MEPs on the European Parliament Committee on Regional Development (REGI) called, on Thursday 22 April, for regions that have declared themselves “LGBTI-free zones” to be barred from receiving EU funding, in an own-initiative report by Austrian MEP Monika Vana (Greens/EFA), which was adopted (23 votes in favour, 4 against and 14 abstentions).
They are thus calling on the European Commission and Member States to respect the principles of the Rule of law and to take action in case of violations of these principles, clearly pointing out the self-declared “LGBTI-free zones”. They encourage as well the rejection of applications from potential beneficiaries including regional or local authorities that have adopted a discriminatory policy against the LGBTI community.
MEPs generally note that the European Social Fund (ESF) is currently the only funding within the European Structural and Investment Funds that promotes gender equality. They therefore call for this principle to be made horizontal and for emphasis to be placed on all stages of the implementation of the funds, from preparation to evaluation.
The REGI Committee wants guidance documents to be published to raise awareness of gender equality issues among administrative authorities, and insists on the collection of “gender-specific” data for better monitoring. Finally, they propose ex-ante gender-related criteria among the conditions of eligibility for regional funding.
The EPP abstained alongside the far-right ID group, under the impetus of its shadow rapporteur, the very conservative Isabel Benjumea Benjumea (Spain), we are told. Not surprisingly, the ECR voted against. The text will be put to the vote at the June plenary session. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)