effective implementation of equal treatment rules.
In the face of Europe's demographic challenges, particular attention should also be given to larger families, ensuring that parents have the support and flexibility they need to remain active in the labor market. Supporting families and promoting gender equality should go hand in hand. And second, we need to measure outcomes, not just commitments: who enters employment, who remains excluded, and whether the barriers people face are actually being removed. So at EU level, this requires sharing national practices, providing targeted technical and financial support, and strengthening the implementation of our common equality framework, so that Europe makes better use of its people, their skills, and their potential. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Efthimios. We will now move to Slovakia, followed by Estonia and Austria. So, Monika, the floor is yours. Thank you.
Speaker 34
Thank you, Chair. First, let me thank the Irish presidency for this important discussion and for highlighting that equality is not only a fundamental European value, but also a driver of competitiveness, social cohesion, and resilience. In recent years, Slovakia has made progress in strengthening its legislative, strategic, and institutional framework for equality.
We have seen encouraging developments in gender equality, disability rights, racial equality, and Roma inclusion, including greater participation of Roma children in early education. An important recent achievement has been the timely transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive, with legislation in force since June 2024. At the same time, we are placing particular emphasis on ensuring its effective implementation. To give a few concrete examples, we launched a fair pay campaign and a dedicated website and published practical guidance on objective, gender-neutral job evaluation. We also made available an analytical tool to help employers assess their pay systems and identify potential pay gaps.
Looking ahead, we welcome the renewed commitment to a Union of Equality towards 2030. Our priority should be to effectively implement and enforce existing EU legislation, share good practices, and ensure adequate, predictable funding to support implementation at national level.
We must also step up our efforts to counter the backlash against equality, particularly online misogyny and harmful stereotypes, address the risks of AI-driven discrimination, and pay more attention to engaging men and boys as partners in advancing equality. Ultimately, our success will be measured by the difference we make in people's lives, and by unlocking everyone's potential, we can build a Europe that is fairer, stronger, and more competitive. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Monica. We will move now to Estonia, and Estonia will be followed by Austria and Latvia. So, Katrin, you have the floor. Thank you.
Katrin Juhandi
Thank you, Chair. Estonia strongly supports continued EU commitment to equal treatment, equal opportunities, and gender equality. Despite challenging times, we must not step back from our agreed principles, including in the language and concepts we use. Estonia has made tangible progress, particularly in reducing the gender pay gap. Over the last decade, the gap has fallen by 10 percentage points.
The share of women in management has also increased, reaching 43%. But gender stereotypes persist.
Therefore, we must work on the unequal share of care responsibilities, especially in the context of current demographic situation, and value unpaid care alongside paid work. Looking ahead, our immediate priority must be to ensure consistent implementation of the existing EU legal framework, with strong equality bodies. Another key priority for Estonia is reaching an agreement on the horizontal equal treatment directive. This would be the most effective way to close existing gaps in the level of protection against discrimination on different grounds. Beyond legal protection, equality must be promoted across all policy areas, both at EU and national level.
Reliable equality data is key to making this possible. The EU can also offer practical support to member states. This includes clear guidance and exchange of good practices, as well as ensuring targeted EU funding for promoting equality. So in conclusion, to put our values in practice, we need to implement what we have agreed, close the remaining gaps, and make equality a practical choice across all policy areas. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Catherine, and we will now move to Austria, followed by Latvia and Belgium. So France, thank you, you have the floor.
Speaker 36
Ja, vielen Dank, Frau Vorsitzende. Wie bereits von anderen heute erwähnt, ist Gleichbehandlung das Fundament für den gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt.
Zugleich ist Gleichbehandlung ein entscheidender Wettbewerbsfaktor für Unternehmen. Gleichbehandlung steigert nachhaltig die Motivation von Mitarbeitenden. Die österreichische Gleichstellungspolitik basiert auf einem faktengestützten Ansatz. Die Förderung von Chancengleichheit und ökonomischer Unabhängigkeit von Frauen und Mädchen leistet auch einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Gewaltprävention. Österreich hat sich dazu verpflichtet, den Frauenanteil unter den vom Bund entsandten Mitgliedern in Aufsichtsgremien, den sogenannten Bundesfrauenanteil, von zuletzt 40 % auf 50 % anzuheben.
