There is a ‘backlash against gender balance everywhere’: EU Commissioner for equality

For our first Talking Europe interview with the new crop of EU Commissioners, we host Hadja Lahbib, who is in charge of preparedness and crisis management, as well as equality. Lahbib, a former foreign minister of Belgium, talks about the challenges of her extremely broad portfolio, covering Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Afghanistan and Sudan. A common thread is the difficulties faced by women and girls in crisis situations around the world – something that links up with Lahbib’s efforts to promote gender balance and women’s rights in the EU itself.