Lost in the Ballots: Following the 2024 European Parliament elections, gender parity was achieved in only five Member States, meaning that a male majority still represents and makes decisions for all EU citizens. Critics have also pointed out that the new parliament lacks representation of racial, sexual, and linguistic minorities. This mirrors the situation in many national parliaments, paralleled by a visible return to ideology-fuelled parliamentarianism. Considering the importance of diversity and representability in parliamentary settings to ensure equal opportunities for all, how should future elections be approached?
Female Frontlines: Armed conflicts disproportionately affect women as non-combatants, exposing them to a heightened risk of gender-based violence and disrupted access to essential services. Even so, the EU fails to account for effective gender-focused aid, external action, and peacekeeping policies, with, for example, intensified sanctions in Sudan leading to a rise in poverty levels amongst women. How can the EU ensure that its policies adopt a gender-responsive approach that addresses both the immediate needs and long-term inequalities of women affected by war?
Caution! Work is male: Whilst many professions are becoming less segregated by gender, labour experts are warning that gender and biological differences are not adequately taken into account in the workplace to ensure equitable occupational safety. With EU-OSHA identifying that women or minorities are often less included in occupational safety considerations, what measures ought to be taken to ensure safe and dignified working conditions for all workers across Europe?
Preferential Treatment: Historically, most medical research and clinical trials have been conducted on able-bodied, cisgender, white men. This exposes others, particularly disabled women or women suffering from chronic health conditions, to biases, poorer health outcomes, and without recourse against potentially invasive medical treatment. How can the EU encourage the development of a more inclusive and comprehensive healthcare research practice and ensure equitable treatment for all people?
The Price of Exploitation: In 2024, the European Parliament voted on a ban on importing goods which are a product of exploitation or forced labour. Nevertheless, labour abuses in supply chains persist, ranging from unsafe working conditions to extremely low wages. Simultaneously, production itself can have serious environmental consequences for exporting countries. What further standards should European countries establish to ensure sustainable imports whilst maintaining the integrity of production chains?
The Burn Book: Meta and other platforms have recently begun scaling back their content moderation policies to combat misinformation and hate speech. At the same time, the rapid advancement of Generative Artificial Intelligence, including through the use of deepfakes, has enabled new forms of abuse. As a consequence, women and ethnic or sexual minorities are regularly the targets of online harassment or degrading treatment. How should the EU utilise technological and legal instruments to establish an online environment free from abuse and harmful content, one that holds both platforms and users accountable?
Gender Blender: Recent changes, such as the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that the term “woman” refers to those biologically female in specific contexts, widen the discrepancies in how gender is legally defined and recognised between European states. This interpretation of gender and sex creates further obstacles for people who might be intersex or non-binary. Considering that several Member States still require mental health assessments and a mandatory sex change to issue a Gender Recognition Certificate, how can Europe establish clear legal interpretations of gender for gender recognition and anti-discrimination purposes, while having a harmonised approach to protecting transgender and intersex individuals?