Spring 2020 Economic Forecast: A deep and uneven recession, an uncertain recovery

The coronavirus pandemic represents a major shock for the global and EU economies, with very severe socio-economic consequences. The Spring 2020 Economic Forecast projects that the euro area economy will contract by a record 7¾% in 2020 and grow by 6¼% in 2021. The EU economy is forecast to contract by 7½% in 2020 and grow by around 6% in 2021. Read more

Covid-19: EU support for the tourism industry

Tourism is one of the sectors most affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. Read more on how the EU is protecting businesses, workers and passengers. Revenue is expected to drop 50% for hotels and restaurants, 70% for tour operators and travel agencies and 90% for cruises and airlines. Read more

Covid-19 tracing apps: ensuring privacy and data protection

Dedicated mobile apps could play a key role in the fight against Covid-19 and the EU has been working with member states to develop effective solutions. As apps could expose sensitive user data, Parliament has underlined the need to ensure they are designed carefully. Read more

ESMA consults on SME Growth Markets

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has today launched a consultation on the functioning of the Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SME) Growth Market regime in the European Union (EU) and on two draft technical standards, introduced by the amendments to the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) for the promotion of the use of SME Growth Markets. Read more

Coronavirus Global Response: €7.4 billion raised for universal access to vaccines

The Commission registered €7.4 billion, equivalent to $8 billion, in pledges from donors worldwide during the Coronavirus Global Response pledging event. This includes a pledge of €1.4 billion by the Commission. The aim is to gather significant funding to ensure the collaborative development and universal deployment of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines against coronavirus. Read more

Coronavirus: Commission adopts package of measures to further support the agri-food sector

The Commission published the latest package of exceptional measures to further support the agricultural and food sectors most affected by the coronavirus crisis. Read more

Coronavirus Response: Commission adopts banking package to facilitate lending to households and businesses in the EU

The aim of this package is to ensure that banks can continue to lend money to support the economy and help mitigate the significant economic impact of the Coronavirus. It includes an Interpretative Communication on the EU's accounting and prudential frameworks, as well as targeted “quick fix” amendments to EU banking rules. Read more

Coronavirus: EU guidance for a safe return to the workplace

How to ensure the health and safety of workers when they come back to the workplace? In response, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has issued guidance on coming back to work. Read more

EU launches new €50 million pilot to develop skills and education across Europe

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and European Commission are launching a new pilot guarantee facility to improve access to finance for individuals and organisations looking to invest in skills and education. Read more

Coronavirus: Commission and European Investment Fund (part of EIB Group) unlock €8 billion in finance for 100,000 small and medium-sized businesses

The European Commission has unlocked €1 billion from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) that will serve as a guarantee to the European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the European Investment Bank Group. Read more

The European Commission must act now to close the gender pay gap

One of the political guidelines of candidate for President Ursula von der Leyen was to table measures to introduce binding pay-transparency measures in the first 100 days of her mandate. The European Women’s Lobby welcomed this announcement to close the gender pay gap with great enthusiasm. Read more

EWL Policy Brief: Putting equality between women and men at the heart of the response to COVID-19 across Europe

In the current global context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) recognises the significant and long-term impacts this health crisis will have for all across Europe and beyond, and that this will disproportionately be shouldered by women and girls. This is why EWL members across Europe and EWL’s Brussels-based secretariat have come together to draft the policy brief: ‘Women must not pay the price for COVID-19’. Read more

Agenda 2030: unleashing the potential of women entrepreneurs

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires the active participation of women, including those working in the private sector. On 6th March Agenda 2030: unleashing the potential of women entrepreneurs debate was organised as part of Development Policy Forum (DPF), KAGİDER was represented by KAGIDER Member Itir Aykut as speaker. Read more

Gender equality matters in COVID-19 response

The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health issue. It is a profound shock to our societies and economies, and women are at the heart of care and response efforts underway. As frontline responders, health professionals, community volunteers, transport and logistics managers, scientists and more, women are making critical contributions to address the outbreak every day. UN Women is bringing up-to-date information and analysis on how and why gender matters in COVID-19 response. Read more

Family-friendly policies and other good workplace practices in the context of COVID-19: Key steps employers can take

The consequences of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are unprecedented and felt around the world. The pandemic is heavily affecting labour markets and economies, including global supply chains, leading to widespread business disruptions. Self-employed, domestic, and care workers and those in casual or temporary agency employment are at particular risk. The absence of adequate social protection systems exacerbates working families’ vulnerability to the crisis. Read more

Women must not pay the price for COVID-19: Putting equality between women and men at the heart of the response to COVID-19 across Europe

The COVID-19 crisis is disproportionately impacting women and girls who are made vulnerable by our patriarchal and neoliberal capitalist system: a system that is not working for people or the planet, and most definitely not working for women and girls. In these immensely difficult times for all people and societies in Europe and globally, the EU and its Member States must show political leadership and urgently ensure that gender-sensitive responses are implemented so that the price of these current crises is not paid by women, especially the most marginalised. Read more

Commission welcomes the green light to opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

The European Commission welcomes the Council's decision to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, subject to final endorsement by the European Council members. Read more The Council conclusions

Member States agree to fully implement the Beijing Declaration on gender equality, addressing gaps that hold women back

In a Political Declaration adopted on 9th March by Member States commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, leaders pledged to ramp up efforts to fully implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, still considered the most visionary blueprint on women’s rights. Read more

Making Europe's businesses future-ready: A new Industrial Strategy for a globally competitive, green and digital Europe

The Commission presents a new Strategy to help Europe's industry lead the twin transitions towards climate neutrality and digital leadership. The Strategy aims to drive Europe's competitiveness and its strategic autonomy at a time of moving geopolitical plates and increasing global competition. It sets out a range of actions to support all players of European industry, including big and small companies, innovative start-ups, research centres, service providers, suppliers and social partners. Read more

Gender Equality Strategy: Striving for a Union of equality

The European Commission presented its strategy for equality between women and men in Europe. While the EU is a global leader in gender equality and has made significant progress in the last decades, gender-based violence and stereotypes continue to persist: one in three women in the EU was subject to physical and/or sexual violence. Even though more women graduate from universities, they earn on average 16% less than men do and only 8% of CEO's of the EU's largest companies are women. Read more

European Women’s Lobby’s reaction to the launch of the European Commission “A Union of Equality: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025”

EWL shares the European Commission’s conclusions on the serious threats to the rights of women and girls in Europe: women and girls make up more than half the population of the EU but still face systemic discrimination, stereotypes, and barriers in all spheres of life in Europe and beyond. Read more