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OPINION (2023/2129(DEC))

On the 2022 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Commission

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Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality · Rapporteur: Robert Biedroń

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The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality gives its opinion to the Committee on Budgetary Control on the 2022 discharge of the EU general budget. It asks the Commission to apply gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting and gender impact assessments across all policy areas and spending. It calls for EU funds to be withheld from entities that use them to roll back women's rights and gender equality, and for member states to safeguard sexual and reproductive health and rights. It asks the Commission to improve gender tracking of spending, implement the European Court of Auditors' recommendations, and collect gender-disaggregated data. It repeats calls for a dedicated budget line for gender equality, more resources for the Daphne programme, and use of the European Social Fund Plus to promote gender equality. On the basis of the data currently available, the committee considers that discharge can be granted for the 2022 financial year.

Committee position. The committee suggests that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution, and considers that discharge can be granted for 2022.

Key points

  1. Calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate these suggestions into its motion for a resolution.
  2. States that gender equality is a core value of the Union under Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 8 TFEU.
  3. Recalls that Parliament has repeatedly asked the Commission to use gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting and gender impact assessments in all Union policy areas.
  4. Notes that in some member states with low birth rates, economic difficulties and poor working conditions prevent women and couples from having children and make it harder to enjoy maternity and paternity rights.
  5. Finds that gender equality has been affected by the war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and backlashes against women's rights, especially sexual and reproductive health and rights.
  6. Stresses that a gender equality perspective should be integrated into all policy areas and alleviation measures, and that gender budgeting should be used in recovery measures.
  7. Calls on the Commission to strengthen the rule of law, withhold EU funds from entities that backslide on human rights, and on member states to safeguard sexual and reproductive health and rights, including safe and legal abortion care.
  8. Notes that only 2% of the Union's budget was assessed as having a principal objective of improving gender equality, and that 73% was assessed as having 0* potential to contribute to gender equality.
  9. Calls on the Commission to improve its gender tracking methodology, implement the European Court of Auditors' recommendations, and include reporting on negative impacts on gender equality.
  10. Insists that women and men should benefit equally from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and calls for systematic collection of gender-disaggregated data.
  11. Calls for a dedicated budget line for gender equality, more resources for the Daphne programme, and use of the European Social Fund Plus to promote gender equality and women's employment.
  12. Considers that discharge can be granted on the General budget of the EU for the financial year 2022.

Who is affected

  • The European Commission, which is asked to apply gender mainstreaming, improve gender tracking and implement recommendations.
  • Member states, which are called on to safeguard sexual and reproductive health and rights.
  • Entities receiving EU funds, which should not use them to roll back human rights and gender equality.
  • Women and girls in the EU, who face inequalities, discrimination and gender-based violence.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2% of the Union's budget was assessed as having a principal objective of improving gender equality.
  • 73% of spending was assessed as 0* 'potential to contribute to gender equality'.
  • The Union's gender pay gap is 13%.

Legal basis: Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 8 TFEU.