Der durchschnittliche Bundesfrauenanteil in Aufsichtsgremien wurde seit der Einführung 2011 von 26 % auf 55,3 % im Jahr 2025 erhöht. In Österreich garantiert das Bundesbehindertengleichstellungsgesetz die Gleichstellung von Menschen mit Behinderungen auch außerhalb des Beschäftigungsbereichs. Und der Bundesplan für Seniorinnen schafft einen strategischen Rahmen für soziale Inklusion von älteren Menschen.
Darüber hinaus sichert unser Programm Recht auf ein analoges Leben älteren Menschen den Zugang zu Dienstleistungen und gesellschaftlicher Teilhabe. Unsere Erfahrungen zeigen Gleichstellungspolitik wirkt bewusstseinsbildend und weit über einzelne Maßnahmen und Personengruppen hinaus. Zur Frage nach den nächsten fünf Jahren trotz einiger Fortschritte ist es wichtig, dass der Diskriminierungsschutz auf europäischer Ebene gestärkt und noch bestehende Lücken im EU Sekundärrecht geschlossen werden. Der Fokus muss künftig aus unserer Sicht auch verstärkt auf der potenziellen Diskriminierung durch Algorithmen liegen. Vielen Dank.
Norma Foley
Thank France. So now we move to Latvia followed by Belgium, France and then Denmark. So Talvis you have the floor. Thank you Latvia.
Speaker 37
Thank you chair. Equality is one of Europe's European Union's fundamental values and we hear today I think clear commitment to it. We in the European Union have taken significant steps to advance equal opportunities between women and men. Improving work life balance is essential for people's well-being, Europe's economic resilience and to respond to demographic changes.
Still, many challenges persist. Gender stereotypes influence educational and career choices, reinforce segregation in the labour market and drive the gender pay gap. They can also create an environment in which gender-based and domestic violence persists. So lasting progress towards equality requires everyone's active engagement, involving boys and men. Equality also means enabling persons with disabilities to participate fully and independently in society.
Access to inclusive, high-quality education and meaningful employment is essential. In Latvia, we are working to strengthen social inclusion, independent living and participation for persons with disabilities. Looking ahead, we must take a more systematic approach to the accessibility of the physical and digital environment, information, content and services. The digital transition creates new opportunities but also brings new risks. As artificial intelligence and other technologies become more widely used, we must ensure that they do not reproduce or reinforce existing discrimination.
Equality and accessibility must be built into digital solutions from the outset, particularly in employment, education, and access to services. Finally, European cooperation remains indispensable. By exchanging experience and effective practices, we can build on existing tools and solutions. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Salvis. We now move to Belgium, France, and then finally Denmark. So, Rob, you have the floor. Thank you.
Speaker 4
Thank you, dear Madam Chair, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues. Progress on equality and non-discrimination contributes to a more inclusive, resilient, and competitive society. Removing barriers to participation in education, employment, and social protection allows everyone to develop and use their talents, regardless of gender, disability, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or age. It also supports higher labor market participation, better use of talent, and stronger social cohesion. Belgium aims to contribute to achieving a Union of Equality through a series of policy frameworks at national level.
By way of example, the Federal Disability Action Plan places a strong emphasis on enhancing the participation of people with disabilities in the labor market, notably by supporting employees and ensuring reasonable accommodation. In parallel, a reform of income replacement benefits for persons with disability is currently being prepared with the aim of reducing financial disincentives to taking up employment and limiting the risk associated with the transition into employment, at the same time helping to reduce the risk of poverty among people with disabilities. In addition, through its Interfederal LGBTQI+ Plan 2026-2030, Belgium recognizes and protects the rights of every individual to be themselves, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sexual characteristics. A preventive approach to psychosocial risks at work is extended to include the risks of discrimination.
And over the next five years, member states should maintain a strong focus on the effective implementation and enforcement of existing equality and non-discriminational legal frameworks, while addressing persistent inequalities in practice. The improvement in the collection of reliable and comparable data on equality, disaggregated according to various grounds of discrimination and through an intersectional approach should be pursued to evaluate progress and build evidence-based policies. While effective access to justice and adequate redress remain essential, greater emphasis should be placed on prevention at all levels. This is not only cost-effective but also prevents the suffering of the victims. And last but not least, it's time to adopt the equal treatment directive and close the persistent gaps in protection under European law.
Belgium welcomes and supports the presidency's and commission's efforts to conclude negotiations on the equal treatment directive. It's definitely time to secure unanimous support among member states to ensure uniform protection for citizens in all areas of their daily life. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you Rob. We'll now move to France, followed by Denmark. So Cyril, you have the floor.
