EUROPE has obtained the proposed EU Council conclusions on “Gender equality in disrupted economies: focus on the young generation”. The proposal, put forward by the Czech Presidency, will be discussed by the Working Party on Social Questions on Monday 10 October. In view of the socio-economic challenges linked to the pandemic and the fallout from the war in Ukraine, the text stresses the “urgent” need to take into account gender mainstreaming in national recovery plans.
Taking gender into account in recovery plans
The text notes that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) has provided “a unique opportunity to channel extraordinary resources towards measures contributing to gender equality”, but regrets that the gender perspective is not sufficiently reflected in national recovery and resilience plans. This despite the conclusions on the socio-economic consequences of Covid-19 on gender equality of June 2021, in which the EU Council had already called on Member States to integrate gender equality into their recovery plans (see EUROPE 12740/31, 12733/17).
The proposed conclusion thus calls once again on the EU27 to “ensure that gender equality and equal opportunities” are taken into account throughout the implementation of the recovery plans. The European Commission should pay particular attention to this when assessing the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. In the context of the European Year of Youth, the proposal also calls for consideration to be given to age and the specific challenges faced by young people.
Integrate gender mainstreaming (in economic policies)
The text also recommends: - facilitating women’s access to the labour market, in particular through more accessible childcare services (see EUROPE 13034/22); - introducing gender in policies related to the green and digital transition and energy poverty; - strengthening cooperation with civil society, academia and youth organisations; - taking into account the specific risks of exclusion of vulnerable groups in humanitarian aid policies in Ukraine.
Finally, Member States are invited to “make full use of EU funds, such as the Asylum and Migration Fund, European Social Fund Plus, European Regional Development Fund or Erasmus+” to promote the integration of migrants and to “pay special attention to women and girls”.
Read the proposed conclusion: https://aeur.eu/f/3ho (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)