“Equality Is Not a Cost” – Women’s Voices from Romania for a Europe That Leaves No One Behind

On 16 October 2025, the Romanian Women’s Lobby (ROWL) – the national coordination in Romania of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) – presented to European Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Social Rights, Skills and Quality Jobs, the Memorandum entitled “For a Europe that Leaves No Woman Behind.”

The document brings together the voice of 24 member organisations of ROWL and outlines strategic directions for future European policies on gender equality, poverty reduction and social cohesion, in full alignment with the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The memorandum highlights the structural link between poverty, violence and women’s limited participation in decision-making, and proposes concrete measures to combat the feminisation of poverty and strengthen women’s representation and participation in all areas of public life.

Among the key strategic directions presented to the European Commission are:
• the creation of a distinct and visible budget line for gender equality and combating the feminisation of poverty in the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034;
• the introduction of qualitative and intersectional indicators in the monitoring of EU policies;
• predictable and multiannual funding for women’s rights organisations, recognised as part of Europe’s essential social infrastructure;
• maintaining gender equality as a binding horizontal principle across all EU policies;
• recognising gender equality as a foundation of Europe’s resilience and democracy, closely linked to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Through this initiative, the Romanian Women’s Lobby reaffirms its commitment to building a fair, inclusive and democratic Europe, where no woman is left behind.

📄 The full memorandum can be read here.