Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/2240(INI)
Recommendation to the Council on EU priorities for the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. · First reading
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 12 February 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done) 27 November 2025
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 27 January 2026
- Tabled for plenary(done) 2 February 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 12 February 2026
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
12 February 2026 · decision 7
Jobs, social affairs & equality, Resolution
Recommendation to the Council on EU priorities for the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
Adopted 340 for · 141 against · 68 abstained by a clear majority
AI summary:The text calls on the Council to reaffirm the EU's commitment to gender equality and to ensure women's rights are implemented in EU external action.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:The text now states definitively that sexual violence constitutes war crimes, removing any conditional language. It drops calls for monitoring frameworks, international cross-border mechanisms, and dedicated courts for gender-based violence. It removes a reaffirmation of asylum rights for gender-based persecution and a call to recognize gender apartheid. It adds a new paragraph on supporting motherhood and removes the word 'feminist' from foreign policy commitments. Other changes are formal or wording: minor rephrasing, numbering fix, and removal of 'relevant' and 'mandatory'.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The report expands recitals to cover backlash, funding cuts, and intersectionality, and adds new recitals on violence, SRHR, and women's representation. The recommendations are substantially extended, adding calls for monitoring frameworks, legal aid, gender apartheid recognition, and action on online violence and SRHR.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Lina Gálvez (S&D)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Maria Walsh (EPP), Heléne Fritzon (S&D), Margarita De La Pisa Carrión (Patriots), Chiara Gemma (ECR), Lucia Yar (Renew), Mélissa Camara (Greens)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 12 Feb 2026
AI summary:Parliament recommends that the Council prioritise gender equality and women's rights at the 70th UN Commission on the Status of Women, focusing on access to justice, ending violence, and ensuring women's participation.
Tabled for plenary· 2 Feb 2026
AI summary:Parliament recommends that the Council reaffirm the EU's commitment to gender equality and women's rights in external action, with an inclusive, intersectional and adequately funded approach.
Committee draft· 20 Nov 2025
AI summary:This draft report recommends that the Council reaffirm the EU's commitment to gender equality and ensure women's rights in external action, with Parliament's involvement in shaping the EU position for the 70th UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 4 steps
12 February 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 12 Feb 2026 Report A10-0010/2026Adopted text TA10-0051/2026
12 February 2026
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
4 February 2026
18 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
2 February 2026
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 4 steps
27 January 2026
Committee vote: report adopted
FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
28 November 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) proposed changes to the draft.
27 November 2025
Referred to the FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
20 November 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/2240(INI)