On 26 and 27 January, the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) held discussions covering key gender equality priorities for 2026. On Monday, the Committee exchanged views with the Cyprus Presidency, with the discussion covering sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence, and the legal definition of consent in rape cases. The exchange also addressed cyberviolence, such as online harassment, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, deepfakes, and AI-enabled abuse. 

The Committee then heard from the Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), highlighted the pressures on gender equality in Europe, including digital violence, economic insecurity, legislative backsliding, and political polarisation. She presented three core priorities for the Agency in 2026: strengthening the EU’s gender equality evidence base, supporting implementation of EU commitments on gender-based violence, and equipping institutions to mainstream gender equality across policies.  

Finally, on Tuesday, the FEMM Committee and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) adopted a joint report emphasising the need to address structural gender-based economic inequalities in pay and pensions. The report urges the Commission to present an ambitious gender equality strategy with targeted measures to support fair pay, work-life balance, accessible care services, and women’s entrepreneurship. To support these objectives, sport offers a powerful and often underutilised space. Beyond participation, sport contributes to skills development, confidence-building, leadership pathways, and social inclusion - key enablers for reducing long-term economic disparities. EU-funded initiatives such as the GAMES project and EMPOWHER demonstrate how sport can translate these principles into tangible impact.