Clare Moody is the Labour MEP for the South West & Gibraltar

GENDER equality is a fundamental value of the EU, enshrined 60 years ago this year in the Treaty of Rome and followed up over the decades with legislation that has delivered benefits for women across the EU.

In addition to direct legislation to deliver equality, gender mainstreaming plays a vital part in delivering on this fundamental value.

At the European level, the EU Institutions are responsible for implementing gender mainstreaming, whereas at national level, the responsibility lies with Governments of Member States.

However, in the UK, the Conservative Government’s political discourse is divisive and concentrates on a few narrow interests, meaning important issues such as equality and social policy take a back seat.

Another demonstration of the mainstreaming of gender is the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights (FEMM), of which I am a member and which is explicitly there to protect and promote women’s rights and gender equality.

Notably, there is no comparable institution in the UK. The Women’s Commission was closed down by the Coalition Government whilst the Women and Equalities Committee was only established following the 2015 election and does not hold the same legislative or influential position as its European counterpart.Article 50 has been triggered but Theresa May remains vague about Britain’s future relationship with Europe – and how her government plans to protect women’s rights and gender mainstreaming, beyond the assertion that equality legislation will apply once the UK has left the EU.