Introducing the "Union of Equality"

Since 2019 Ursula von der Leyen is the first female president of the European Commission. Her term is coming to an end in 2024. Her incumbency has been marked by unprecedented challenges and compounding crises, starting from her surprise nomination in EUCO and narrow majority in her election in the European Parliament. From day 1, her leadership had to face the management of crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and now the Russian war against Ukraine. Amidst these extraordinary circumstances, von der Leyen has steered forward an exceptionally ambitious political agenda, pushing European integration into new territory. Part of this is her demand for a new vision: "A Union of Equality" – in all senses. Presiding over the first gender-equal College of Commissioners, von der Leyen has embarked on fostering gender+ equality, diversity and inclusion in the European Commission and EU policy-making with unprecedented force, rendering her and her Commission a "critical actor" in this field. Since 2020 a number of equality strategies have been introduced and adopted, starting with the Gender Equality Strategy in 2020. The paper will introduce this political doctrine of "A Union of Equality" and assess its merits and problems. It will illustrate that it is important and worthwhile to evaluate the work of the von der Leyen Commission with a gender lens.