Women’s Rights Committee calls for ambitious gender equality strategy post 2025

Gender-based violence should be an EU crime

EU equality legislation must be implemented in full

Reduce the employment gap, gender pay and pension gap

In their report, the MEPs call for concrete measures to address gender-based violence and issues relating to healthcare, work and political representation.

On Monday 13 October 2025, the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) adopted an own-initiative report on the 2025 gender equality strategy 2025, by 25 votes in favour, 8 against, and with 1 abstention. The report calls on the European Commission to present an ambitious 2026–2030 gender equality strategy, including practical legislative and non-legislative measures in key areas.

On gender-based violence, the MEPs call on the Commission to submit a proposal to the Council to include gender-based violence as a new area of crime to be listed under Article 83(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as an EU crime. They also ask the Commission to prepare the necessary guidelines for the implementation of Directive (EU) 2024/1385 on combating violence against women and domestic violence and to recognise femicide as a distinct crime. The MEPs want the Commission to put forward a proposal for a consent-based definition of rape in EU legislation and to urge EU countries that have not yet ratified the Istanbul Convention to do so.

On healthcare, demands include action to ensure universal access to gender-responsive healthcare and to address the gender health gap, including by tackling gender-specific health needs and risks, and paying particular attention to diseases that disproportionately affect women. The MEPs call for the creation of a comprehensive and binding framework to ensure full and equal access to all sexual and reproductive healthcare services.

The Commission is requested to actively promote women's entry into and retention on the labour market, take measures to reduce the employment gap, gender pay and pension gap and to monitor and encourage the timely implementation of the directives on adequate minimum wages, pay transparency, women on boards as well as on work-life balance for parents and carers. MEPs also call on the Commission to develop a comprehensive European Care Deal, addressing both formal and informal care.

On representation, the MEPs stress that women remain significantly under-represented at all levels of decision-making. They urge the Commission to promote substantive gender equality and to ensure equal representation and political participation in decision-making. The MEPs stress the vital role of civil society, not least women’s rights organisations and human rights defenders, in defending gender equality and fundamental freedoms amid a political backlash and the rise of anti-gender movements. The MEPs urge the Commission to strengthen mechanisms to address democratic backsliding and attacks on women’s and LGBTIQ+ rights.

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After the vote, rapporteur Marko Vešligaj (S&D, Croatia) said: "This comprehensive and timely report is not just a polite request, it is a firm demand to the European Commission to enact an ambitious gender equality strategy post 2025. We insist on concrete legislative steps across all crucial areas, including combating gender-based violence, protecting sexual and reproductive rights, and ensuring equality in the labour market. Such a strategy is now more vital than ever, as women and girls face severe challenges to and attacks on their fundamental rights and equality, even within our own institutions."

Next steps

The report will now be submitted for adoption during a forthcoming European Parliament plenary session. Once adopted, Parliament’s resolution will serve as a key contribution to the 2026–2030 gender equality strategy to be presented by the Commission in 2026.