On 16 May a Caffè Europa on the theme “Europe and women” was held at the Venice Gardens Foundation. Luisella Pavan-Woolfe, Head of the Venice Office of the Council of Europe introduced the debate by focusing on gender disparities in Europe and Italy in the economy and society at large.

Ermelinda Damiano, President of the Municipal Council of the City of Venice, evoked the initiatives implemented by the Municipality to promote gender equality. Laura Ambrosino, European Commission - Representation in Milan, spoke of gender-based violence and illustrated the recent proposal for a directive tabled by the European Commission on 8 March 2022 to combat domestic and gender-based violence. Patrizia Marcuzzo of the Municipality of Venice Anti-violence Center presented the work of the center in the Venetian territory. Adele Re Rebaudengo, President of the Venice Gardens Foundation focused on the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. Fabrizio Spada, Representation Office of the European Parliament, highlighted how citizens expressed their views on gender equality during the consultation on the future of Europe.