Get ready for the European Parliament elections! 

From 6 to 9 June 2024, people in the EU will vote for the 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) representing 480 million Europeans. 

But before you vote, have you considered gender equality? 

  • Did you know that some EU countries have legislated gender quotas for European Parliament election candidates lists? 
  • Or that some countries allow their Members of Parliament to take maternity or paternity leave while others don’t?
  • And are you aware how many women parliamentarians have suffered online abuse and hatred?

Stay informed and up-to-date with our Gender Equality Quiz! 

We'll be sharing fascinating questions and answers on our social media channels until the end of May. We will also add the Q&As to the flip cards below, so you never miss a beat.  

  • What percentage of MEPs are women?

    As a result of the 1979 elections, only 17 % of MEPs were women. Since then, it has risen to around 40%.

  • Which Member States requested their political parties to have a certain share of women candidates for the EP elections?

    Belgium, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia and Poland have legislated gender quotas for candidate lists for this election.

  • At the current rate of progress, how long will it take to see full gender equality in the EU?

    60 years.

  • How many parliaments in the EU have gender equality action plans?

    7! The European Parliament and national parliaments of Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Finland and Sweden.

  • What measures can parliaments take to ensure family-friendly work for their members?

    Parliaments can start by ensuring proxy voting, limited working hours and sitting schedules, flexible working arrangements and childcare provisions.

  • What’s the share of young politicians in parliaments across Europe?

    Across the EU, only 4 % of MPs are under 30, out of which 37 % are women.

  • Do you know how many women parliamentarians have suffered online abuse?

    4 out of 5 women MPs

  • How many EU countries let their MPs take maternity or paternity leave?

    Only 14 Member States explicitly entitle MPs to the leave schemes: Belgium (lower), Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia (lower) and Sweden.

  • More questions to come...

    Stay tuned!

Why political participation and representation matters

Gender balance and diversity in political representation are crucial for creating policies that reflect the needs of everyone. Women's participation in decision-making processes is crucial for creating policies that address the challenges women face.

Achieving gender balance in political representation requires collective action. Safeguarding equal opportunities and representation for all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status must remain high on our personal and public agendas.

  • Stay tuned! EIGE’s forthcoming statistical brief will present the newest data on the representation of women and men in key political decision-making positions at the EU and national levels, based on data published in its Gender Statistics Database

What you can do

#UseYourVote! We are calling on more women, men, youth, people with diverse ethnic backgrounds to vote with gender equality in mind. You can actively participate in shaping an inclusive future for their countries and communities.

Talk to your peers and friends about gender equality and other aspects to help us strive for #Equality24Seven. Join us in our commitment to gender equality and inclusivity - a value to be upheld every single day, around the clock.

And call on policymakers to make parliaments gender sensitive. 

  • How? Find out more in our Gender-Sensitive Parliaments Step-by-Step Toolkit which supports parliaments at all levels in the EU to better deliver on gender equality. The toolkit consists of two tools – one of them a brand-new tool to help parliaments establish gender equality action plans.  

Join us on our journey to promote gender balance in politics and help create a more inclusive and equitable society for all. Together, we can make a difference!