Recognising the vital role that ordinary citizens can play in preventing abuse, the Council has approved conclusions calling for greater efforts to empower bystanders to help combat violence against women and domestic violence. In their conclusions, EU equality ministers underline that awareness, education and societal support are key to ensuring that bystanders can recognise abuse, […]
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Regions and cities call for specific measures to fight poverty in the EU
The CoR study highlights uneven progress and rising poverty in some developed EU member states, including France and Germany. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted an opinion on the forthcoming EU anti-poverty strategy at its plenary session on 14 October, following a debate with Roxana Minzatu, executive vice-president for social rights and empowerment. […]
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MEPs set out their red lines for air passenger rights changes
To help air passengers, MEPs suggest maintaining the current right to compensation after a three-hour delay, plus unlocking new rights on free children’s seats and cabin luggage. On Monday, the Transport and Tourism Committee adopted its negotiating guidelines on changes to EU air passenger rights by 34 votes in favour and two abstentions. The MEPs […]
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Afghanistan: aid for earthquake victims and an end to gender apartheid
MEPs call for aid for all victims of the earthquake in Afghanistan, hampered by the Taliban regime’s restrictive gender policies. MEPs adopted a resolution on Thursday, with 504 votes in favour, 74 against and 3 abstentions, calling for a stronger emergency response in the aftermath of the earthquake in Kunar, Afghanistan. More help needed MEPs […]
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Commission builds on Union of Equality with adoption of new LGBTIQ+ Equality strategy
Everyone in the European Union should feel safe and free to love whomever they wish and be their authentic self. To this end, today the European Commission adopted its LGBTIQ+ equality strategy for 2026-2030. It builds on the strong foundation of the first LGBTIQ equality strategy 2020-2025 to pave the way for further progress, and ensure LGBTIQ+ equality […]
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MEPs seek to improve trainees’ working conditions across the EU
To prevent abusive practices against trainees, the Employment Committee wants traineeship contracts with clear provisions on pay, duration and social protection. The Employment and Social Affairs Committee has proposed changes to new EU rules on traineeships, in a report adopted on Tuesday by 42 votes to nine, and with six abstentions. The objective is to […]
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2025 ESDE report highlights the importance of underrepresented groups
Better integrating underrepresented groups — such as women, older people, migrants and persons with disabilities — into the job market can help to mitigate skills and labour shortages and offset the demographic changes that risk shrinking the EU’s workforce by up to 18 million by 2050. The Commission’s 2025 Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) report […]
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Commission sets the launch date for the Entry/Exit System to 12 October 2025
The Commission has set 12 October 2025 as the launch date for the progressive start of operations of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES). The EES is an advanced technological system that will digitally record the entries and exits of non-EU nationals travelling to 29 European countries, including Schengen Associated ones, for short stays. It will capture biometric data, such […]
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Commission continues talks on telework fairness and right to disconnect
The European Commission is taking the next steps towards introducing workers’ right to disconnect and fair telework and launched today second-stage talks with social partners. These talks will gather EU social partner’s views on a potential EU-level initiative to reduce the risks of the ‘always-on’ work culture and to ensure fair and quality telework for workers. Concretely, social partners […]
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