What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

4 unchanged paragraphs

on gender inequalities in health, specifically as regards gender-specific conditions

(2025/2074(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Articles 2 and 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union,

Changed:– having regard to Articles 8, 9, 151, 153153,157 and 157168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Removed:– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on clinical trials on medicinal products for human use, and repealing Directive 2001/20/EC1,

Added:– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 21 and 35 thereof,

Removed:– having regard to the Commission proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 July 2025 on establishing the European Competitiveness Fund (‘ECF’), including the specific programme for defence research and innovation activities, repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/522, (EU) 2021/694, (EU) 2021/697, (EU) 2021/783, repealing provisions of Regulations (EU) 2021/696, (EU) 2023/588, and amending Regulation (EU) [EDIP] (COM(2025)0555),

Added:– having regard to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention),

Removed:– having regard to its resolution of 17 December 2025 on the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion’2,

Added:– having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by the EU in 2010,

Removed:– having regard to its resolution of 24 June 2021 on the situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women’s health3,

Added:– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on clinical trials on medicinal products for human use, and repealing Directive 2001/20/EC,

Changed:– having regard to Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the CouncilEuropean RecommendationParliament and of 21the JuneCouncil of 14 May 2024 on vaccine-preventablecombating cancers4,violence against women and domestic violence,

Removed:– having regard to the Council Recommendation of 9 December 2022 on strengthening prevention through early detection: A new EU approach on cancer screening replacing Council Recommendation 2003/878/EC5,

Added:– having regard to the Commission proposal of 16 July 2025 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the European Competitiveness Fund (‘ECF’), including the specific programme for defence research and innovation activities, repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/522, (EU) 2021/694, (EU) 2021/697, (EU) 2021/783 and amending Regulations (EU) 2021/696, (EU) 2023/588, (EU) [EDIP] (COM(2025)0555),

Added:– having regard to its resolution of 17 December 2025 on the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion’,

Added:– having regard to its resolution of 24 June 2021 on the situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women’s health,

Added:– having regard to its resolution of 12 February 2020 on an EU strategy to put an end to female genital mutilation around the world,

Added:– having regard to its resolution of 29 April 2026 on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union in 2024 and 2025,

Added:– having regard to its question for written answer E-004697/2025 to the Commission regarding the recommendation on harmful practices,

Added:– having regard to the Council Recommendation of 21 June 2024 on vaccine-preventable cancers,

Added:– having regard to the Council Recommendation of 9 December 2022 on strengthening prevention through early detection: A new EU approach on cancer screening replacing Council Recommendation 2003/878/EC,

Added:– having regard to the Council conclusions of 3 December 2024 on strengthening women’s and girls’ mental health by promoting gender equality,

Added:– having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2026 entitled ‘Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030’ (COM(2026)0113),

Added:– having regard to its resolution of 13 November 2025 on the Gender Equality Strategy 2025,

Added:– having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2026 on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘My Voice, My Choice: For Safe And Accessible Abortion’ (C(2026)3225),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 16 December 2025 on an EU cardiovascular health plan: the Safe Hearts Plan (COM(2025)1024),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 7 March 2025 entitled ‘A Roadmap for Women’s Rights’ (COM(2025)0097),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 3 February 2021 entitled ‘Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan’ (COM(2021)0044),

Removed:– having regard to the proposed guidelines of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued for consultation on 4 June 2025 entitled ‘ICH E21 guideline on inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding individuals in clinical trials – Scientific guideline’,

Added:– having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2020 entitled ‘A Union of Equality: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025’ (COM(2020)0152),

Changed:– having regard to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)Commission reportpublication of JanuaryMay 2024 entitled ‘Beating Cancer Inequalities‘Case instudies theon EU:obstetric Spotlightviolence on– CancerExperience, Preventionanalysis, and Early Detection’,responses’,

Added:– having regard to the express mandate entrusted to the College of Commissioners by the European Parliament to ‘lead the work on sexual and reproductive health issues’,

Added:– having regard to the European Committee of the Regions Opinion of 15 October 2025 on strengthening women’s rights and gender equality in the EU: A local and regional perspective,

Added:– having regard to the proposed guideline of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued for consultation on 4 June 2025 entitled ‘ICH E21 guideline on inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding individuals in clinical trials – Scientific guideline’,

