Filenews 20 July 2025 - by Marina Koukou-Stavrinou
The EIGE report on the Equality Mechanisms of the EU Member States has recently been released.
Cyprus ranks second to last with 30% and Poland last with 17%, while Spain ranks first with 86% and Sweden second with 78%. The EU average is 51% of the sample of inadequate monitoring structures and tools.
As highlighted in the report:
- The average adequate staffing and funding of national equality bodies is 47%.
- Around 1/3 of member states score below 25% on this indicator.
- Greece, Spain, France and Sweden maintain a high level of institutional capacity (88%).
- Only 5 countries (Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Finland) have an exclusive, independent gender equality agency. The rest integrate the function into broader bodies.
Specifically, the conclusions of the report on Cyprus are the following
- Overall institutional strength of around 48% (below the EU average of 51%).
- Gender mainstreaming remains limited, despite legal obligations.
- The available resources and staffing of equality bodies are inadequate.
- Gender statistics are collected, but they need to be enhanced in quality and use.
As EIGE concludes
- Strong institutions bring substantial progress in gender equality.
- Gender mainstreaming remains inadequately implemented, despite obligations.
- National agencies need adequate staffing and independence to operate effectively.
- EU resources (e.g. Cohesion Policy, ESF+) are a lever of pressure and an opportunity to strengthen equality.
- Systematic collection of gender data strengthens policy design and monitoring.
The conclusions of the report come to support the long-standing positions of the Office of Women Workers of the PEO that in order to have significant steps forward in gender equality, in addition to wishful thinking and declarations, beyond legislation, adequately staffed and trained mechanisms for monitoring and implementing legislation are also required.
Tools and mechanisms are also needed to monitor indicators that examine the progress of gender equality in all sectors and the effectiveness of the policies and measures taken by the Government.
Moreover, as a state we should be held accountable when we are called upon to harmonize with Directive EU 2024/1499 of the Council of the European Union by transposing it into national law by 19/6/2026, on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment of persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, equal treatment of persons in matters of employment and occupation irrespective of religion or belief; disability, age or sexual orientation, equal treatment of women and men in matters of social security and in access to and supply of goods and services, and the amendment of Directives 2000/43/EC and 2004/113/EC.
