Newer member states lagging on gender equality

The EU’s newer 13 member states have made significantly less progress than its older 15 member states in reducing research-related gender inequalities, according to a report.

There are “major differences” between the EU15 and the EU13 in terms of the amount of effort they have put into combating research-related gender inequalities, the report published by EU policy advisers on 23 November said.

In 2015, EU research ministers adopted an agreement that encouraged their countries’ governments to put in place “ambitious” goals on gender equality in research and take concrete actions towards them. The agreement covered cultural and institutional changes, giving priority to gender balance in decision-making and setting up national monitoring processes.