In 2004, ten new states joined the European Union. As part of the accession process, each country was required to adapt its legal and political frameworks to meet EU standards, including reforms in non-discrimination, equal pay, and protection against gender-based violence. According to a recent research report, the EU served as a driver of gender-related reforms; however, the implementation of these reforms remains uneven. Persistent inequalities continue to shape political representation, labour market outcomes, and social attitudes in the 2004 accession countries. The gender equality agenda is far from complete.
This webinar examines the gendered implications of the 2004 “big bang” enlargement. It explores how legal and institutional reforms affected issues such as equal pay, workplace discrimination, and maternity rights. It also considers gender-based differences in public support for EU accession and highlights women’s roles within the accession process itself. The discussion addresses the key gaps that remain in the gender equality agenda, ranging from structural inequalities to gender-based violence.
What is the transformative potential of the EU in advancing gender equality, and where do the limits of EU-driven reforms lie? What risks of backsliding exist today, especially as illiberal movements challenge women’s rights in several of the 2004 accession countries?
PROGRAMME:
Speakers:
Iwona Reichardt, Deputy Editor in Chief of New Eastern Europe magazine, Member of the Board of the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe
Astrid Thors, former Member of Parliament, Member of the European Parliament, and Minister of Migration and European Affairs
Barbara Gaweda, Affiliate University Researcher, Centre for European Studies, University of Helsinki
Chair:
Manuel Müller, Non-Resident Fellow, FIIA
The event is arranged as part of the “(Re)uniting the East and West: Reflections on the 2004 EU enlargement (REWEU)” project and is funded by the European Union.
Photo credit: EC – Audiovisual Service, Kaparkalējs, 2004
