3. Close the Gender Gaps
Despite the slow but steady progress made towards gender equality over the past decade, 2017 was not a success. In fact, the gap between women and men across health, education, politics and economics widened for the first time since records began in 20062. The EU must reverse this trend and become more frontrunner in empowering women and girls and giving them a fair share in decision-making authorities, starting by closing the gender pay gap and its underlying causes. With a European Gender Pay gap at 39%, PES Women and the PES will continue calling for clear and biding targets (2 percentage points each year, per Member State, per age group), a European Pay Gap Audit, transparency grids, an Equal Pay Label, and dissuasive sanctions for non-compliance. PES and PES Women call the EU and all Member states to eliminate the gender pay gap by 2030.