Gender equality is about fairness and dignity. But it is also something deeper than that. Gender equality is a health check for our societies. It tells us how well our systems work, who gets a chance, who gets left behind, and how ready we are for the future.
Gender equality is also smart economics, rocket fuel for more innovation and economic growth. When women can fully take part in society, at work, in business, in decision-making, our economies grow faster and our communities become stronger.
The numbers are crystal clear. The World Bank tells us that closing the gender gap in employment and entrepreneurship could boost global GDP by more than 20%. That is transformational. If we closed this gap over the next decade, global growth could double.
In the European Union, the cost of inaction is staggering. The gender employment gap alone costs us more than €390 billion every year. That is money not earned, talent not used, and ideas left on the table.
The upside of equality is just as striking. By 2050, stronger gender equality could raise EU GDP per capita by up to 10%. Gender equality therefore is not just the right thing to do, it is one of the smartest investments a society can make. That is why it sits at the heart of Europes vision for the future, at home, and in how we engage with the world.
Last year we adopted our landmark Roadmap for Womens Rights, setting out a clear vision for where Europe wants to go on gender equality. It puts womens real lives at the centre of EU policymaking, at work, at home, online, and in public spaces.
This Roadmap is not the finish line, it is the launchpad. It is the foundation for our new Gender Equality Strategy, which we will adopt ahead of International Womens Day this March.
We are not starting from scratch. We are building on real progress: new rules on pay transparency, gender balance on company boards, and laws to tackle violence against women. These measures are making Europe fairer and our economies stronger. But lasting progress needs lasting investment. Equality doesnt happen on goodwill alone, it needs funding.
That is where our next EU budget comes in. We are working on two tracks. First, gender equality across the entire budget, not in one corner, not in one programme, but across the board. Second, targeted funding in Europe and around the world, where it is needed most.
Our proposal for the EUs next long-term budget, nearly two trillion euros, embeds gender equality by design, not as an afterthought. The proposed AgoraEU programme builds on the current Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme and comes with a stronger budget and a wider reach. It supports equality, fights discrimination, strengthens civic participation, and tackles gender‑based violence.
Major programmes like Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, and Global Europe integrate gender equality and fair participation from the very start.
With our proposed Performance Regulation, gender equality becomes the thread running through every euro we spend. That means smarter budgeting, clear indicators, and real tracking, so we know where the money goes, and who it reaches.
Gender equality does not stop at Europes borders. It is central to our action beyond Europe. Through our Gender Action Plan III, we committed to making gender equality a goal in at least 85% of all external actions, and we are on track to deliver.
Between 2021 and 2024, EU funding for gender equality reached nearly €50 billion. Through our Global Gateway Strategy, we are breaking down barriers that keep women from accessing land, finance, and decision‑making.
Through Team Europe Initiatives, like “Investing in Young Businesses in Africa”, young entrepreneurs, especially women, get the financial backing and technical support they need to succeed. Thousands of women have already completed business and green‑growth training. Many have received seed funding, and many are now running their own businesses, creating jobs and supporting families.
When we invest in women and girls, we make our economies stronger and our societies healthier. The Roadmap for Womens Rights sets the direction, and our EU budget gives us the tools. And today, Europe has something just as important: we have the will to build a future that is fairer and more prosperous for everyone.