“We have pushed the walls” Agnès Hubert, Interview with the Expert for EU Equality Policy

Abstract

Agnès Hubert reflects on developments in EU equality policy since the 1990s. She sees von der Leyen's proclaimed “doctrine” of a “Union of Equality” as a major breakthrough and places the structural changes during the first von der Leyen Commission within the context of long-term trends. Simultaneously, she is rather skeptical about its continuation due to changing contextual factors, not least the shift to the right in the European Parliament, but also in the Council of the EU. The withdrawal of the Horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive – which has since been substantially watered down – by the European Commission is a notable example of this. She nevertheless views the current “Roadmap for Women's Rights”, in which her think tank, Gender 5+, was intensively involved in the consultations, as an important step.
Keywords: European Union, Equality Policy, “Union of Equality”, Horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive

Bibliography: Hubert, Agnès/Femina Politica, Redaktion: „Wir haben Mauern durchbrochen“. Agnès Hubert, Expertin für Gleichstellungspolitik der EU im Interview, Femina Politica – Zeitschrift für feministische Politikwissenschaft, 2-2025, pp. 23-31.