European populism and anti-gender narratives

Policy Study

At a time when gender equality stands as a fundamental EU value and a measurable condition in the enlargement process, this policy study examines how anti-gender mobilisation in North Macedonia is not an isolated phenomenon but a manifestation of a broader pan-European trend. The narratives deployed, framing gender equality as a “foreign imposition” or elite manipulation and the foreign interference of the coordinated radical right mirror discourses that have gained traction across EU member states, from Italy and Poland to Germany and France. Understanding this dynamic is critical, as backsliding on gender equality in candidate countries poses a direct challenge not only to domestic democratic standards but also to EU cohesion and its internal legislative agenda, particularly in the context of the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030.

The study recalls that gender mainstreaming and the fight against gender-based discrimination are core obligations under the EU acquis, making them essential benchmarks in the accession process. By analysing the North Macedonian case alongside comparative insights from Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Poland, the publication offers critical perspectives for both internal EU policy debates and the enlargement framework. It reveals how anti-gender groups undermine progress toward Reform Agenda goals and require a more comprehensive EU response. This is a crucial strategic question in how far anti-gender backsliding of a country can be a key argument in accession negotiations for the EU to make effective demands. 

To address these challenges, the study presents recommendations for European institutions, including:

• Embed gender equality more explicitly in enlargement negotiations,
• Systematically monitor anti-gender backlash in both member states and candidate countries
• And provide targeted support to intersectional feminist actors on the ground.

In doing so, it helps secure the EU’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunities as the Union strengthens conditionality frameworks tied to accession and rule-of-law mechanisms.

In light of security considerations, it was decided not to publicly disclose the identities of the authors; their names are held in confidence by FEPS.

For more information regarding the project and this publication, please do not hesitate to contact Ania Skrzypek, Director for Research and Training, FEPS, (ania.skrzypek@feps-europe.eu) and Julia Wild, Acting Gender Portfolio Coordinator and Project Officer, FEPS (julia.wild@feps-europe.eu).