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OPINION (COM(2025)0545 – C100166/2025 – 2025/0545(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework and other horizontal rules for the Union programmes and activities

FEMM-AD-786992

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality · Rapporteur: Lina Gálvez

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The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality gives its opinion on the proposed regulation establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework. It proposes amendments to strengthen gender equality as a horizontal principle across all Union programmes and activities. The amendments require gender equality tracking based on OECD standards, gender equality scores for activities, and a spending target. They also require sex-disaggregated data, gender-focused evaluations, and exclusion of funding to organisations undermining gender equality. The opinion notes that the 2028-2035 multiannual financial framework has no earmarked funding solely for gender equality, ending over 30 years of such funding. It cites that only 12 % of the Union budget (EUR 158.4 billion) between 2021 and 2024 supported gender equality.

Committee position. The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality proposes amendments to the proposed regulation to strengthen gender equality as a horizontal principle, introduce gender equality scores and a spending target, require sex-disaggregated data and gender-focused evaluations, and exclude funding to organisations undermining gender equality.

Key points

  1. The opinion proposes amendments to the proposed regulation to make gender equality a horizontal principle applied consistently across all Union programmes and activities.
  2. It requires the gender equality tracking methodology to be based on OECD international standards and to incorporate European Court of Auditors recommendations.
  3. It introduces gender equality scores: score 2 for activities with gender equality as principal objective, score 1 for important objective, score 0 for no substantial contribution, and a new score 0* for unproven gender relevance.
  4. It sets contribution rates to the gender equality target: 100 % for score 2 activities, at least 40 % for score 1, and 0 % for scores 0 and 0*.
  5. It requires the Commission, supported by EIGE, to provide technical guidance by 1 January 2027 on the methodology, including minimum criteria and a gender equality results framework.
  6. It requires that no funding be allocated to beneficiaries or organisations whose objectives, actions or programmes undermine gender equality, Union values, or rights under Articles 2 and 3 TEU.
  7. It requires Member States to demonstrate national or regional frameworks for active labour market policies, gender equality, education, anti-discrimination, health and long-term care, social economy, and social inclusion.
  8. It requires data collection to be broken down by sex and to enable identification of beneficiaries and the impact of programmes on gender equality.
  9. It requires the Commission to report regularly on the share of expenditure contributing to gender equality (scores 2 and 1), supported by EIGE.
  10. It requires evaluations to focus on gender equality and to ensure no funded activities negatively impact gender equality, with implementation reports published one year after the start of implementation.
  11. It requires Member States to carry out interim evaluations one year after the start of implementation, using experts specialised in gender budgeting and gender mainstreaming, and to collect sex-disaggregated data.
  12. It adds programmes to Annex IV, including the European Fund for Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion, Agriculture and Rural, Fisheries and Maritime, Prosperity and Security, AgoraEU, and others.

Who is affected

  • Member States, which must demonstrate national frameworks, carry out evaluations, and collect sex-disaggregated data.
  • The Commission, which must provide technical guidance, monitor gender equality, and report on expenditure.
  • Beneficiaries and organisations, which may be excluded from funding if they undermine gender equality.
  • Women and girls, including those with disabilities and in rural areas, who should benefit from equal opportunities and targeted policies.
  • The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), which shall support the Commission and receive adequate financing.

Figures and deadlines

  • 12 % of the Union budget (EUR 158.4 billion) between 2021 and 2024 supported gender equality.
  • Activities with gender equality score 2 shall contribute 100 % to the gender equality target.
  • Activities with gender equality score 1 shall contribute at least 40 % to the gender equality target.
  • Activities with gender equality score 0 and 0* shall contribute 0 % to the gender equality target.
  • The Commission shall provide technical guidance by 1 January 2027.
  • The Commission shall publish an implementation report for each programme or activity no later than one year after the start of its implementation.
  • Member States shall carry out at least one interim evaluation no later than one year after the start of their implementation.

Legal basis: Article 8 TFEU