Another important step taken by the Commission on 26 February was the response to the European Citizens' Initiative ‘My Voice, My Choice’, which campaigns for safe access to abortion in Europe. On 5 March, the European Parliament adopted the initiative report of the EMPL and FEMM committees on the gender pay gap and gender pension gap. Other issues addressed by the European Parliament included women's rights and democracy in the digital age, gender-based violence on the internet and cyberbullying.

Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030: progress, challenges and points of criticism

The new EU Gender Equality Strategy is to cover all areas of life – online and offline – including education, health, work, public life and current threats such as cyber violence and risks posed by artificial intelligence, which particularly affect women. To combat digital sexual violence, structured dialogues are to take place with very large online platforms within the framework of the Digital Services Act, and the implementation of the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence and the new Action Plan against cyberbullying presented in February is to be advanced. Men and boys should be more involved in the fight for equality. They too suffer from patriarchal structures, are confronted with disinformation, distorted images of masculinity and increasing polarisation online, and play an important role in bringing about social change.

The political groups in the European Parliament widely welcomed the gender equality strategy but also called for greater ambition in view of the increasing pressure on women's rights. The ALDE group called for faster action than has been seen to date. The S&D group expressed disappointment at the absence of new legislative initiatives, such as establishing an EU-wide definition of non-consensual sexual acts as rape. MEP Elisabeth Grossmann referred to the consistent implementation of the Pay Transparency Directive and the strengthening of fair minimum wages. 

The Chair of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Charlien Scheele, highlighted the coherence with the instruments of the Roadmap for Women's Rights and welcomed a number of initiatives, such as those aimed at reducing the gender pay gap and inequalities in healthcare and achieving a more balanced distribution of decision-making positions. EIGE's estimate shows that there is still a great need for action, as following the current rate it would take another 50 years to achieve full gender equality in the EU. It is important to remember that gender equality is a fundamental right and one of the EU's core values.

European Citizens' Initiative on safe abortions

More than 20 million women in Europe do not have access to safe abortions. The consequences are serious: those affected suffer mental and financial stress, are exposed to physical risks and, in the worst case, risk their lives. To improve the situation, the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) ‘My Voice, My Choice’ was launched in 2024. It gathered widespread backing, attracting more than 1.12 million signatures and receiving support from the European Parliament. The initiative advocates for safe and barrier-free access to abortion in all EU Member States. The aim is to have safe abortions recognised as a fundamental health service. The initiative seeks to promote an EU-wide solidarity mechanism that would enable affected women to have a safe abortion, regardless of the legal regulations in their home country. Specifically, the European Commission is called upon to provide financial support from EU funds for those Member States that offer this option.

On 26 February, Commission Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu and Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib presented the Commission's response to the ECI. Consequently, the Commission supports the initiative's objectives but does not consider it necessary to propose a new legal instrument. Instead, the Commission refers to the existing European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) programme, which Member States can use to facilitate access to abortion services for pregnant women. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether this option will be employed or to what extent it will be utilized: for example, national or regional ESF+ programmes would first have to be adapted.

International Women's Day at the European Parliament

To mark International Women's Day, the FEMM Committee in the European Parliament organised an interparliamentary meeting on 5 March 2026. EU and national parliamentarians gathered in Brussels to discuss the topic of ‘Women's rights and democracy: combating stereotypes, disinformation and violence in the digital age’. The speakers – including FEMM Committee Chair Lina Gálvez (S&D), EP President Roberta Metsola, Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib and Florence Raes (UN Women) – emphasised that hostility and hatred towards women online are on the rise. Women in the public eye – such as politicians and journalists – report that online violence spills over into real life. Social media often perpetuates stereotypes and patriarchal norms, making women who challenge these conventions vulnerable to criticism and attacks. Although EU legal instruments exist, immediate measures are needed to address digital violence as a significant threat to equality and democracy.

Another item on the agenda was the speech given by activist and mother Jackie Fox at the European Parliament on 10 March in memory of her daughter, who was a victim of cyberbullying and took her own life in 2018. At the time, there were no laws to protect against such attacks, which prompted Fox to fight for victim protection. In Ireland, she achieved great success with the ‘Coco's Law’. The law criminalises the sharing of intimate images of other people without their consent, or the threat of their publication, as well as severe online bullying. Fox called on the European Parliament to adopt this at European level as well. In the ensuing debate, MEPs reaffirmed the right to safety from violence in private and public spaces. Bullying and hate on the internet have nothing to do with freedom of speech but are forms of violence that must be stopped.

On 11 March, the European Parliament voted on the own-initiative report by the EMPL and FEMM committees on the gender pay gap and gender pension gap. The report was adopted with 458 votes in favour, 72 against and 98 abstentions. It highlights that female-dominated professions are often less well paid and that better working conditions and greater participation of women in the labour market could counteract the shortage of skilled workers and promote economic growth in the EU. The European Parliament therefore calls on the Commission to present an action plan to eliminate the gender pay gap and gender pension gap. Women do more unpaid care work than their male counterparts, limiting their job prospects and pension rights, which leads to income gaps. The report therefore calls for more investment in care services and greater participation by men in parental leave.

Further information

EU Commission: Gender-Equality-Strategy 2026-2023
European Citizens’ Initiative: My Voice, My Choice
EU Commission: My Voice, My Choice: For Safe And Accessible Abortion
Amnesty Internation Report: When rights aren’t real for all: the struggle for abortion access in Europe
ETUI: The future of gender equality in the EU
FRA: EU gender-based violence survey - Evidence for policy and practice
EU Parliament: MEPs demand action plan to eradicate the gender pay and pension gaps
EU Parliament: The effect of gender pay and pension gaps and new ways of working on women’s mental health