- What happens after the European elections?
- Going mainstream: how young people’s perspectives can consistently be taken into account in the EU
- EU Monitoring: Current socio-political developments in Europe
- Observatory's new publications on the right to abortion in Europe
- Negotiations on the directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence
- Stronger together: democracy and gender equality in Europe
What happens after the European elections?
The special edition of the EU-Monitoring and the infographic on Europe after the elections compiles current socio-political information on the results of the 2024 European elections and the resulting events. In addition to election results, their classification and institutional processes, it also presents the demands of individual civil society organisations.Please note that the special edition of the EU-Monitoring is only published in German.
EU Monitoring: Current socio-political developments in Europe
In our EU-Monitoring, we provide a regular overview of the activities of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the European civil society organisations in social policy.If you would like to receive the EU-Monitoring by e-mail, please write us stating your name and organisation: beobachtungsstelle (a) iss-ffm.de
Please note that the EU-Monitoring is only published in German.
Going mainstream: how young people’s perspectives can consistently be taken into account in the EU
With the introduction of the European Commission’s Youth Test from 2025 onwards, the concept of Youth Mainstreaming is moving further into the spotlight with the aim of better integrating young people's perspectives at EU level. The Dossier addresses these topics from an intersectional perspective.
In the introduction, the Observatory presents the concept of youth mainstreaming and other measures that can promote the integration of youth perspectives. In his contribution, Giorgi Davidovi (Verian Group) illustrates youth-centred policies in the EU. The interview with Carmen Tanasie (ERGO Network) and Amir Alibabić (EDF) focuses on the intersectional inclusion of young people in European processes. Demands are formulated on how the needs, opinions, and perspectives of young Roma* and young people with disabilities can be better taken into account. In the final part, the Observatory summarises the three most important insights of the dossier on Youth Mainstreaming.
Stronger together: democracy and gender equality in Europe
What's gender equality got to do with democracy? Why is an intersectional understanding of gender equality more democratic? And what's happening in the European Union to foster gender equality and democracy?
The Dossier engages with these questions in depth: The topic is introduced by Julia Lux (Observatory). In his statement, Robert Biedroń (Chair of the FEMM-Committee in the European Parliament) recapitulates the EU parliamentary equality policy efforts during the legislative period 2019–2024. Belinda Dear (ILGA-Europe) and Julie Pascoët (ENAR) highlight in the interview where reform is needed from an intersectional perspective on equality. Gabriele Abels (University of Tübingen, Germany) discusses the Commission initiative Union of Equality. To top it off, theses on the relationship between democracy and gender equality by Julia Lux (Observatory) provide food for thought.
Negotiations on the directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence
On February 6, 2024, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU agreed on a directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence. The agreement was preceded by difficult negotiations:The Parliament welcomed the proposal for a directive submitted by the European Commission on March 8, 2022 and wanted to strengthen it even further, while the Council of the EU demanded some far-reaching changes. The biggest point of contention was the deletion of an EU-wide definition of rape, as demanded by the Council. The member states now have three years to transpose the directive into national law.
Please note that the focus issue is only published in German.
Observatory's new publications on the right to abortion in Europe
The Observatory has been focussing its research on the right to abortion in Europe. With our publications, we are making a substantive contribution to the Europe-wide debate about this:
Dossier on the right to abortion in Europe: It engages with European, national, and civil society perspectives on the right to abortion. Transnationally linked opponents of abortion do not just seek to ban abortions; they also question gender equality in Europe. As a result, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law are threatened.
Working Paper on regulation and provision of abortion compared: It contrasts regulations and provision of pregnancy termination in five EU Member States with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation and the vision of reproductive justice. It shows what they should do to guarantee the rights and health of pregnant people effectively.
Factsheets: The findings of the Observatory's work on the right to abortion were published as factsheets concisely.