Cyril Piquemal
Merci Madame la Présidente. Le fondement même d'une société inclusive est de garantir à chacun l'égalité de chances et de droits pour participer activement à la vie économique, sociale et démocratique.
La réduction des inégalités n'est pas seulement un objectif social, c'est aussi un levier de croissance économique. Les avancées les plus durables sont celles qui se traduisent par des résultats tangibles. Nous avons en France agi sur l'égalité entre les femmes et les hommes. Les quotas de femmes dans les conseils d'administration fixés par la loi ou l'index de l'égalité professionnelle ont démontré que lorsque l'on s'attaque au plafond de verre, on favorise la diversité et une économie plus performante. Notre ambition est la même face à toutes les formes de discrimination et notamment celles qui entravent l'accès à l'emploi.
C'est le sens de l'initiative pilote Talents de France lancée cette année. Plus de 2000 entreprises ont été mobilisées ainsi que les collectivités territoriales, les partenaires sociaux et tous les acteurs concernés pour faire émerger des solutions et garantir l'égalité des chances dans l'accès à l'emploi. Il en a résulté l'élaboration d'une charte d'engagement visant notamment à augmenter les recrutements et les contrats d'alternance des personnes issues des quartiers défavorisés ou des territoires ruraux et à former les recruteurs et les managers à la prévention des discriminations. La promotion de l'égalité est aussi un enjeu de cohésion sociale et territoriale. Les propositions opérationnelles de cette concertation figureront dans le plan national de lutte contre le racisme, l'antisémitisme et les discriminations liées à l'origine.
Favoriser l'emploi des personnes en situation de handicap est aussi essentiel. Nous avons signé cette année une nouvelle convention pour renforcer l'accompagnement de ces personnes ainsi que des employeurs publics et privés tout au long du parcours professionnel pour favoriser une bonne intégration et un épanouissement sur le lieu de travail. Le niveau européen joue bien sûr un rôle essentiel en fournissant un cadre législatif ambitieux pour prévenir et combattre toutes les formes de discrimination. Il conviendrait de veiller à la pleine application des instruments déjà existants et de mieux articuler les politiques de l'emploi, de la formation et de l'inclusion sociale avec les autres priorités européennes, notamment en matière d'investissement et de compétitivité. Une approche coordonnée des différentes politiques sera garante d'une meilleure efficacité.
Notre engagement en faveur de l'adoption de la directive égalité de traitement demeure par ailleurs intact. Ce texte offre un cadre indispensable pour combattre les discriminations. Enfin, le cadre d'apprentissage mutuel apporte une réelle valeur ajoutée à nos actions. Nous devons continuer à nous en saisir pour progresser collectivement vers une égalité effective.
Je vous remercie.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Cyril, and we now move to Denmark. So, Søren, you have the floor, and thank you for your patience.
Søren Gade
Thank you, Madam Chair. Denmark fully supports efforts to advance equality and to combat discrimination in the EU as part of translating the EU's equality strategies into concrete action. Equality is a fundamental value in its own right. It is at the very heart of our democracies and, as highlighted in the Council conclusions, it is also essential for European competitiveness and economic growth. Combating gender-based violence is a good example of how promoting gender equality and eliminating discrimination can benefit the individual as well as society.
According to the EU's gender-based violence survey, every third woman in the EU has experienced physical violence, threats, or sexual violence over their lifetime. Violence against women is a serious violation of the victims' human rights and it undermines European values. It is also a barrier to gender equality and to the full and equal participation of women and girls in society and the labor market.
The European Institute for Gender Equality has estimated that the cost of gender-based violence across the EU is nothing less than 366 billion euros per year. That is a huge amount, and to put it into perspective, it is close to twice the annual EU budget. Luckily, violence is preventable. Last year, during the Danish presidency, we drafted Council conclusions that build on the existing EU framework. They put particular emphasis on early action, stressing three major things: first, prevention; second, early detection; and finally, intervention against violence.
We need to become much better at all of this. So in conclusion, Chair, we look forward to continuing this discussion and to learning from each other's experiences. Thank you very much.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Søren, and before I close the debate, let me give the floor once more to the Commission. So, thank you, Hadja, thank you.
Hadja Lahbib
Well, thank you very much, and I would like to thank all the member states for their contribution and for their effort to promote equality and on the progress they have made in this crucial field. As some of you have rightly pointed out, equality is good business.
