Incorporating binding measures into the upcoming Gender Equality Strategy in the areas of employment, health and education

Question for written answer E-000921/2026
to the Commission
Rule 144
Elena Kountoura (The Left)

According to EIGE's new Gender Equality Index for 2025[1], despite some progress having been made in the EU towards achieving gender equality, this progress remains disproportionately slow and fragile. Deep-rooted gender inequalities and stereotypes continue to hinder the achievement of equality in a big way. Meanwhile, in critical areas such as employment[2], health and education, there appears to be stagnation or even backsliding in many Member States[3].

For instance, in the health sector, progress has effectively stalled and in some Member States performance has deteriorated over the last five years[4]. Despite the high participation rate of women in the education sector, structural barriers persist, reinforcing gender differences in employment and in terms of their progression prospects[5].

Given:

- the upcoming EU Gender Equality Strategy,

- EIGE's forecast that it will take at least 50 years to fully achieve gender equality in the EU,

- the uneven progress seen across Member States,

can the Commission answer the following:

• 1.What measures does it intend to take, in the context of the new gender equality strategy, to address stagnation and regression in the areas where this is most evident, particularly in the employment, health and education sectors?
• 2.Does it intend to incorporate binding targets, specific timelines and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to reduce gender inequalities in employment, health and education?

Submitted: 5.3.2026

• [1] https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/2025/EL.
• [2] Despite a modest annual increase of 0.4 points since 2015, it is estimated that it will take at least another 70 years before equality is fully achieved in employment and working life.
• [3] In education, the equality index for the EU improved by a meagre 0.4 points, with 14 Member States backtracking.
• [4] The equality index for the EU health sector has made no progress over five years, with 15 Member States recording negative trends.
• [5] Despite the fact that more women complete higher education than men, stereotypes sustain occupational gender segregation and push many women into jobs that do not provide many opportunities for professional advancement and pay progression.