The Impact of Positive Discrimination Legislative Measures on Gender Equality Within EU Member States

Gender equality is the basis of a healthy and developed society, ensuring the necessary balance for sustainable socio-economic development. To achieve this goal, some European states have adopted positive discrimination measures against women, some of which are manifested by the introduction of mandatory gender quotas in national legislation. The article examines the extent to which the introduction of gender quotas within the EU Member States' national legislation has led to an increase in women's representativeness between 2013 and 2025 in the fields of politics, education, or education and research. Compared to the result of the research, the article draws attention to the imbalances that these policies can produce, which give rise to inequities incompatible with democracy and the rule of law, the pillars of sustainable development. The article also suggests that only a healthy education in the spirit of European values as well as measures to ensure equal opportunities can ensure the goal of gender equality .