Budgetary control MEPs call on the Commission to fine-tune its gender budgeting toolbox

The next long-term budget should feature clear objectives for narrowing the gender pay and pension gaps, Budgetary Control MEPs urge the Commission in a report endorsed on Thursday.

The text evaluates the Commission’s methodology for measuring how the EU budget contributed to gender equality between 2021 and 2024. It calls for a fully-fledged and comprehensive gender budgeting framework to be developed for the post-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF). This methodology should be mainstreamed throughout the budget cycle – from planning to evaluation – and include clear, measurable objectives. No new EU laws should be proposed if their impact assessments show that they would reduce gender equality in the EU, the MEPs add.

More and better data required

The MEPs stress that the priority for the remaining years of the current MFF should be to continue improving data collection and evaluation so that programmes can be assessed at the most detailed level possible. Better use of gender-disaggregated data and ex-ante impact assessments would help future policies’ contribute more effectively to equality objectives.

New approach in the next MFF

The upcoming negotiations on the post-2027 MFF are an opportunity to embed gender equality more deeply across EU spending. The report suggests including a legally binding quantitative target in the next programming period for a share of the EU budget to contribute to promoting gender equality.

The report was endorsed by 20 votes in favour, three against, and with two abstentions. A plenary vote will take place at a future plenary session.

Quote

"This report is a victory for all progressive forces and a strong affirmation of the European mission to ensure gender equality. A mandatory prior gender test for all EU spending is a requirement of this report, so that it is immediately clear whether the resources benefit gender equality. This proves that the majority supports gender equality as a fundamental value and priority in the EU budget," rapporteur Marit Maij (S&D, NL) said after the committee vote.

Background

For the 2021–2027 MFF, the European Commission developed for the first time a methodology to track EU expenditure relating to gender equality at programme level. The methodology was first applied across all spending programmes for the 2021 financial year, in preparation for the 2023 draft budget.Applying this approach, the Commission found that the majority of EU spending from 2021 to 2024 either had no significant impact on gender equality (83%) or its effect could not be assessed (5%). Over the past four years, 12% of EU budget expenditure has contributed to the promotion of gender equality.