The Council adopted conclusions on strengthening minimum income protection in the EU with the aim to combat poverty and social exclusion during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council recognises that minimum income schemes contribute to the social protection of the most disadvantaged groups in society, including people hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis. They also […]
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European Commission to issue EU SURE bonds of up to €100 billion as social bonds
the European Commission announces that it will issue its forthcoming EU SURE bonds of up to €100 billion as social bonds. To that end, the Commission has adopted an independently evaluated Social Bond Framework. This Framework is meant to provide investors in these bonds with confidence that the funds mobilised will serve a truly social objective. […]
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The EU has been awarded for its strategy on gender equality
The Spanish Federation of Women Managers, Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs awarded the EU with the FEDEPE International Prize The Spanish Federation of Women Managers, Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs, FEDEPE, has given its International Award to the European Union for its Strategy for Gender Equality 2020-2025. The award is motivated by the clear commitment of the […]
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The European Commission is proposing a new Pact on Migration and Asylum
The European Commission is proposing a new Pact on Migration and Asylum, covering all of the different elements needed for a comprehensive European approach to migration. It sets out improved and faster procedures throughout the asylum and migration system. And it sets in balance the principles of fair sharing of responsibility and solidarity. This is crucial for rebuilding trust between Member […]
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Impact of gender quotas on EU politics and business
EIGE has published its latest data on women and men in decision-making across the EU, in the seven countries that receive support from the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), and in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Politics Men still outnumber women in parliaments across Europe In November 2019, two thirds of EU parliamentarians were men […]
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Countries led by women coped better with COVID-19
Women world leaders have handled the coronavirus pandemic more effectively than their male counterparts. Countries with women at the helm like German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Ministers Mette Frederiksen and Sanna Marin of Denmark and Finland, respectively, have received worldwide praise for their success in handling the COVID-19 crisis. That’s not to say that […]
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COVID-19: how the EU is fighting youth unemployment
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the pandemic is having a “devastating and disproportionate” impact on youth employment, while recent figures show that young people face major obstacles in continuing their training and education, changing jobs and accessing the labour market. Before the pandemic, youth unemployment in the EU (15-24 years old) was 14.9%, […]
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MEPs approve €585 million to support refugees from Syria
Budget Committee MEPs gave their green light to top up support to refugees and host communities in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon in response to the Syrian crisis. The draft report by Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, DE) recommending the approval of the draft amending budget was adopted on Wednesday 24th with 33 votes to 4 and 3 abstentions. €485 million are earmarked […]
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Covid-19 and gender-based violence: Has the pandemic taught us anything?
Lockdowns to prevent the spread of Covid-19 trapped many women at home with abusers. Several countries saw spikes in domestic violence reports. As lockdowns ease, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is taking a closer look at how we can protect women in times of crisis – be it a pandemic, natural disaster or […]
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