Added:– having regard to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) surveillance and monitoring report entitled ‘Monitoring of the responses to sexually-transmitted infection epidemics in EU/EEA countries, 2024’, published in December 2025,

Added:– having regard to the European Institute for Gender Equality’s (EIGE) Gender Equality Index 2025,

Added:– having regard to the report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) of January 2024 entitled ‘Beating Cancer Inequalities in the EU: Spotlight on Cancer Prevention and Early Detection’,

Added:– having regard to the study published by its Directorate-General for Citizens’ Rights, Justice and Institutional Affairs in November 2025 ‘Gender Inequalities in Medical Research, Drug Development and Access to Care’ ,

Added:– having regard to the study published by its Directorate-General for Internal Policies in April 2024 ‘Obstetric and gynaecological violence in the EU - Prevalence, legal frameworks and educational guidelines for prevention and elimination’ ,

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Public Health,

Changed:– having regard to the report of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (A10-0000/2026),(A10-0200/2026),

Change 1

Removed:A. whereas medical research has historically been male-centric, leading to a lack of understanding of the female anatomy; whereas this systemic inequality in medicine has an impact on the diagnostics, treatment, morbidity and mortality of under-represented sectors of the population;

Added:A. whereas health is a fundamental right, and therefore everyone must have access to quality, affordable, timely and accessible healthcare services, irrespective of their socio-economic status, as enshrined in the European Pillar of Social Rights; whereas reducing inequalities presents an opportunity to address fragmentation and strengthen health outcomes across Member States, reinforcing the principles of equality and social cohesion enshrined in the Treaties through a stronger and more coordinated response at EU level;

Removed:B. whereas, although regulatory developments have improved inclusivity in clinical trials, the representation of women remains below that of men and the disparity is particularly acute for pregnant and breastfeeding women6;

Added:B. whereas multiple and intersecting barriers to accessing healthcare services, as well as complex health needs, are encountered by refugee and ethnic minority women, women living in poverty, unhoused women, women in precarious employment or with unpaid care responsibilities, older women, women with disabilities, women residing in rural and socio-economically disadvantaged areas and individuals from LGBTIQ+ communities in particular; whereas an intersectional approach to women’s health is therefore essential;

Removed:C. whereas transgender people and marginalised communities are absent from most clinical trials, meaning that their response to treatment is often unknown7;

Added:C. whereas poverty and social exclusion have a significant impact on health outcomes and access to healthcare; whereas women face greater financial barriers than men in accessing health services; whereas these barriers are further exacerbated for vulnerable groups, who often face additional layers of discrimination and encounter multiple barriers to accessing inclusive, culturally sensitive and quality healthcare;

Removed:D. whereas 72 % of studies on drug trials fail to provide sex and gender-disaggregated data8;

Added:D. whereas unequal access to healthcare services across the EU, particularly in rural, remote and mountainous areas, islands and outermost regions, constitutes a significant barrier to timely diagnosis and treatment, including for pregnant women;

Removed:E. whereas the ability of individuals to exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) must be guaranteed in order to achieve gender equality;

Added:E. whereas access to safe, clean and affordable water and sanitation is a fundamental determinant of physical and mental health and a public good and plays a crucial role in disease prevention, chronic condition management and overall well-being across the course of a person’s life; whereas inequalities in access to water and sanitation mostly affect people living in poverty, inadequate housing and rural or remote areas and have a specific impact on women, children, older people and persons with disabilities;

Removed:F. whereas more than 20 million women9 in the EU still do not have access to safe and legal abortion, as several Member States maintain harmful regulatory and procedural barriers;

Added:F. whereas simplification and better coordination of cross-border healthcare would contribute to ensuring that women can access treatment across borders when needed, while reducing red tape for patients and providers;

Removed:G. whereas endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting 10-15 % of women of reproductive age10;

Added:G. whereas medical research has historically been male-centric, leading to insufficient understanding of women’s health, physiology and sex-based differences; whereas this systemic inequality in medicine has an impact on the diagnosis, treatment, morbidity and mortality of under-represented sections of the population, including women and gender-diverse people;

Removed:H. whereas, despite the prevalence of endometriosis, it takes on average 6 to 10 years to diagnose;