Sittings · Document

DRAFT OPINION (2025/2014(INI)) 2025-03-19

On implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals in view of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality · Rapporteur: Mathilde Androuët

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AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality submits the following to the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, as the committee responsible:

Amendment 1

Motion for a resolution

Recital A a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Aa. whereas single mothers face a significantly higher poverty rate in the EU, with 22 % of children living in a single family headed by their father in poverty in 2018, compared to 45 % for children living in a single family with their mother; whereas pay gaps and job insecurity affect this population category in particular, limiting their access to essential services, including housing, health and education;

Or. fr

Amendment 2

Motion for a resolution

Recital A b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ab. whereas women account for between 52 % and 66 % of informal carers, whereas they devote an average of 17 hours a week to these activities, and whereas around 90 % of professional carers in the EU are women; whereas carers frequently suffer a break in salary due to the time spent caring for sick or dependent relatives, and whereas this leads to further insecurity and limited access to social benefits and pension entitlements;

Or. fr

Amendment 3

Motion for a resolution

Recital A c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ac. whereas women living in the outermost regions and islands of the European Union are particularly vulnerable due to limited access to healthcare, drinking water, schooling and basic services, thus exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities and limiting their career opportunities;

Or. fr

Amendment 4

Motion for a resolution

Recital A d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ad. whereas the gender pay gap remains a persistent reality in the EU, especially in female-dominated sectors such as care, education and social services, hampering women’s economic empowerment and equal opportunities; whereas integrating mothers into the workforce remains an important challenge, and whereas training, whether continuous or one-off, can help to alleviate this difficulty;

Or. fr

Amendment 5

Motion for a resolution

Recital A e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ae. whereas female unemployment and underemployment rates remain high in several Member States, due in particular to insufficient access to childcare facilities and a lack of flexibility in the labour market for reconciling work and family life;

Or. fr

Amendment 6

Motion for a resolution

Recital A f (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Af. whereas migration contexts increase women’s exposure to gender-based and sexual violence; whereas, for example, 90 % of migrant women moving along the Mediterranean route are raped by smugglers or other migrants, according to the UNHCR1a;

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1a Source: International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): ‘On This Journey, No One Cares if You Live or Die: Abuse, Protection and Justice along Routes between East and West Africa and Africa’s Mediterranean Coast’ – Volume 2, OIM, MMC, HCR, Geneva, 2024, https://mixedmigration.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/On-this-journey-vol-2.pdf.

Or. fr

Amendment 7

Motion for a resolution

Recital A g (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ag. whereas poverty disproportionately affects women, especially single mothers, which exacerbates their economic and social vulnerability in the face of energy crises;

Or. fr

Amendment 8

Motion for a resolution

Recital A h (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ah. whereas access to affordable, decent and safe housing is an integral part of UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages’), and whereas it is unfortunately still a major challenge for women on low incomes in the EU;

Or. fr

Amendment 9

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Highlights that EU leadership in the global implementation of the SDGs remains crucial, especially in light of the multiple geopolitical challenges and ongoing crises;

4. Highlights that EU leadership in the global implementation of the SDGs remains crucial, especially in light of the multiple geopolitical challenges and ongoing crises; reaffirms the EU’s position in favour of protecting women’s fundamental rights and combating all forms of violence against women; stresses the importance for the EU of leading by example by suspending any aid or funding to a third country which adopts or maintains laws and practices that are discriminatory or violent against women;

Or. fr

Amendment 10

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 – point 1 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(1) warns that women affected by career breaks, in particular because of family responsibilities, are particularly at risk of poverty, which may lead them to give up medical care; calls on the Member States to take these career breaks into account in their social protection and health insurance systems;

Or. fr

Amendment 11

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 – point 2 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(2) regrets the major inequalities in access to care and health services in the EU’s outermost regions and islands, where women are particularly exposed to medical poverty; calls for increased investment in hospital infrastructure and healthcare professionals in these areas;

Or. fr

Amendment 12

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 – point 1 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(1) stresses that single mothers face increased challenges in terms of health and access to care, notably due to their precarious economic situation and the lack of sufficient medical coverage in some Member States; stresses the need to ensure access to health services for single-parent families, in particular for women in vulnerable situations;

Or. fr

Amendment 13

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 – point 2 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(2) stresses that women in precarious or low-paid jobs face difficulties in accessing quality care, especially for gynaecological health; calls on the Member States to ensure accessible health services, including through policies to make essential care free of charge;

Or. fr

Amendment 14

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 – point 3 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(3) recalls that men and women have specific health needs that should be taken into account in health policies;

