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The Task Force on Equality of the European Commission

The Task Force on Equality of the European Commission

This Task Force is internal to the Commission and comprises of representatives (‘Equality Coordinators’) of all Directorates-General and the European External Action Service. It is chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Policy Coordination and supported by a Secretariat based in the Secretariat-General of the Commission.

The Task Force

  • supports the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, in her daily work
  • contributes to the preparation of concrete initiatives promoting equality
  • plays a key role in mainstreaming equality in all EU policies, from their design to their implementation

The Task Force on Equality was set up at the end of 2019 to support Commissioner Dalli in her efforts “to strengthen Europe’s commitment to inclusion and equality in all of its senses, irrespective of sex, racial or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief”.

What is equality mainstreaming?

It is the process of integrating an equality perspective at every stage of the Commission’s policymaking in all policy areas. It ensures that EU policies, legislation and funding programmes promote equality between women and men and combat discrimination on grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, in line with Articles 8 and 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

Article 8 TFEU
In all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women.


Article 10 TFEU
In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall aim to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

 

Equality mainstreaming is not an objective on its own but a means to achieving the Commission’s equality objectives.

FAQ:

  • What is the role of Equality Coordinators in the Task Force on Equality?

Equality Coordinators are the representatives of the Commission’s different Directorates-General in the Task Force on Equality. Their role is to raise awareness of the importance of the equality policy agenda, to mainstream equality into policies developed by their own Directorate-General, and thus to contribute to the implementation of the Union of Equality strategies in their sector.

  • What is the task of the Secretariat of the Task Force on Equality?

The Secretariat manages and supports the Task Force on Equality by raising awareness and building capacity across the Commission on equality topics and mainstreaming equality across EU policies and activities.
EC-TASK-FORCE-EQUALITY-SECRETARIATatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EC-TASK-FORCE-EQUALITY-SECRETARIAT[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)