So if we want to strengthen our economies and enhance our competitiveness, we still have a great deal of work to do. More equality is also bringing our societies closer together through a real Union of Equality. And clearly, we are not there yet. On the contrary, we are witnessing a clear backlash pushed by growing influence of incel narratives, online misogyny, and yes, we must ensure that algorithms and AI would not generate more inequality in a dangerous systemic manner. I fully agree with you that the fight against discrimination must also include men and boys.
They must not be discriminated against, and they have an important role to play in advancing equality. They are an integral part of our equality strategy. And thank you also for raising the issue of conversion practices. We are currently working on a recommendation, and we will share examples, good practices on promising approaches from Member States where conversion practices have been already criminalised.
And finally, from the European Commissioner for Equality's perspective, the real challenge is to get the Equal Treatment Directive unstuck, but I believe we are about to discuss this very issue.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Commissioner. So, Commissioner, colleagues, thank you all for this very, very rich discussion. It is truly inspiring to hear the shared commitment to delivering on our values and the real action being taken in each of our Member States. But it is also very clear that much work remains to be done. I was particularly struck by Michael's contribution that we must be committed to the total absence of discrimination.
And indeed, Nina's comment, echoed by the Commissioner, that equality is good for business. So many of you have also highlighted that it is absolutely essential that we include the participation of those who persistently experience discrimination in our policy development and implementation. It's also clear to me that we are at our most powerful when we act collectively. Through good data, knowledge sharing, and collective action, we can deliver on equality in our Union. So thank you all.
And to conclude, the Council took note of the information provided by the Presidency, the search for a comp... sorry, excuse me, sorry, excuse me.
I conclude that the Council has held an exchange of views on delivering equality in the European Union, our values in practice, guided by the Presidency note set out in document 1368526. And still on the theme of equality, we now move to any other business. And we now come to an item under any other business that I would like to provide you with a short update on the Equal Treatment Directive. As you all know, unanimity is required before the Directive can be adopted. Whilst that remains challenging, that we are at our most powerful and impactful when we work collectively, as I've said earlier.
The Irish motto for our Presidency, Ní neart go cur le chéile, suggests that there is strength in unity. It is particularly true with this proposal. The Irish Presidency is fully committed to working on the file, which a great many of you see as a legislative priority. Indeed, we have already engaged with several of you bilaterally in an effort to find a universally satisfactory path forward. The work is ongoing and we will explore any and indeed all reasonable options to make a breakthrough.
I take this opportunity to recall the vital importance of this directive, the missing piece in our equal treatment legislation at the EU level. There are important principles at stake, and as we have all agreed today, equality is also a driver of competitiveness and a cornerstone of social and economic resilience. We see this proposal as an important piece of realizing our social and economic potential. Colleagues, I assure you that the presidency is searching for concrete solutions. The presidency stands ready to consider all reasonable compromise solutions.
At this challenging time, let us come together and have a lasting legacy of legal protection for our citizens. Commissioner Lahbib, I know you would like to say a few words. Thank you.
Hadja Lahbib
Thank you to the Irish presidency and all previous presidencies, by the way, for their important work on this file. This proposal has been under discussion for 18 years now, and today protection against discrimination on grounds of religion or belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation exists only in employment and occupation. As a result, the grounds of discrimination identified in the treaty are not equally protected at EU level.
This directive would fill a major gap by expanding protection against discrimination on these four grounds in the areas of social protection, education, and access to goods and services available to the public. The European Parliament and a large majority of member states support it. However, progress is very slow and the required unanimity hasn't been reached yet. The Commission remains firmly committed to supporting the adoption of this proposal. Many of you have spontaneously raised the equal treatment directive and the importance to reach an agreement during the previous debate.
So I really urge the member states who are still holding back to work with us to reach an agreement. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Commissioner. Colleagues, do you have anything to add? Okay. So thank you all very much. So the Council took note of the information provided by the presidency.
The search for a compromise continues. We will return to the subject at the December EPSCO Council. So we now move forward to the next item, which concerns the various events organized by the Irish presidency.
So colleagues, as I've said, the next item on the AOB concerns the events throughout the Irish presidency thus far, and specifically in the equality field. You have received a note with detailed information about all of these events already, and I would only like to highlight a small number of them, such as the high-level conference on equality and competitiveness, which explored the relationship between equality and inclusion on the one hand, and economic performance, innovation, and resilience in the European Union on the other. Discussions focused on the economic and social case for equality and highlighted how greater participation in education, employment, and public life can strengthen growth and productivity. We were also pleased to host the high-level conference on non-discrimination under the theme "Advancing LGBTIQ+ Equality in the EU: Emerging Practices for Equal Rights and Safe Environments." The conference examined current challenges and opportunities in advancing equality, inclusion, and protection for LGBTIQ+ people throughout Europe.
