The phrase “gender equality” has been removed from the declaration on social issues to be adopted by EU leaders at their social summit in Porto later on Friday (7 May) after Poland and Hungary opposed the expression.

The phrase was replaced by a reference to a previous document, the European Pillar of Social Rights, which includes “gender equality”.

The latest compromise is part of a trend that has been going in the EU, with mostly Hungary and Poland, sometimes joined by Slovakia, Bulgaria, pushing for “gender equality” to be deleted from different EU texts.

The nationalist-conservative governments in Budapest and Warsaw have attacked LGBTIQ-rights and women’s rights at home, and their efforts at EU level have caused worry among several member states.

An earlier draft of the “Porto Declaration”, seen by EUobserver, read that leaders will step up efforts to fight discrimination and “work actively to close gaps in employment, pay, and pensions between men and women, and to promote gender equality and fairness for every individual in our society”.

The latest version of the declaration, to be adopted later on Friday by EU leaders, says that leaders will step up efforts to fight discrimination and “work actively to close gender gaps in employment, pay, and pensions, and to promote equality and fairness for every individual in our society”.

This latest text also refers back to a previous document, the European Pillar of Social Rights, in which is gender equality is one of the key principles.