Europe's moment of truth: the new Gender Equality Strategy

One in three women in the EU experience gender-based violence, while full equality remains more than fifty years away. EIGE Director Carlien Scheele on why the new Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030 must be our turning point.

“Millions of women on a daily basis, wake up afraid of what the day might look like. And that’s horrible,” says EIGE Director Carlien Scheele.

The fact that one in three women in the EU experience gender-based violence, while eighteen are killed by a partner or family member every single week, drives Carlien’s work at the Agency. She knows we all can, and must, do better.

“Think about those numbers. It means we all know women who suffer from violence,” says Carlien.

"If you’re not safe, you can't do anything. You can't work, you can't have your education, you can't properly take care of your children and you can't properly take care of yourself."

While gender-based violence is an issue particularly close to her heart, Carlien recognises that safety is one priority among many that demand attention.

The figures on violence against women are just a sample of EIGE’s data providing the spine for the EU's newly published Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030.

We’re making progress, but not fast enough

The previous strategy alongside consistent political will delivered real legislative gains in terms of pay transparency rules, binding quotas for corporate boards and the landmark Combatting Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence Directive.

But EIGE's Gender Equality Index – a tool for measuring progress in the EU and Member States - tells an uncomfortable story about the pace of change. At the current rate, full equality in the EU remains at least fifty years away.

That is the backdrop against which the EU launched its latest Gender Equality Strategy and set out its ambitions.

It sets out concrete action across eight priority areas: