- Europe elects a new parliament
- Stronger together: democracy and gender equality in Europe
- "Now it's my turn! - European Elections 2024" - Event for the first European elections from the age of 16
- EU Monitoring: Current socio-political developments in Europe
- Threat to democracy and human rights: the anti-gender movement in Europe
Europe elects a new parliament
The focus issue of the EU-Monitoring provides detailed background information on the 2024 European elections: it gives an overview of the upcoming elections and the fundamental importance of democracy in the EU. It also looks at the role of the Parliament in gender equality and presents selected election plans of the European parties as well as the election demands of various European civil society organisations. The focus issue of the EU-Monitoring was first published in January 2024 and updated and expanded in February and March 2024.The special edition of the EU-Monitoring on the 2024 European elections compiles information researched by the Observatory on all aspects of the elections. In addition to official information from the EU, it also contains references to published election demands and campaigns by civil society organisations in the field of social policy.
Please note that both issues are only published in German.
"Now it's my turn! - European Elections 2024" - Event for the first European elections from the age of 16
On 18 April 2024, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) organized the event Now it's my turn! - European Elections 2024 in Berlin on the occasion of the European elections and the first elections from the age of 16 in Germany with on-stage talks for young first-time voters.The responsible Federal Minister Lisa Paus and representatives of the federal states and EU institutions participated on stage and talked about the future of Europe and the participation of young people. The event was also live-streamed.
Before the stage talks, there was the opportunity for young people to find out more about the European elections and other European issues. The Observatory organized the Marketplace "Europe". The Observatory was also represented with its own stand on gender equality in Europe. This topic is also examined in more detail in the dossier Stronger together: Democracy and gender equality in Europe, which will be published at the end of May.
Stronger together: democracy and gender equality in Europe
The Observatory is currently working on a Dossier on the topic of democracy and gender equality in Europe against the backdrop of the upcoming European elections. The focus is on European achievements and limits concerning equality policies, with a view to an intersectional understanding of gender equality. Such an understanding addresses the entanglements of different categories of inequality and their effects.
The Dossier will be published at the end of May.
Threat to democracy and human rights: the anti-gender movement in Europe
Far-right and anti-feminist movements mobilising against gender equality as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights have gained strength across Europe in recent years. The strengthening also brings to light an increasingly transnationally organised and financed independent anti-gender movement that attacks the rights of women* and LGBTIQ* persons. It also puts democracy, human rights and the rule of law at risk. This is evident not only locally, regionally or nationally, but also Europe-wide, where alliances are organised transnationally to undermine the European Union's foundations and reverse already existing consensus.
The Newsletter 2/2021 introduces the emergence, main lines of argumentation, and actors of the transnational anti-gender movement in Europe. To do so, the Newsletter looks at the specific case of the Istanbul Convention combatting gender-based violence. Furthermore, it provides insights into three focal topics: transnational financing structures of the anti-gender movement, increasing anti-trans attacks and corresponding counterstrategies, as well as gender-based cyber violence.
In 2023, the Observatory looked at the anti-gender movement in Europe again. Dossier 1/2023 deals with the right to abortion in Europe. Banning abortions is also intended to undermine human rights and gender equality with implications for an open and democratic society.
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 the field of social policy. A special focus is on our key issues in the fields of child and youth policy, family and reconciliation policy, gender equality policy, rights of LGBTIQ* people and policy for older people.Accompanying the EU Monitoring, we publish focus issues in which the European Union's sociopolitical relevant measures and strategies are presented.
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.