The European Commission must immediately adopt a new Strategy for Gender Equality 2016-2020 to addresses gender equality issues in the fields of violence against women, working time, decision-making, education, the media and external relations among many other areas, said Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi (S&D) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The previous Commission strategy for equality between women and men for 2010-2015 was not extended by the Commission and instead Commissioner Jourova presented only a Staff Working Document.

“I am very disappointed by the fact that the Commission has decided to ignore the European Parliament demands and chose to downgrade the expired Strategy for equality between women to a Staff Working Document. This document is far from a real commitment and will not make any difference for the advancement and protection of women and girls in Europe. ” said MEP Mizzi.

“The problem is that document will not be presented to the other EU institutions, will be less transparent, will not be subject to democratic approval, and will not have a high political profile”, MEP Mizzi commented during her speech at the plenary session.

"It is clear that the needs and the rights of women and girls are currently not being met in practice. Women deserve better than a staff working document."

"Women deserve a long-term visionary strategy with an overarching policy framework with a wide range of issues, proper benchmarks, monitoring and accountability mechanisms. I also demanded that the strategy should implement robust measures to combat violence against women." said MEP Mizzi.

“Therefore, I am happy that despite opposition from the conservatives, the Socialists and Democrats Group led a progressive majority in the European Parliament today and voted in favour of a resolution calling on the European Commission and the EU member states to present a new strategy for gender equality, including proposals to fight violence against women”, concluded MEP Mizzi.