Urgent Call to Action on Sexual Harassment
Commissioner Hadja Lahbib addressed the European Parliament on December 17, 2025, highlighting the alarming prevalence of sexual harassment in the EU workplace, with one in three women affected and even higher rates among younger women. Lahbib framed sexual harassment as a systemic problem impacting women's rights, workplace integrity, and causing an estimated €290 billion economic cost annually in the EU.
Concrete Policy Frameworks and Legal Instruments
Lahbib outlined the EU's ongoing and future commitments, building from the Roadmap for Women's Rights endorsed by all Member States, which places freedom from gender-based violence and equal employment opportunities as top priorities. She announced the forthcoming Gender Equality Strategy expected in early 2026, aimed at detailing concrete five-year actions to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence.
She also emphasized the legal frameworks in place: the 2024 Violence Against Women Directive requiring victim and employer counselling services and management training on harassment, the Gender Equality Directives mandating prohibition and sanctioning of workplace sexual harassment, and the EU's 2023 accession to the Istanbul Convention, aligning internal public administration policies with highest international standards.
Implications for Stakeholders
For EU institutions and national authorities, these commitments entail further institutional strengthening and potentially expanded training and compliance obligations. Employers within the EU, particularly public bodies, face increased responsibility to implement preventive and responsive measures. Women employees and civil society groups focused on gender equality may see stronger protections and support systems, while taxpayers could witness costs associated with these expanded programs.
The speech positions the EU on a path toward intensifying regulatory frameworks and oversight to prevent workplace sexual harassment, balancing enhanced protection for workers with increased demands on institutions to meet these standards. Lahbib's proposals emphasize system-wide prevention and cultural change, seeking to make public institutions exemplars of safe, respectful workplaces.