By Thea Pieridou
Press Officer of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus
International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8, in remembrance of a major protest that took place on March 8, 1857, by textile workers in New York, who demanded better working conditions. In Europe, equality between women and men is one of the fundamental values of the European Union, as enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaties. The EU is a pioneer in tackling gender discrimination, and Europe is the leading region worldwide in providing women with the highest level of security and equality.
The European Parliament (EP) has always been very active in achieving equality between men and women and has a permanent committee dedicated to women's rights and gender equality. The European Parliament also frequently approves initiative reports on gender issues, calling for more efforts to be made in strengthening gender equality.
In recent years, the EP has enacted significant legislation in favor of women and gender equality. More specifically, it has succeeded in establishing groundbreaking rules regarding the number of women in senior corporate positions.
According to the directive adopted in November 2022, all large, publicly listed companies in the EU must take measures to increase the presence of women in their top management. The aim of the directive is to establish transparent recruitment procedures in companies so that at least 40% of non-executive board positions or 33% of all board positions are filled by women by July 2026.
Beyond this, the EP has also achieved mandatory pay transparency for large companies, ensuring that all employees receive equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.
Legislation on Women's Representation in Corporate Boards (November 2022)
According to the directive, all large, publicly listed companies in the EU must take measures to increase the presence of women in their top management. The goal of the directive is to establish transparent recruitment procedures in companies so that at least 40% of non-executive board positions or 33% of all board positions are filled by women by July 2026. Beyond this, the European Parliament also achieved mandatory pay transparency for large companies, ensuring that all employees receive equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.
Legislation on Pay Transparency (March 2023)
Women in the EU are paid on average 13% less than men for the same work (in Cyprus, the rate is approximately 10%). According to the new rules approved by MEPs in March 2023, large companies in the EU will be required to disclose salary data to facilitate comparisons and uncover any gender pay gaps. Companies will be obligated to take action when the pay gap exceeds 5%. The directive must be implemented in member states by June 2026.
Following the EU’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention in May 2023, MEPs successfully concluded negotiations with member states for the approval of the first-ever rules to combat violence against women and domestic violence in the EU.
Violence Against Women: European Legislation for the First Time (April 2024)
The legislation adopted in April 2024 marks a historic step in strengthening women's rights. The directive requires member states to introduce stricter laws against online violence, provide better assistance to victims, and take measures to prevent rape and enhance the understanding of the concept of consent. The new rules also define female genital mutilation and forced marriage as crimes under European law. Member states will have three years to incorporate these new rules into their national legal systems.
Right to Abortion (April 2024)
In a 2024 resolution, MEPs reiterated their call for the right to abortion to be enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The European Parliament works tirelessly to safeguard women's rights, and protecting these rights is of the utmost importance. In the EU, we seek to achieve equality for girls and women in all aspects of their lives: access to education, access to leadership positions in corporate boards and political life, protection from violence, and equal pay for equal work.
