EIGE’s Recommendations on the European Pillar of Social Rights as an Opportunity for Gender Equality in the EU

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is an autonomous body of the European Union, established to contribute to and strengthen the promotion of gender equality, including gender mainstreaming in all EU policies and the resulting national policies, and the fight against discrimination based on sex, as well as to raise EU citizens’ awareness of gender equality.

The seat of the European Institute for Gender Equality is in Vilnius (Lithuania). It was officially launched in June 2010. The European Pillar of Social Rights is an opportunity for the EU to design and implement sustainable and effective policies that benefit all - women and men. Setting and reaching gender-specific targets can facilitate closing gender gaps, achieving a fairer society and it can also contribute to growth and more effective economies.

This note sets out recommendations from the European Institute for Gender Equality on the European Pillar of Social Rights. It identifies gender equality as a specific goal of the Pillar, three general principles the Pillar would benefit from, and examples of gender mainstreaming.

The recommendations reflect on a wider EIGE consultation with its Experts’ Forum – a consultative EIGE body – which is composed of members from the competent bodies on gender equality from every Member State of the European Union, representatives of the European Parliament, Civil Society Organisations and European Social Partners.