International Women's Day | Gender equality | Climate

This Sunday, 8 March, is International Women’s Day (#IWD), and events are taking place all throughout the European institutions this week to commemorate the day and to celebrate the achievements of women. While the European Commission is expected to present its Gender Equality Strategy on Wednesday, the European Parliament's committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality will take stock of the progress made so far towards gender equality and empowering women.

Speaking of women's empowerment - the EU's Chief Public Prosecutor Laura Codruța Kövesi will have her first meeting with European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly on Tuesday. Swedish Climate Activist Greta Thunberg will also be in Brussels this week. Besides participating in a #FridaysForFuture protest, she will share  her thoughts with the College of Commissioners on the Climate Protection Law, as well as join the ENVI committee meeting at the European Parliament.

European Parliament

The Committee on  the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) will also host climate activist Greta Thunberg for an exchange of views open to all Members of the European Parliament. In a different meeting, the Committee will discuss the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation with the European Commission.

The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), on the occasion of the International Women's Day (IWD), will organise an Inter-parliamentary Committee Meeting on "The 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action" in collaboration with the Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments.

European Commission

This week, the Commission will propose the first European Climate Law to enshrine the 2050 carbon neutrality objective into legislation, the European Gender Equality Strategy to promote equality throughout Europe, and a new comprehensive Strategy with Africa. On Wednesday and Thursday, HR/VP Borrell will chair the Informal meeting of EU Defence ministers. Various individual Commissioner meetings are taking place as usual this week: On Thursday, Commissioner Ferreira will receive Lilyana Pavlova, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank and former Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU in 2018. On Friday, Commissioner Dalli will deliver a speech at the Croatian Presidency’s International Women’s Day Breakfast Event “Strong Women – Strong European Union”. 

Council of the EU

On Wednesday and Thursday, The Croatian Ministry of Defence will host an informal meeting of EU Defence ministers in Zagreb. On Thursday, the Environment Council will convene to discuss the Commission communication on the European Green Deal and will exchange views on EU water legislation. Furthermore, EU ministers  will address the environmental dimension of the European Semester. Finally, the Council is expected to adopt the EU's submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the long-term greenhouse gas emission development strategy.