In the context of ongoing debates on gender equality and EU policymaking, ASSEDEL spoke with Benedetta Scuderi, Member of the European Parliament for the Greens/EFA group and member of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). She is also shadow rapporteur for the 2025 Gender Equality Strategy report.
During the interview, MEP Scuderi discussed the main priorities of the FEMM Committee, the political challenges surrounding gender equality legislation, and the importance of turning strategies into concrete action.
Feminist Achievements and Policy Priorities
MEP Scuderi highlighted recent milestones, including the approval of My Voice, My Choice, which reaffirmed the European Parliament’s position on safe and legal abortion and respected a European Citizens’ Initiative. She stressed that beyond strategies and action plans, the FEMM Committee is focused on ensuring effective implementation and mainstreaming of gender policies across EU legislation. Her work also seeks to connect gender equality with labour, social, and economic policies, reflecting her involvement in both women’s rights and employment-related committees.
The Gender Equality Strategy and Political Resistance
As shadow rapporteur, MEP Scuderi expressed overall satisfaction with the ambition of the Gender Equality Strategy, while acknowledging that it was negotiated in a hostile political environment. She pointed to systematic opposition from the far right—often reinforced by parts of the centre-right—which limited progress on issues such as gender mainstreaming, budgetary commitments, and trans rights. Despite these setbacks, she underlined key advances, including stronger links between gender equality, care work, employment, health, reproductive rights, and intersectionality.
Budgeting, Data, and Implementation Gaps
A central concern raised by MEP Scuderi was the weak integration of gender equality into the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework. She argued that without dedicated budget lines and systematic gender mainstreaming, policy commitments risk remaining symbolic. She also highlighted structural gender imbalances within parliamentary committees, particularly in budgetary decision-making.
On implementation, she stressed the urgent need for reliable, EU-wide data on gender-related issues. Without proper data collection and monitoring, she argued, it is impossible to assess whether Member States are complying with existing legislation or to design effective future policies.
Femicide, Education, and Prevention
Addressing recent developments in Italy, MEP Scuderi welcomed the legal recognition of femicide as an important cultural and symbolic step. However, she cautioned that criminal law alone does not prevent violence. For her, real prevention lies in mandatory, age-appropriate sexual and affective education, focused on consent, relationships, and respect—areas she believes are essential to tackling structural gender-based violence.
ASSEDEL, based in Strasbourg and committed to the promotion of human rights and European values, continues to follow and shed light on developments that shape the future of European democracy and international relations.
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