This 8th of March, International Women’s Day, the Fundació Catalunya Europa highlights the gender gap in european politics and the labour market. Despite progress in political representation, true gender equality remains a distant goal.
Currently, 38.6% of Members of the European Parliament are women, a figure that, while higher than in past decades, still falls short of parity and marks a setback compared to previous years. In 2019, there were 303 female MEPs, whereas now the number has dropped to 278, widening the gap towards real balance in European institutions.
This political inequality is mirrored in the workplace: European women still earn, on average, 12.7% less per hour than men, and their employment rate remains 10.2 percentage points lower.
A European framework to advance the fight against violence against women
In May 2024, after years of debate in the European Parliament and the Council, Directive 2024/1385 on combating violence against women and domestic violence was adopted. This directive establishes a comprehensive framework to prevent and tackle gender-based violence more effectively by strengthening and introducing key measures. Among them, it defines new offences and prevention mechanisms—still absent in some European countries—, enhances protection and support for victims, ensures better access to justice, and improves coordination and data collection.
Women in the shadows of European integration
To raise awareness of these barriers and highlight the fundamental role of women in building the European Union, the Fundació Catalunya Europa announces the Spanish and English translations of the book Women in the shadows of European construction, by Júlia Manresa. Winner of the 2023 Pasqual Maragall Legacy Award, this book sheds light on the often-overlooked contributions of women to European integration and sparks a debate on the need for more inclusive and equal institutions.
This 8th of March, we call for a fairer, more equal, and gender-balanced Europe.