The Irish presidency also hosted the Equal Pay International Coalition, which highlighted both the persistent existing gender pay gap and the need to actively reduce it. Participants discussed policy objectives and shared practical solutions to reducing the gender pay gap. Another important event was the meeting of senior officials on the European Child Guarantee in Dublin.
The meeting focused on prevention and early intervention as key approaches to supporting children and families. We were delighted to unveil a specially commissioned sculpture designed with the input of children to mark the occasion of this special event. Finally, let me mention the high-level roundtable on equality data hosted with the Commission, which examined how robust data can help identify discrimination and inequality, support evidence-based policymaking and strengthen the implementation of EU equality frameworks. To bring a sense of these meetings to our discussions, I am pleased now to share this very short video with some highlights from these meetings.
Thank you all. We will continue to have an exciting agenda of equality events, including our high-level conference on disability later this week in Dublin.
In early November, we will work with the Commission colleagues to host the EU Platform for Roma Inclusion. And I hope I will see many of you in Kerry this November as we host an informal meeting of equality members. To give you a taste of our program in November, I am delighted that we have shared with you some very small gifts from my home county of Kerry, which include honey, soap, and chocolate from County Kerry in the southwest of Ireland. So, dear colleagues, at this point, would anyone like to take the floor? Okay, so I will move on.
The Council has taken note of the information provided by the Presidency. So, under any other business, let us now hear from the Commission concerning the annual progress report on simplification, implementation, and enforcement with a focus on equality. Here, I see two intersecting priorities. A balance needs to be struck between two valid goals: simplification on the one hand and sustained momentum in pursuit of equality on the other. Commissioner Lahbib will tell us more.
Please go ahead, Commissioner, you have the floor.
Hadja Lahbib
Thank you very much and congratulations for all the events that you've organized.
I think that you are really pushing the needle of societal change further. I've shared with the Council and Parliament my second annual progress report on simplification, implementation and enforcement on October the 1st. This follows a commitment by President von der Leyen to ensure that we collectively follow up on these important aspects of better law-making in the EU. The report covers all simplification, implementation and enforcement action taken between August 2025 and July 2026. Allow me to highlight some important points in the equality policy area.
On 12 November 2025, I held my first implementation dialogue on equality on the EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation.
Dialogue addressed the critical challenges and obstacles faced in the implementation of national Roma strategies. On top of this, we have continued to support the transposition process of multiple pieces of legislation. The directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, the pay transparency directive, the directives on standards for equality bodies, the directives establishing the European disability card and the European parking card, and the European accessibility card. We have also pursued resolute enforcement action and issued reasoned opinions to member states for incomplete or incorrect transposition of acts in the field of accessibility, gender balance on company boards, equality bodies, equal treatment between men and women, and work-life balance for parents and carers, while also being able to close many cases where full transposition had been notified. I will keep on contributing to making the EU simpler and faster in line with the political guidelines of President von der Leyen.
In this context, I will organize my second implementation dialogue in the field of equality policy on gender equality and care in December of this year. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Helena. Would anyone else like to add a comment? Okay, thank you. So the Council has taken note of the information provided by the Commission as set out in document 1425126.
Let us now turn to the last AOB item for this morning. It concerns an information point by Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Slovakia regarding the European disability card and the European parking card for persons with disabilities. The information point focuses on overcoming challenges in the implementation process and addressing QR code color requirements and interoperability. I would now like to give the floor to our colleague from Italy, Minister of Labor and Social Policies, to present this AOB, which is set out in document 14417/26. So, Marco, please go ahead.
Speaker 26
Grazie, Presidente, Signora Commissaria. Per garantire un'attuazione efficace e tempestiva della direttiva sulla carta europea della disabilità e sul contrassegno di parcheggio, tappa fondamentale per la mobilità delle persone con disabilità, occorre superare alcune difficoltà tecniche rilevate dall'Italia e da altri Stati membri.
