Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – MEPs questioned Belgium’s nominated Commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, who is a candidate for the portfolio on Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Equality.
In her hearing to the EU Parliament’s Committees for Development, Women’s Rights, Civil Liberties and Environment Belgian Commissioner-designate Hadja Lahbib stressed that with crucial equality legislation already embraced in recent years, it is time to make sure the new regulations are successfully applied across the EU, including the full enactment of the Istanbul Convention.
What does Lahbib’s roadmap for women’s rights aim to achieve?
Hadja Lahbib informed that, on International Women’s Day on 8 March 2025, she will offer a Roadmap for Women’s Rights that will act as a guiding compass for future Gender Equality Strategy from next year. She also pledged targeted measures for a renewed post-2025 LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy, including positive motivations, a ban on conversion therapies and a new anti-racism strategy.
In answer to questions from MEPs, she rejected the alleged downgrading of the equality portfolio and stressed that she will have the same resources as current Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli. She is dedicated to advancing specific issues such as the EU’s adoption of a definition of rape based on consent, abortion rights, maternal surrogacy, rights of children and poverty, through discussion and awareness raising, and above all based on consideration for the individual rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups.
How does Lahbib plan to improve EU crisis preparedness?
To prepare for future emergencies, Ms. Lahbib called on the EU to apply an “all-hazard approach”, expanding coordination and involving all parts of society, including certain citizens. Building on the Niinistö report on supporting EU civil and military preparedness and readiness, she plans to support the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre, and the rescue strategic reserve, as essential instruments of EU solidarity. Ms. Lahbib also stated that she will also work on developing a fresh strategy for medical countermeasures to address public health dangers, which would include joint procurement and stockpiling.
How will Lahbib promote EU solidarity through civil protection reforms?
Responding to MEP questions on how to improve the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to ensure it conforms to vulnerable communities and maximises intra-EU solidarity, Ms. Lahbib supported a strategy encompassing civil and military defence, surrounding all types of disasters – health, environmental and others – and concentrating not only on response but also on problem prevention.
