Gender equality at Europa Structura

Public summary of our Gender Equality Policy and Action Plan, version 1.1.
Board adoption: 2026-10-23 · Resolution: R20261023-1 · Next annual review: 2027-10

Europa Structura is committed to equal opportunity, inclusive research and a respectful working environment. Our policy applies to directors, members, employees, researchers, fellows, interns and volunteers, and to consultants, partners and event participants within our organisational or contractual control.

We prohibit sex- and gender-based discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, gender-based violence and retaliation. We respect people of all genders and recognise that gender inequalities can intersect with disability, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, caring responsibilities and other sources of disadvantage.

Our commitments

• Inclusive working culture: consider flexible working and remote participation, support family-related leave and return to work, and allocate workloads fairly.
• Fair leadership and representation: use transparent appointment criteria, broaden outreach beyond existing networks and promote meaningful participation in governance and public events.
• Equal recruitment and development: assess candidates consistently, account fairly for career breaks, and review comparable pay, project leadership and development opportunities.
• Gender-aware research: assess sex/gender relevance in every new proposal and substantive project, integrate appropriate analysis where relevant and document reasoned exclusions. This includes research on AI, financial services, capital markets and emerging technologies.
• Prevention and response: communicate expected conduct, provide confidential reporting routes and ensure impartial handling, appropriate support and protection from retaliation.

Responsibility, resources and expertise

The Board of Directors owns the plan and its implementation. A designated Gender Equality Coordinator oversees actions, monitoring and training, supported by documented internal or external gender-equality expertise. The Board commits dedicated working time and funding, reviews their adequacy and provides additional support where needed.

We provide gender-equality awareness-raising and training for both staff and decision-makers, including directors, through induction and annual refreshers. Training covers bias, respectful conduct, reporting and relevant research practice; participation and follow-up are recorded.

Monitoring and accountability

We collect and analyse relevant sex/gender-disaggregated personnel data, with governance and activity indicators where appropriate. We establish a dated baseline, review progress annually and publish a privacy-safe progress summary within 90 days of each adoption anniversary. Small populations and missing data are handled transparently; identifying or sensitive information is protected.

Reviews consider representation, recruitment and development, comparable remuneration, work–life arrangements, training, gender analysis in research, and delivery of the action plan. Findings inform corrective measures and the following year’s priorities. Approved policy versions and non-sensitive reports are retained for accountability.

Raise a concern

Gender Equality Coordinator: genderequality@europa-structura.eu
Independent reporting contact: contact@europa-structura.eu

You may approach the Coordinator or an unconflicted director orally or in writing. If someone in that route is implicated, use the independent contact. Good-faith concerns, requests for support and participation in a process are protected from retaliation. Confidentiality is safeguarded as far as possible; the full policy explains the process, timescales, review rights and confidentiality limits.

For a private contact request, email contact@europa-structura.eu; do not send sensitive allegations to this general inbox.