Subject: Funding for gender equality activities
The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) has conducted a survey of the European Structural and Investment Fund (GRNET) programmes for the period 2014-2020 in 11 Member States. The survey concerns gender mainstreaming as reflected in GRNET.
The survey notes that less than 1% of GRNET funding has been allocated to promote gender equality, while gender-specific targets with indicators and data are largely missing from many operational programmes.
Despite the emphasis on gender equality in the analysis and programming phase, little attention is given to implementation and monitoring.
This is despite the legal obligations and political commitments of the EU to remedy the gender gap in all Member States.
Will the Commission say:
– Why has gender mainstreaming in GRNET been limited to the work-life balance?
– Will it introduce quantitative targets and a system for monitoring the funding of gender equality activities in GRNET, as has occurred with activities to combat climate change?
– What level of resources does it plan to channel into actions through the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to promote gender equality?1
1 https://eige.europa.eu/publications/gender-budgeting-mainstreaming-gender-eu-budget-and-macroeconomic-
policy-framework
Answer given by Mr Oettinger on behalf of the European Commission
(11 July 2019)
In accordance with Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU laying down the principle of gender mainstreaming (2), gender equality is a cross-cutting objective for all policies in the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), including for the European Structural and Investment Funds (3).
The Commission monitors its implementation and reports on it in the Strategic Repor t (4). With regard to EU Funds, the European Social Fund (ESF) Regulation includes an obligation for Member States (MS) to target actions for gender equality (5).
MS have earmarked EUR 1.6 billion for 2014-2020 (EU share) in investment for equality. A total of EUR 5.6 billion (EU share) was earmarked for gender equality projects across all ESF investment priorities. These projects are not limited to work-life balance and they represent significantly more than 1% of the Fund’s resources.
The Commission proposals for the 2021-2027 MFF (6) aim at ensuring complementarity among individual programmes in a coherent overall design. Gender equality is integrated in EU funding programmes through programme design, specific programme objectives or targets and supported by a robust performance framework.
For example, a new enabling condition requires a national strategic policy framework for gender equality to be in place for all policies and operations supported by the ESF+ (7) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (8) in the 2021-2027 period (COM(2018)375 — Annex IV).
⋅1∙ https://eige.europa.eu/publications/gender-budgeting-mainstreaming-gender-eu-budget-and-macroeconomic-policy-framework
⋅2∙ The article sets out that ‘in all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities and to promote equality, between men and women’.
⋅3∙ Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 (Common Provisions Regulation).
⋅4∙ In 2017, 2018 and 2019: https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/gender-equality/gender-equality-strategy_en#annual-report-on-equality-
between-women-and-men.
⋅5∙ Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013.
⋅6∙ Commission Communication A Modern Budget for a Union that Protects, Empowers and Defends — The Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027
(COM(2018)321 final)
⋅7∙ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) (COM(2018)382 final)
⋅8∙ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund (COM(2018)372
final).