Deterioration of rights requires 'utmost vigilance', says incoming EU Commissioner
The new European Commission will take office on Sunday, with Belgium's Hadja Lahbib in charge of preparedness, crisis management and equality. With fundamental rights and freedoms under pressure in some EU countries, she intends to fight for acquired rights during her mandate.
"In my opinion, the deterioration of rights requires our utmost vigilance," Lahbib said in an interview with Belgian journalists. As European Commissioner for Equality, she will develop strategies for gender equality and put LGBTQI+ rights and the fight against racism on the agenda, among other issues.
Lahbib will kick off her five-year mandate on Monday with a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), where she will speak on behalf of the Commission to promote the rights of Roma and people with disabilities.
Need for cooperation
Lahbib said she is aware that her powers will require her to work with the other commissioners. That cooperation will be necessary is a good thing, according to her. "I have never believed in working in silos," she said. But in a European Parliament where the far right has strengthened its position after the June elections, it may be difficult to achieve certain goals.
"Societies where there is injustice, racism and exclusion are sick societies"
The incoming commissioner warned of the need for vigilance against the erosion of rights, citing French philosopher and feminist Simone de Beauvoir, who said that the rights acquired by women and minorities could be called into question at any time.
Decline of democracy
"The decline of rights is also the decline of democracy," said Lahbib. For her, promoting equality and inclusion is precisely the way to unleash the full potential of society. "Societies where there is injustice, racism and exclusion are sick societies that cannot compete because they do not include everyone," she said.
"Current events show that it is necessary to include rape in European law and to agree on the concept of consent"
Lahbib also spoke about the directive on violence against women, which was agreed during the Belgian EU presidency. However, the text does not include a definition of rape, because the 27 EU member states could not agree on one. "This is a frustration," she said. Within the Commission, she wants to continue this work "now that current events show that it is necessary to include rape in European law and to agree on the concept of consent".
Incoming EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib during a Belgian economic mission to Brazil, 24 November 2024 © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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