European Union

Cosmetics show how misinformation thrives when science is complex and risk is misunderstood. Using everyday consumer products as a case study, this article explores how fear, misinterpreted hazard data and simplified narratives influence public perception, consumer behavior and regulatory debates in the European Union.

The workers hope their action can push Berlin to take more decisive action

German leader pushes US, Israel to ‘bring this to an end’

Dans l’optique d’étendre son réseau et de renforcer l’offre de transport national, la compagnie Domestic Airlines, filiale d’Air Algérie, a officialisé mardi l’ouverture de nouvelles […]

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Nach den Luftangriffen Israels und der Vereinigen Staaten hat US-Präsident Trump die Bevölkerung aufgerufen, sich ihr Land zurückzuholen. Welche Folgen hat der Angriff? Gibt es erste Anzeichen eines Regimewechsels?

Sánchez steps up the rhetoric and strengthens Spain's opposition to war with Iran

In today's edition: CAP, sugar, pesticides

In today's edition: Iran war, energy prices, made-in-Europe plans for clean tech

Deux nouveaux suspects ont été interpellés mercredi dans le cadre de l'enquête sur la mort de Quentin Deranque, militant d'extrême droite tué sous les coups d'un groupe en février à Lyon. Âgés de 22 et 26 ans, ils ont été arrêtés dans la région lyonnaise et dans l'Aube, selon des sources policières.

Iran, FCAS, Mediterranean

In today's edition: Data centres efficiency, US AI for mass surveillance, EU child protection

As Europe strives to position itself at the forefront of the global digital economy, data centres are emerging as the backbone of competitiveness and innovation, enabling digitalisation, artificial intelligence, cloud services, and the broader digital transition. This presents challenges due to rising energy consumption, which will need the development of large-scale renewable capacity to replace […]

In today's edition: CMA, weight loss drugs, and a missing non-paper

Poland's centrist ruling coalition promised to reverse the most restrictive elements of Poland's abortion laws before their election in 2023

Written by Ionel Zamfir

Despite strong political commitments to gender equality at EU and national level, women still remain politically under-represented at all levels of political power. In the European Parliament, as well as in national parliaments, governments and local assemblies, their share most often is under the symbolic 40 % mark. Moreover, after successive electoral cycles in which women’s share in representative assemblies had increased, this trend has slowed down or come to a halt. Progress has also been uneven among Member States, with women remaining markedly under-represented in some Member States.

Gender-balanced political representation is not only important for women and female politicians but also for political parties themselves and the rest of society. It increases trust in the political system and strengthens economic and political governance.

The EU has committed to achieving gender balance in political representation and participation in the EU; however, except for the European elections, its powers in the area remain limited mainly to soft action. It can support the specific actions to be taken by the EU institutions, national governments, political parties, civil society and the media, by issuing recommendations, facilitating the exchange of good practice or funding projects.

There is substantial evidence of the obstacles to women’s political participation and the means to overcome it. This picture is nevertheless not static, as new challenges emerge, particularly from mounting opposition to gender equality, as well as from digital technologies, most recently artificial intelligence, which can both empower women and discourage them.

This updates a March 2024 briefing by Ionel Zamfir.

Source: European Institute for Gender Equality (2025)

Read the complete briefing on ‘Women in politics in the EU: State of play in 2026‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Also, in Wednesday’s edition: ‘Made with Europe,’ Trump vs Sánchez, Macron speech, Merz in DC