Commissioner Hadja Lahbib Proposes EU Roadmap for Women's Rights to Combat Violence and Gender Inequality

Commissioner Hadja Lahbib addressed the European Economic and Social Committee on February 26, 2025, emphasizing a renewed commitment to gender equality within the European Union. Marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, Lahbib highlighted ongoing challenges, such as violence against women, which impacts one in three women in the EU and costs approximately 290 billion euros annually.

Strengthening Legal Frameworks and Support The commissioner affirmed the EU’s full commitment to eradicating violence against women, citing accession to the Istanbul Convention and adoption of the first Directive on Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. Notably, this Directive extends protections to victims of gender-based cyberviolence and intersectional discrimination, such as women with disabilities. Lahbib announced forthcoming workshops to support member states in implementing the Directive fully by June 2027.

Introducing a New Policy Roadmap A concrete proposal in Lahbib’s speech was the upcoming launch of a comprehensive Roadmap for Women's Rights on International Women’s Day. Set within her first 100 days in office, the Roadmap aims to serve as a long-term guiding framework for policy promoting gender mainstreaming and addressing modern challenges across social, economic, and technological domains. It also pledges to underpin the next Gender Equality Strategy post-2025, scheduled for presentation in March 2026.

Policy Implications and Stakeholder Impact The Roadmap signals a policy orientation toward maintaining strong EU-level regulatory powers in gender equality while encouraging member states’ cooperation in legal and social areas. National authorities may face increased administrative demands to meet Directive standards, while EU producers and employers could experience new compliance obligations, especially regarding workplace safety and digital environment protections. Women and girls across the EU stand to benefit from reinforced rights and protections, particularly marginalized groups. The EU as a whole may enhance its competitiveness by addressing the economic costs of violence against women.

Overall, Lahbib's speech delineates a firm direction for EU action on gender equality, combining concrete legislative targets with broader strategic goals. The challenge remains in translating commitments into effective on-the-ground implementation by member states and institutions.