Or. fr

Amendment 15

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Calls for the universal right to a healthy environment to be added to the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and for a legally binding framework to be put in place;

deleted

Or. fr

Amendment 16

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8a. Stresses that a secure environment is essential to ensuring good health and well-being; regrets that European women face increased insecurity in public spaces, which, in terms of achieving SDG 3, is a regression;

Or. fr

Amendment 17

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Calls for accelerated, targeted action to end all forms of violence and harassment against women, girls and LGBTIQ+ people, including sexual and gender-based violence, and to end harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation;

9. Calls for accelerated, targeted action tailored to the groups concerned to end all forms of violence and harassment against women, girls and people on the basis of their sexual orientation, including domestic, sexual, physical, psychological, verbal and economic violence, harassment in the workplace, and violence in war and conflict situations, and to end harmful practices such as human trafficking, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation, forced abortion, sex-selective abortion of girls or the reproductive exploitation of women such as surrogacy1a;

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1a European Parliament recommendation of 19 December 2024 to the Council on the EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2024-0075_EN.pdf

Or. fr

Amendment 18

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Calls for the continuation of funding for programmes focusing on promoting female empowerment and fighting against all forms of gender-based violence; calls on the Commission to ensure that 85 % of all new external actions incorporate gender as a significant or principal objective and that 20 % of official development aid in each country is allocated to programmes having gender equality as one of their principal objectives;

10. Calls for the continuation of funding for programmes focusing on promoting female empowerment and fighting against all forms of gender-based violence; calls on the Commission to ensure that all new external actions incorporate respect for and dignity of the sexes as a significant or principal objective and that gender equality is a necessary and fundamental criterion for official development aid in each third country;

Or. fr

Amendment 19

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 – point 1 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(1) stresses that single mothers, who represent a significant share of single-parent families in Europe, are particularly vulnerable to economic insecurity and discrimination in the labour market; calls on the Member States to strengthen employment and training support schemes for these women in order to ensure their economic autonomy;

Or. fr

Amendment 20

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 – point 2 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(2) notes that family carers, who are mostly women, spend an average of 22 hours a week caring for a relative without adequate financial compensation, which has a significant impact on their economic independence and on their career;

Or. fr

Amendment 21

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 – point 3 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(3) deplores the differences in access to childcare and health services between European regions; calls for coordinated action to ensure genuine equal access to basic services for all women, regardless of their place of residence;

Or. fr

Amendment 22

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 – point 4 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(4) stresses that the average gender pay gap in the EU is 13 %, and that in some sectors, such as health and social care, it exceeds 20 %;

Or. fr

Amendment 23

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 – point 5 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(5) stresses that women’s career breaks resulting from family responsibilities lead to a long-term loss of income and a pension deficit of up to 30 % on average;

Or. fr

Amendment 24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 – point 6 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(6) calls on the Member States to enhance access to vocational and continuing training for mothers, especially single mothers, to enable them to acquire new skills and improve their employability; stresses the importance of flexible training arrangements, which include childcare solutions and online training, in order to respond to the constraints of mothers experiencing employment insecurity;

Or. fr

Amendment 25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Calls for stronger policies and bold actions to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development; urges the EU and global partners to use instruments such as Global Gateway to create decent jobs that will reduce income inequality and ensure that no one is left behind;

Or. fr

Amendment 26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Expresses concern that economic growth in many developing countries remains slow and uneven, often hindered by structural weaknesses, economic inequalities, political instability and external shocks; stresses that the employment rate of single mothers is 10 points lower than the average for women working in the EU owing to a lack of childcare options and job insecurity; calls on the Member States to put in place specific policies to promote their access to and retention in employment, including through tax incentives and tailored training schemes;

Or. fr

Amendment 27

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Recommends increased public and private investment in research, education and skills development;

15. Recommends increased public and private investment in research, education and skills development in the Member States;

Or. fr

Amendment 28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 – point 1 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(1) calls for increased participation of women in the technological and scientific sectors, as women currently account for only 17 % of jobs in engineering and IT;

Or. fr

Amendment 29

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 – point 2 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(2) stresses that 80 % of family carers in Europe are women and that their care burden directly affects their participation in the labour market, with a reduced employment rate and long-term loss of income; calls for work done by carers to be formally recognised and for paid leave and specific social entitlements to be introduced;

Or. fr

Amendment 30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 – point 3 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(3) stresses that women living in the outermost and island regions face high structural unemployment and increased job insecurity; calls on the Member States to strengthen support schemes for female entrepreneurship and to improve access to finance for projects run by women in these regions;

