European Union

The EU and International Gender Strategy Team engages with other government departments on issues affecting women and other equalities strands in the EU.

The EU and International Gender Strategy Team engages with various EU institutions, including the European Commission and the Council of the European Union, contributing to the development of common standards and regulations to uphold UK interests and reflect best practices related to gender equality.  Key issues include:

• providing input to the development of the European Gender Strategy (2010 -2015)
• providing input to the negotiations of gender-related instruments (e.g. through the European Council on Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO))
• Ministers’ participation in periodic meetings of Gender and Equality Ministers where priorities in these areas are discussed.

The EU and International Gender Strategy Team participates in a number of EU groups to inform best practice and identify common goals on gender equality:

• EPSCO
• Social Questions Working Group (SQWP)
• Council Employment Committee (EMCO)
• EU Parliament’s Women’s Rights & Gender Equality Committee
• EU Commission’s Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for women and men
• EU High-level Group on Gender Mainstreaming