18/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Thursday 17 June, the European Parliament adopted (by 352 votes to 85, with 176 abstentions) the report by Raül Romeva i Rueda on “Gender aspects of the economic downturn and financial crisis”. Thus, Parliament calls on the Council, the Commission, member states and the special Parliamentary committee on the financial crisis to make sure that recovery plans and structural adjustment programmes undergo a gender-impact assessment. It also calls on the Council, the Commission and the member states to set up a financial reserve within each Fund for equal opportunity activities, and to recognise and provide support for the contribution that civil society can make in addressing the financial and economic crisis, particularly in the light of the European Year on Poverty and Social Exclusion. (G.B./transl.rt)