In particolare, l'obbligo del blu scuro per i codici QR rischia di ostacolare la produzione delle carte mediante incisione laser sul policarbonato, una tecnologia sicura e diffusa suggerita dalla stessa Commissione. Poiché leggibilità e sicurezza dipendono dal contrasto e dagli standard tecnici e non dal colore in sé, l'Italia insieme ad altri Stati membri chiede alla Commissione di consentire esplicitamente il nero come alternativa al blu scuro nel rispetto degli standard comuni di leggibilità, contrasto, sicurezza ed interoperabilità. Chiediamo inoltre di affrontare in maniera pragmatica altre criticità, tra cui le dimensioni del contrassegno di parcheggio e il suo rilascio alle istituzioni che assistono le persone con disabilità. L'obiettivo di tutti deve essere quello di conciliare standard europei comuni e soluzioni tecniche concretamente applicabili, senza compromettere la tempestiva attuazione della direttiva. Grazie.
Norma Foley
I conclude that the Council has taken note of the information provided by Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Belgium, Estonia and Finland. Before I conclude, if anyone else would like to take to the floor.
Vilmos, if you would like to take to the floor, Hungary.
Speaker 43
Tisztelt kollégák, Magyarország részéről támogatom Olaszország felvetését.
Cyril Piquemal
Oui, merci Madame la Présidente. La France remercie l'Italie, la Belgique, la Finlande, la Lituanie, les Pays-Bas et la Slovaquie pour leur démarche relative au travail technique en cours concernant la carte européenne du handicap et la carte européenne de stationnement. Nous souhaitons globalement souligner la nécessité que les spécifications techniques prennent pleinement en compte les conditions concrètes de production et de déploiement de ces cartes. Et ce précisément car nous partageons pleinement l'objectif d'une mise en œuvre effective d'un texte facilitant la mobilité des personnes en situation de handicap au sein de l'Union. La France invite donc la Commission à s'assurer que les États membres puissent concilier au mieux les objectifs d'harmonisation européenne, de sécurité et de maîtrise des coûts.
Norma Foley
Thank you.
Poland, you can have the floor, Sebastian, if you'd like to come in. Thank you.
Sebastian Gajewski
Szanowna pani przewodnicząca, Polska przyłącza się do stanowiska Włoch, Belgii, Estonii, Litwy, Holandii i Słowacji. Wskazane w nocie argumenty o potrzebie elastyczności przy wyborze koloru kodu QR są aktualne również dla Polski. Postulat zgłaszany przez te kraje jest spójny z technologią umieszczania kodu QR na legitymacji osoby niepełnosprawnej, którą stosujemy obecnie w Polsce. Dziękuję.
Norma Foley
Thank you. Belgium, if you would like to take the floor, Bart, thank you.
David Clarinval
Thank you, Madam Chair. Belgium supports the point raised by Italy to identify practical solutions that facilitate the effective and timely implementation of both cards. We would like to highlight another issue regarding the European parking card for persons with disabilities. As more and more member states move to digital parking controls, the transposition and implementation of the new cards should be made future-proof. The physical version of the European parking card for persons with disabilities cannot be detected by automated enforcement systems such as scan cars or low-emission zone cameras.
As a result, persons with disabilities receive unjustified fines and face unnecessary administrative burdens. We would therefore plead for a single EU-wide solution enabling the parking cards to be linked to vehicle license plates. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you. I now ask the Commissioner if you would like to add a comment. Thank you.
Hadja Lahbib
Well, thank you for raising this issue. The European Disability Card Directive is really a flagship initiative of our strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities, and the Commission is committed to see the timely launch of the cards in 2028. I fully share your views on the need to for secure an interoperable cards and to strike a balance between common rules and flexibility for the member states. This has been our exact approach so far to preserve the common formats of the cards while providing member states with a degree of flexibility where possible.
At this stage, it is a priority for us to finalize the scrutiny by the co-legislators and the delegated act we adopted in July. That act is integral for the issuance of the physical cards and for ensuring their security and interoperability so they are readable across the Member States. I am glad that this act was adopted and developed in close cooperation with national experts and that the information available so far shows that both co-legislators are advancing positively in their scrutiny. In our understanding, the colors of the QR codes are depicted on the visual representations of the cards in the annexes of the directive, dark blue and white. The delegated act that is currently under scrutiny cannot change the colors of the QR codes.
In our understanding, this must be done through an amendment of the directive, including possibly through another delegated act. We will analyze your requests taking account of their feasibility and expected added value as well as the need to respect the text agreed by the co-legislators.
It is our priority to ensure a stable regulatory framework as the member states need sufficient time to transpose the directive by June 2027 and prepare the launch of the cards in 2028. Thank you.
Norma Foley
Thank you, Commissioner. I conclude that the Council has taken note of the information provided by Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Belgium, Estonia, and Finland as set out in document 1441726. Thank you all for your engagement on these important equality matters this morning. I will now hand the floor to my colleague Minister Browne for the next item, which concerns the Council recommendation on housing. Thank you all.
