The Implications for FDI Location of Future EU Enlargement

The European Parliament has always emphasised gender equality as an important value of the European Union and has actively used its powers to pass laws that promote gender justice. In this European Policy Analysis, Johanna Kantola, Professor at the University of Helsinki, examines the progress, setbacks and variations over time of gender equality in the European Parliament, focusing on the implications of the 2024 elections.

In terms of representation after the 2024 elections, the share of women in the European Parliament decreased from 41% to 38.6%, marking a break in the trend towards increasing gender balance. Variations between member states remain, with some countries such as Finland, France and Sweden having more women than men in the European Parliament, while Cyprus has no female MEPs at all.

Women are more represented in green and liberal groups, as well as in groups on the left. Conservative and right-wing groups, on the other hand, are dominated by men. Men continue to dominate the economy, foreign affairs and security committees, while women are overrepresented in the social affairs and education committees.

The political dynamics and balance of power within and between political groups also affect gender equality policy in the European Parliament. The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality still has an important role in promoting new initiatives, but the committee, like the entire assembly, has now shifted to the right.

The author highlights that the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP)  group in the Parliament plays a crucial role in gender equality issues. The group often fluctuates between supporting and opposing policies in this area. The conclusion is that a centre coalition is crucial for the progressive trend to continue, as the radical right and far-right groups are strongly opposed to gender equality policies. At the moment, gender equality in the European Parliament is at a crossroads.