Or. fr

Amendment 31

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 – point 4 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(4) regrets that women still face more difficulties than men in accessing loans and finance to start their business, despite the fact that companies run by women have similar or even higher success rates; calls on the Member States and the European institutions to set up guarantee funds and specific support measures for female entrepreneurship;

Or. fr

Amendment 32

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16. Emphasises that initiatives aimed at stimulating economic growth cannot come at the expense of social justice, labour rights or environmental protection;

16. Emphasises that initiatives aimed at stimulating economic growth cannot come at the expense of social justice, labour rights, gender equality or environmental protection;

Or. fr

Amendment 33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16a. Is concerned that EU environmental policies negatively affect the economy and thus the economic situation of women, who are more vulnerable to economic crises;

Or. fr

Amendment 34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21. Reaffirms that Official Development Assistance (ODA) remains a crucial source of public financing; calls, therefore, on all EU Member States and global partners to ensure that sufficient financing is dedicated to fulfilling the commitment to spend 0.7 % of gross national income on ODA;

21. Reaffirms that Official Development Assistance (ODA) remains a crucial source of public financing; calls, therefore, on all EU Member States and global partners to ensure that sufficient financing is dedicated to it and that programmes committed under ODA respect and promote fundamental rights, in particular gender equality, as well as European interests;

Or. fr

Amendment 35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22. Emphasises the crucial role of multi-stakeholder partnerships and the involvement of local governments, civil society and youth representatives;

22. Emphasises the crucial role of multi-stakeholder partnerships and the involvement of local governments, civil society and youth representatives; calls for international cooperation programmes and strategic partnerships to systematically include a component on the integration of women into employment, especially in future-oriented sectors such as green technologies, digital and industry, in order to ensure their full participation in the global economic transition;

Or. fr

Amendment 36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 – point 1 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(1) regrets that European funding programmes for economic development do not sufficiently take into account the specific needs of women, especially mothers, in terms of access to employment;

Or. fr

Amendment 37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 – point 2 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(2) stresses the need to make EU funding for international projects conditional on respect for gender equality in access to economic opportunities;

Or. fr

Amendment 38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 – point 3 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(3) recalls that women in the EU’s outermost regions and islands face more difficulties in accessing vocational training and job support schemes; calls for cohesion funds and development programmes to include enhanced specific measures to address these territorial inequalities;

Or. fr

Amendment 39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 – point 4 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(4) calls for the development of mentoring and training programmes for women in sectors with high added value, in particular in partnership with private companies and international organisations, in order to reduce the gender representation gap in strategic and leadership positions;

Or. fr

Amendment 40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 – point 5 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(5) recalls that only 30 % of entrepreneurs in the EU are women and that their access to finance remains limited compared to their male counterparts, while entrepreneurship can be an opportunity for women to reconcile work and family life; calls for the creation of a specific European fund for female entrepreneurship, ensuring tailored financing conditions and specific support;

Or. fr

Amendment 41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24. Stresses the need to align the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe, including Global Gateway programmes, with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement; calls for greater involvement of Parliament in the scrutiny of Global Gateway programmes;

24. Stresses the need to align the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe, including Global Gateway programmes, with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement, subject to compliance with the fundamental criterion of gender equality; calls for greater involvement of Parliament in the scrutiny of Global Gateway programmes;

Or. fr

Amendment 42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Reiterates that the SDGs are the only globally agreed and comprehensive set of goals on the major challenges faced by both developed and developing countries and are the best tool for tackling their root causes; calls for gender equality to become an essential and mandatory criterion for the allocation of EU funds to third countries; insists that all EU funding should be conditional on tangible and verifiable commitments to reduce economic and professional inequalities between the sexes, including the adoption of measures to promote equal pay, women’s access to education and employment, and the fight against discrimination;

Or. fr

Amendment 43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27 – point 1 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(1) affirms that achieving the SDGs will require better integration of women into the labour market, including through measures that ensure fair access to training towards qualifications, entrepreneurship finance and jobs of the future, especially in the technological and environmental sectors;

Or. fr

Amendment 44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27 – point 2 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(2) stresses that European policies must include a specific approach for single mothers, who face higher poverty rates and limited access to stable employment; calls for stronger support schemes, including childcare support and training tailored to family constraints;

Or. fr

Amendment 45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27 – point 3 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(3) recalls that the digital and green transition can only be fully successful if it includes women, including women in the EU’s outermost regions and islands, where access to training infrastructure and employment opportunities remains limited; stresses the need for targeted investments to reduce these territorial inequalities;

Or. fr

Amendment 46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27 – point 4 (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(4) stresses the need for better recognition of unpaid work done by carers, which mostly affects women and can lead to long-term economic insecurity, even though it provides a benefit for society as a whole;

Or. fr

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.