Today, the European Parliament adopted a report drafted by S&D MEP Marko Vešligaj, setting out an ambitious agenda for women’s rights and gender equality. The report defines Parliament’s position ahead of the new European Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030, expected to be presented by the European Commission next spring. 

Despite relentless pressure from conservative and far-right MEPs – who sought to weaken the text as part of their broader attempt to roll back women’s rights – the Socialists and Democrats successfully defended an ambitious, forward-looking approach. The report calls for concrete legislative and policy action across all S&D priority areas*, including tackling gender-based violence and harassment, empowering women in the workplace, protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights, and protecting women’s rights organisations!

The S&Ds ensured a high level of progress for women and girls across Europe, despite the EPP siding with the far right and voting down today some important aspects such as gender parity in political participation and Feminist Foreign policy. This outcome reflects the new reality for gender equality in the European Parliament. 

The S&D Group now expects the European Commission to match Parliament’s ambition and double its efforts to protect and strengthen the EU’s gender equality framework. There can be no real democracy without a truly gender-equal society. 

Marko Vešligaj, S&D MEP and EP rapporteur on gender equality, said:

“This report sends a clear message that gender equality is not negotiable. It is a cornerstone of our democracy, our economy, and our European identity. 

“I am particularly proud that the report calls for the protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and for the Commission to positively respond to the citizens’ initiative My Voice, My Choice, supported by over a million Europeans. Every woman in Europe must have access to safe and legal abortion, regardless of where she lives. Violations of sexual and reproductive rights are human rights violations. A person’s bodily autonomy – the right to decide freely about one’s body and life – is the foundation of true gender equality.

“Yet, in today’s Parliament, we see more and more voices questioning even the word ‘gender’; treating ‘feminism’ as a provocation. They actively work to push women out of the public sphere, denounce legislation which serves to protect them from violence, and invent enemies and ‘gender ideologies’. The EPP does not shy away from standing with the far right in attacking women’s rights and the key tools for achieving gender equality, and they showed it today.

This is not acceptable for us, and we will fight against it on every occasion. Every step back on women’s rights is a step back for democracy itself.” 

* The adopted report includes, among other points, a call for:

• Recognition of gender-based violence as an EU crime, and criminalisation of rape based on lack of consent;
• Protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including safe and legal abortion across all EU countries;
• Full implementation of the Pay Transparency, Women on Boards, and Minimum Wage Directives to close gender pay and pension gaps;
• Development of a European Care Deal ensuring universal access to affordable, high-quality childcare and long-term care services;
• Sustainable funding for women’s rights organisations, and measures to counter anti-gender disinformation and far-right attacks on equality.