The EU’s new Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030 will be judged not by the promises it makes, but by what it delivers for the women and men in all their diversity in Europe.
Today, progress towards equality is real. Yet EIGE’s consultation process to inform the new strategy finds that progress is still too slow and too fragile.
Achieving a Union of Equality in the next five years demands our lawmakers make informed policy decisions, support more of what works and fix what doesn’t.
As the EU’s gender equality agency, EIGE provides the evidence, accountability and resources that can deliver positive results.
Why this strategy, and why now?
The gap between good intentions and real-world impact is still too wide. This new strategy is an opportunity to close that gap by 2030.
“Overall progress is slower than I would want. Regrettably, the previous strategy lacked implementation,” says MEP Nicolae Ștefănuță.
“Our society still witnesses gender-based violence. Disparity at work persists, and the scope of online violence against women is increasing…our goals and actions should be bolder.”
The new strategy can build on the lessons of the last period, while reflecting the new realities of everyday life for jobs, pay, safety, health, digital spaces, care and leadership.
The risks we face are evolving daily. Online violence against women is rising; care pressures keep too many women out of decent work; and backlash narratives try to turn equality into a culture war.
If Europe wants to boost competitiveness and cohesion, it can’t afford to leave half its talent on the sidelines, or unprotected.
EIGE will continue to bring comparable data and practical tools to help policymakers identify and address where progress is stalling.
What will success look like, and how do we get there?
“We must reconsider the proportion between talking and acting and start acting more and talking less,” says MEP Ștefănuță.
The progressive politician points to recent Parliamentary steps, such as allowing proxies for MEPs on maternity leave, as proof that action in response to real need leads to change.
His benchmark for success is simple and radical: a Union where equality is so embedded that a stand-alone strategy is redundant.
“We must strive for the level of equality between people where everyone is treated the same way as any other person, and the Gender Equality Strategy is no more needed,” he says.
This lesson for the 2026–2030 strategy echoes the findings of EIGE’s response to the consultation: set clear expectations, listen to those affected, and back what works with resources.
How do we ensure no one is left behind?
MEP Ștefănuță, a campaigner for equality and against gender-based violence, sees digital as “one of the biggest challenges” and a potential red flag for the next five years.
“Developing technologies contribute to gender-based violence on the internet. Parliament pays great attention to this, but it is complex and requires an even bigger commitment, including the involvement and regulation of digital platforms.”
That urgency sits alongside mainstreaming in health, climate and migration, where everyday inequalities compound harm. Inclusion, he stresses, must be non-negotiable.
The MEP suggests borrowing from climate governance by bringing the right stakeholders around the table to align policies across sectors. And it starts with listening.
“Those not affected by the problem must listen and try to understand those who are, instead of just convincing them that their problem does not exist,” he says.
EIGE is uniquely positioned to contribute by bringing together civil society, policymakers and minority groups to collaborate on workable solutions. And then measure progress where it matters most.
What should policymakers do next?
As the EU finalises and implements the Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030, the task is to keep equality at the heart of a crowded agenda.
That’s because equality between women and men should be at the heart of any work on competitiveness, skills or cohesion. It is not a side project.
MEP Ștefănuță warns that progress will stall if equality bodies and civil society organisations are underfunded. So, the new Strategy must treat their support as core infrastructure.
Taking his cue to “act more, talk less,” the next moves are simple and visible:
- Use the Strategy as the playbook. Align priority files (digital, climate, health, migration) with the gender equality goals from the start.
- Keep evidence centre stage. Draw on EIGE’s data and tools to test impacts before decisions, and to course-correct after.
- Listen, then deliver. Involve those most affected and show how their input changes outcomes.
- Back what works. Protect funding for equality bodies and civil society; scale interventions that demonstrate results.
- Lead by example. Keep removing practical barriers inside EU institutions and publish progress that people can see.
Do this consistently and people will notice the benefits of the new strategy: safer lives, fairer work and stronger institutions.
EIGE will continue to provide the evidence, accountability and resources, from comparable indicators to practical toolkits, that can deliver positive results.
“Defend our space, fund what works” — a civil society view on the Gender Equality Strategy
By Laura de Bonfils, Secretary General of Social Platform
As the voice of free and independent civil society organisations working for social justice, we represent people most in need. We’re not a megaphone for the Commission; our role is to bring lived experience and rights into policymaking.
For the new Gender Equality Strategy, I want three things to be crystal clear. First, defend civic space and address the anti-gender movement. In recent years, we’ve seen attacks on women’s and LGBTIQ organisations and generally a closing space for civil society.
Progress exists, but we cannot take it for granted.
Second, link the Strategy with the EU’s wider anti-discrimination agenda (everything is interlinked) and fund advocacy properly, because without resources our voice fades.
Third, keep equality at the heart of Europe’s competitiveness: invest in social investment for example in childcare and early education so people can return to work.
Success by 2030 will be if the current anti-gender movement no longer exists and we have reached gender equality.
We need concrete actions and transparent budgets in the next MFF, to show where money goes and how it improves lives.
We’ll continue to build coalitions, speak up when we see setbacks, and provide the full picture to increase funding where it delivers. Policymakers shouldn’t only listen to the big powers; they should listen to people in all their diversity.