Browne
Dear colleagues, we can now move on to the last item on our agenda this morning, which is the Council recommendation on fighting housing exclusion, including homelessness. Access to safe, secure, and affordable housing is fundamental to social inclusion and human dignity. Yet across Europe, too many people continue to face housing insecurity, housing exclusion, and in the most severe cases, homelessness. Housing pressures are affecting an increasingly wide range of people and households. Rising housing costs and increasing demand have made it more difficult for many to access or maintain adequate housing, while vulnerable groups remain at particular risk of exclusion.
It's against this backdrop that the recommendation before us today represents an important step in strengthening our collective efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness and housing exclusion across the European Union. The text promotes a person-centered, housing-led, and integrated approach, while fully respecting Member States' competences and the diversity of national housing systems. It acknowledges the considerable work already being undertaken across Member States and identifies areas where further action can help to improve outcomes for those most at risk.
Let me just highlight a number of key elements. Member States are recommended to put the person in the center of their national and regional strategic frameworks on fighting housing exclusion. This calls for an integrated policies and the involvement of regional and local authorities. People experiencing homelessness or relying on emergency accommodation should have at their disposal accessible and inclusive support systems, ideally through a one-stop-shop approach, ensuring immediate relief. Housing-led approaches, complemented with personalized and integrated support services, are particularly important for people in vulnerable situations.
They provide a basis for social inclusion and integration into the community. Adequate supply of social and affordable housing is another significant aspect on which Member States are recommended to act if this is called for by the demographic needs and territorial disparities. Preventing housing exclusion is much more efficient and effective approach than addressing homelessness after it has occurred. Early intervention is key in this regard, and this requires early warning systems and good cooperation between social services, judicial authorities, and other related actors.
Prevention also requires reliable data. Member States are recommended to strengthen data collection and enhance their monitoring mechanisms, particularly on hard-to-reach groups, such as people experiencing homelessness. Lastly, but equally important, the text welcomes the Commission's support to the work of the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness and its intention to review the progress made in implementing this recommendation in five years' time. Dear colleagues, before finishing, I would like to thank the Commission for presenting this proposal, but also all the delegations for their cooperative engagement in the discussions. And I'm confident that the delegations are in a position to support the text as set out in document 14355/23 and that the Council can adopt the recommendation.
Maroš
Thank you very much, Minister Browne, and good morning everybody. First, I'd like to thank the Irish Presidency in steering the negotiations and bringing us to today's adoption of the recommendation, a recommendation that, as you mentioned, was proposed in May as part of the anti-poverty strategy.
Today we have in front of us an important achievement and a very clear demonstration of our shared commitment to addressing housing exclusion across Europe. This recommendation comes at a very critical and crucial moment. Since 2016, house prices have grown faster than incomes, making decent housing unaffordable for far too many families and young people. Housing exclusions, including homelessness, is rising across Europe. High costs, shortages of affordable housing are pressuring households, particularly those in vulnerable situations, and they are eroding public trust in our social model.
Today around 1.4 million people in our Union are estimated to be affected by housing exclusions and homelessness according to the very latest OECD data. This is why the Commission has placed the fight against housing exclusion at the heart of its housing and poverty strategy agenda. This recommendation, part of the EU anti-poverty strategy, builds on the 2021 Lisbon Declaration and the European framework on combating homelessness.
With today's adoption, as you said, Minister, we establish on the one hand a truly common European policy framework to prevent and tackle housing exclusion, while on the other hand respecting national competencies. The recommendation recognizes that housing exclusion is a complex, multi-dimensional challenge that requires a comprehensive and coordinated response. It promotes prevention, early intervention, support for people experiencing homelessness, access to affordable housing, and stronger cooperation among governments, service providers, and civil society. Dear Ministers, adoption is a very important first step. We must now turn this principle into concrete action.
The Commission will continue to support you. Our success will be measured by fewer people experiencing homelessness and more people accessing adequate and secure housing, because everyone in Europe should have a safe and adequate place to call home. Thank you.
Browne
Thank you very much, Maroš. So now we'll hear from delegations, and dear colleagues, would anyone like to take the floor? We'll begin with Spain and Elma.
