Assistant Topić Crnoja visited Brussels as part of the "Future of Governance" academy

Matea Topić Crnoja, assistant at the University Department of Sociology as part of the "Future of Governance" academy organized by the Croatian Chamber of Economy, participated in a working visit to the institutions of the European Union in Brussels from 7 to 9 April 2025. The aim of the working visit was to present Croatian examples of the implementation of the Gender Equality Directive, as well as its impact on increasing the competitiveness of the economy.
 

The Croatian economy is undergoing a transformation of business models to sustainable business, part of which is the achievement of gender equality. In order to facilitate such a transition, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce is implementing the "Future of Management" academy, the program and activities of which were presented to members of the Eurochambres Women Network, as well as to members of the European Parliament. The Academy participants participated in a meeting with MEP Sunčana Glavak, who emphasized the need for coordination of European institutions and the Croatian private sector, which would lead to increased competitiveness of the domestic economy. At a meeting with the European Commission's Director for Social Rights and Inclusion, Katarina Ivanković Knežević, the need to encourage lifelong learning and develop programs that would ensure employment opportunities for marginalized groups in society was emphasized.
 

One of the segments of the program is to introduce the Academy participants to EU practices and policies in the field of gender balance and to exchange experiences with colleagues from other countries. The importance of raising awareness about gender balance is also reflected in the data published earlier this year by the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, where the three-year report on the state of gender equality in research and innovation, She Figures, shows that women outnumber men in university education, but are still significantly underrepresented in employment in leading positions.