Brussels, 19/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Will European Commission proposals on the multiannual financial framework reflect the new priorities relating to fundamental rights? That is the question raised by the European Women's Lobby (EWL) that deplores the almost 16% decrease in the budget proposed for promoting gender equality and for countering violence against women in 2014-2020, in comparison with the current 2007-2013 programming period. The Commission's proposals provide for the three current programmes on women's rights to be merged, and for European funding to be decreased. The three programmes in question are: the PROGRESS programme on gender equality and anti-discrimination, the DAPHNE III programme to combat violence against women, children and young people; and the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship programme. The current amount allocated to these three programmes is €439 million (2011 prices) but, once the “justice” section has been merged with the “rights and citizenship” section, the budget will be brought down to €387 million (2011 prices). This will be at a time when the total budget allocated to justice in general is rising, in line with Commission recommendations. The EWL therefore regrets this change of priority that would, when all is said and done, give more means to civil and criminal justice from 2014 rather than to gender equality.
The Women's Lobby is not challenging the fact that activities relating to general equality are being brought under one and the same programme. It is opposed, rather, to the fact that funding available for such purposes is being reduced, a measure that would weaken the effectiveness of European action. Budget cuts make no sense, the EWL states, if the EU wants to keep to its aims, under a treaty that has made gender equality one of the objectives for the European social model. The EWL calls therefore on European decision-makers to ensure that the new programme will provide the mandate and financial means for successful gender mainstreaming in all EU policies, in NGOs active in that field throughout the EU. (MD/transl.jl)