Women diplomats from EU Member States and the EEAS, including leaders of networks of Member States’ Ministries for Foreign Affairs, exchanged best practices to facilitate women diplomats’ careers and discuss the important role of women in diplomacy, and more broadly the promotion of gender equality in the world.

The Inauguration event that took place at the Fondation Universitaire was opened by inauguration Helena König, EEAS Deputy Secretary General, and Chair of the Women in the EEAS (WEEAS) network.

Happy to have launched the Women Diplomats Network of the EU. Exchanging experiences and working together makes us stronger in our common quest to achieve gender equality in diplomacy.

- Helena König

Federica Mogherini, Rector of the College of Europe and former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, delivered a keynote speech.

Women have the duty to exert and show power including in diplomacy. When women sit at the negotiating table, agreements are more likely to be reached and most of all implemented. As EU we have to lead by example and empower women also in third countries.

- Federica Mogherini

The “Women in the EEAS” network was created by former EEAS Secretary General Helga Schmid, back in 2013, under the authority of the then High Representative Catherine Ashton. It aimed at providing a platform for the exchange of information, experiences and ideas among women professionals in the EEAS.

The “Women in the EEAS” (WEEAS) network was created by former EEAS Secretary General Helga Schmid, back in 2013, under the authority of the then High Representative Catherine Ashton. It aimed at providing a platform for the exchange of information, experiences and ideas among women professionals in the EEAS.

In 2021, WEEAS started linking up with networks of women diplomats in EU Member States. In January 2022, the network agreed to reinforce networks of European women diplomats to facilitate careers of women diplomats for more gender parity in diplomacy and promote gender equality and non-discrimination in diplomacy in the world.

Watch the wrap up video here:

Watch the interviews of interesting women during the inauguration event of the Women DIplomats Network: