Speaker: Sophie Jacquot, researcher at the Centre d’études européennes, Sciences Po, ParisComments: Nuria Diez Guardia, Gender Equality Unit, Directorate-General for Justice, European Commission and Mary Collins, Policy Officer Economics & Social Policy, European Women’s LobbyModerator: Philippe Pochet, General Director, ETUI Briefing: The EU has come to be regarded as one of the most progressive gender regimes in the world, its gender equality policy having frequently been described as ‘exceptional’. For almost four decades, member states were required to observe a set of standard practices denoting enlightened and progressive attitudes and values in the gender equality sphere, while the EU itself constituted a welcoming environment for women’s groups and mobilization initiatives. In the last few years, however, the EU and virtually all its member states have been beset by protracted economic and budgetary crisis. Does the EU, within this new context, still offer a privileged alternative arena for shaping and implementing an ambitious public policy aimed at the promotion of gender awareness and equality?On the basis of her ten years of shortly-to-be-published research, Sophie Jacquot will present a long-term comparative analysis of the rise and fall of gender equality in the EU. She analyses the mechanisms of construction, consolidation and subsequent deconstruction of a policy that was endowed, until recently, with a very special status, and – more generally – considers the impact of the economic crisis on EU public action to reduce inequality. A light lunch will be served from 12h00 in the room.The ETUI is financially supported by the European Union. ETUI, aisbl 2015