Supporting Inclusive Gender Equality in the New Commission: Open Letter to Commissioner Zaharieva

On 18 September 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her Political Guidelines for the next European Commission and Commissioners-Designates. The Mission Letter for Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva, however, did not address gender equality, inclusiveness, or the position of women in research within her portfolio. This omission prompted GENDERACTIONplus to take action to ensure that the progress made in recent years on promoting gender equality in research and innovation (R&I) at the Commission level would continue.

To this end, GENDERACTIONplus organized an open letter urging Commissioner Zaharieva to prioritize inclusive gender equality in R&I, particularly in the upcoming Framework Programme 10. We emphasized the critical importance of maintaining Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) as an eligibility criterion.

Evidence consistently shows that GEPs have had a profound impact, particularly in countries with less advanced gender equality policies in research and higher education. This policy serves as vital backing for gender equality officers and HR teams in research and higher education institutions, enabling them to drive meaningful change.

The open letter received remarkable support, with 664 signatories from 24 EU Member States and 21 other countries, representing the research, academic, and gender equality communities. This overwhelming endorsement underscores the widespread commitment to advancing intersectional and inclusive gender equality in Framework Programme 10 and beyond.

On 17 December, the letter, accompanied by the list of signatories, was officially submitted to Commissioner Zaharieva.