Elma
España valora muy positivamente esta recomendación del Consejo que supone un paso importante para situar la vivienda en el centro de las políticas sociales europeas en el marco del Plan Europeo de Vivienda Asequible y de la Estrategia Europea contra la Pobreza. Compartimos plenamente la necesidad de reforzar la prevención de los desahucios, promover la estabilidad residencial y ofrecer respuestas integrales a las personas que están en situación de vulnerabilidad. La exclusión residencial no puede abordarse únicamente cuando se produce la pérdida de la vivienda. Debemos anticiparnos y actuar sobre sus causas. En España estamos avanzando en esta dirección, reforzando la protección frente a los desahucios e impulsando medidas para favorecer la estabilidad residencial y ampliar la oferta de vivienda asequible tanto para las personas sin techo como para aquellas que viven en condiciones inseguras.
Asimismo, creemos que es fundamental promover nuevos modelos de vivienda asequible y social que movilicen recursos públicos y privados con una finalidad social clara. El Fondo de Impacto Social, dotado de 400 millones de euros, está contribuyendo a desarrollar estas soluciones. En su línea de vivienda, con una dotación de 50 millones de euros, se han apoyado operaciones con promotores sociales, housing associations, que ofrecen viviendas en alquiler a precios inferiores a los de mercado, ampliando así la oferta disponible para personas y familias que difícilmente podrían acceder a ella en condiciones actuales.
Nuestra experiencia está demostrando además que no basta con facilitar una vivienda. Es necesario acompañar a las personas para que puedan mantenerla y construir un proyecto de vida estable mediante el apoyo social y sanitario. Por ello consideramos que nuestro modelo basado en la combinación de vivienda asequible y acompañamiento social debe ocupar un lugar central en las políticas europeas de prevención del sinhogarismo y de la lucha contra la exclusión residencial, porque no hay inclusión social plena sin el acceso a una vivienda digna y estable.
Helen Winter
Herzlichen Dank, und wir unterstützen die Annahme der Ratsempfehlung zur Bekämpfung von Ausschlüssen vom Wohnungsmarkt und Wohnungslosigkeit. In den letzten Monaten wurde hier mit Hilfe der Erstellung der Ratsempfehlung eine wichtige Diskussion darüber geführt, mit welchen Hebeln Ausschlüsse vom Wohnungsmarkt und insbesondere Wohnungslosigkeit entgegengewirkt werden kann.
Durch die in der Empfehlung angelegten und angeregten langfristigen Präventivmaßnahmen wird Wohnungslosigkeit als sichtbarste Form der Armut effektiv in ihren Ursachen und nicht nur in den Konsequenzen bekämpft werden. Wir halten den Ausbau von bezahlbarem und sozialen Wohnraum und die Absicherung von Zugang zu angemessenen sicheren Wohnmöglichkeiten für wichtige Stellschrauben, um dem Problem von unsicheren und unzureichenden Wohnsituationen ganzheitlich zu begegnen. Aber auch die Prävention von Wohnungsverlust durch den Ausbau der Unterstützung beim Wohnungserhalt und die verstärkte Anwendung wohnungsorientierter Ansätze sind vielversprechende Leitlinien. Das Letztere trägt insbesondere dazu bei, die Zeit in der Wohnungslosigkeit, wenn es kommen sollte, nicht nur kurz zu halten, sondern auch effektiv zu beenden. Die Umsetzung der Empfehlung wird die Union im Ziel voranbringen, Armut und Ausgrenzung zu überwinden und Wohnungslosigkeit zu beenden.
Vilmos Kátai-Németh
Magyarország egyetért az ajánlás célkitűzéseivel. Elkötelezettek vagyunk a lakhatási kirekesztés és a hajléktalanság felszámolása mellett. Magyarország biztosítja az alapvető jogok gyakorlását. Azonban Magyarország hatályos alaptörvénye két nemet ismer el, mellyel összeegyeztethetetlen az LMBTQ+ rövidítés, ezért a szavazásnál tartózkodunk és nyilatkozatot teszünk. Köszönöm.
Browne
Thank you very much, Vilmos. Okay, I can conclude that the Council adopted the recommendation on fighting housing exclusion, including homelessness, as set out in document 14355/24. I also note the statements made by Hungary, they will be included in the minutes. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight that the Irish presidency will be hosting an informal meeting of housing ministers and a meeting of ministers responsible for homelessness, otherwise known as EPOCH, in Dublin on the 25th and 26th of November to continue the important discussions on housing and homelessness. As I say, statements by Hungary and Bulgaria will be included in the minutes.
So, dear colleagues, this brings us to the end of the morning session and I would like to ask the Secretariat to switch off the cameras.
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