WUNRN
European Women's Lobby - EWL
[
Help the European Women’s Lobby
to ensure that gender equality, VAW, equality of all and fundamental rights
will be a priority and that the EU will allocate predictable and specific
funding for these activities in the years to come!
The budgetary proposals
of the European Commission for the new funding period 2014-2020 integrate EU
funding for gender equality and VAW in a general programme called ’Rights and
Citizenship’. There will be no specific budget lines for gender equality and no
independent Daphne Programme to combat violence.
The European Commission’s proposals are now discussed by the EU member states (your governments) and the European Parliament, and the two will make the final decision in spring 2013. In the coming months, all EWL members and partners must take action and ensure that the Commission’s proposals will be improved!
Contact your national
government and your MEPs now!
Download the EWL’s briefing and call for action (updated on 23 March)
that explains the key problems of the Commission’s proposal and gives the tools
needed to get involved: key arguments, timeline, who to contact and a model
letter that can be used to contact decision-makers.
The EWL and other European equality networks have prepared joint amendments to the Commission’s proposal. You can distribute them to your national decision makers together with the model letter attached to the briefing.
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EWL - European Women's Lobby
17 February 2012
Call for action for EWL members and partners to secure
future EU funding for gender equality and combating violence against women
What is at stake: The level and
predictability of European Union (EU) funding for gender equality and combating
violence against women (VAW), including funding for the EWL itself is at risk.
EU and national decision-makers are at the moment debating the EU budget for
2014-2020 and the future EU funding programmes. The proposals of the European
Commission for the new funding period integrate EU funding for gender equality
and VAW in a general programme. There will be no specific budget lines for
gender equality and no independent Daphne Programme to combat violence. This is
a serious risk for future EU action on women’s rights and gender equality.
What should we do: The European Commission’s
proposals are now discussed by the EU member states (your governments) and the
European Parliament. In the coming months, all EWL members and partners must
take action to ensure that, in next EU budgetary period, gender equality, VAW,
equality of all, non-discrimination and fundamental rights are a priority and
that the EU will allocate predictable and specific funding for these
activities.
How will we do it: Contacts with
national governments and the European Parliament will be needed. EWL members and
other interested organisations can support the EWL by approaching their
national governments (gender equality, justice and finance ministries) and
MEPs. Use the enclosed material: concrete amendments to the Commission’s
proposals, a model letter and a statement.
When should we act: The time for action is now! The
member states and the European Parliament will decide on the overall approach
to the new funding programmes in Spring 2012. The final decisions will be made
by the end of 2012
From the current Progress and Daphne programmes to
‘Rights and Citizenship’ Programme – What has changed?
The European Commission has proposed that
within the 2014-2020 EU budget framework, EU activities to promote equality
between women and men and fight violence against women will be financed through
the so-called ‘Rights and Citizenship
Programme’.[1][1] The programme groups together three current
programmes: the gender equality and anti-discrimination sections of the
PROGRESS programme, the Daphne III programme to combat violence against women,
children and young people and the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship programme.
The proposal as it stands may weaken the EU’s ability to promote equality
between women and men and combat violence against women:
1. In the new proposal, equality between women and men is not an
independent policy objective but part of the objective to “implement the principle of non-discrimination”.
This may lead to a loss of visibility and focus. Combating violence against women is not even mentioned among the
objectives of the programme.
2. The new programme
implies a decrease in funding for (gender) equality, fundamental rights and
combating violence. Even if the overall
amount in the ‘Justice’ pot from where the funds for the programme are
allocated increases, funding for the equality objectives decreases. There is a
shift in funding priorities from equality and rights to criminal and civil
justice (click here
for graphic visualisation).
3. No earmarked
funding is foreseen for the different
objectives of the programme. Decision about funding priorities will be made
annually. This flexibility is a threat to predictability of funding for
promoting gender equality and combating violence against women and means that
there is no certainty about the yearly funding for women’s rights. We have
heard from the Commission that from 2014, the cut may be 30% gender equality and equality
compared to now. This includes uncertainty regarding the funding and survival
of the EWL itself.
4. Funding for the
activities of small NGOs may not be continued (Daphne Programme). The proposal does not mention support to the
activities of national NGOs.
EWL key messages on the Rights and Citizenship
Programme
The forthcoming decision on the overall
budget and priorities of the Rights and Citizenship programme that MEPs and
member states will make this year is one of the most important issues regarding
women’s rights and gender equality. The success of EU gender equality policies
depends on the funding available. Gender equality, including combating violence
against women, must be an investment priority of the EU!
1.
Make (gender) equality and fundamental
rights and investment priority - increase the budget of the Rights and
Citizenship Programme
The 2011 public consultation on EU funding
instruments in the field of Justice sent a clear message: Europeans want the EU
to increase EU funding for gender equality, violence against women, fundamental
rights and non-discrimination. The Commission’s proposal to cut funding for
these objectives goes against the views of citizens. EU institutions and member
states have made several commitments regarding gender equality and these
commitments must be reflected in decisions about EU budgetary priorities. This
could even be done within the current proposed budget through a shift in
allocations.
2.
Ensure that women’s rights and gender
equality is an independent policy priority of the Programme
The Commission’s proposal implies a loss of
visibility for the goal of equality between women and men and the fight against
violence. Promoting
equality for all and promoting equality between women and men are complementary
goals that are backed up by different sets of EU legislation and policy
responses, and they must both have an independent standing as objectives of the
Programme. Combating violence against women must be explicitly mentioned.
3.
Secure dedicated, predictable funding for
gender equality within the Programme
There must be funding each year for activities
on equality between women and men to ensure progress. The proposal to make
funding decisions based on annual priorities and not earmark yearly funding for
gender equality makes it impossible to implement long-term strategies. There
cannot be serious EU gender equality policies, including implementation of
existing legislation and strategies, without yearly dedicated funding.
4.
Ensure women’s NGOs at all levels can
benefit from the support of the Programme
The proposed decrease, the lack of specific
objectives and the proposals regarding the management of the programme (yearly
priorities etc.) endanger the funding for NGOs, including the EWL. Civil
society organisations at all levels have proven themselves as indispensable
partners of the EU in promoting equality between women and men and in combating
violence against women.
What can you do?
1.
Contact your government
The positions of
the member states regarding the details of the programme are probably prepared
in Ministries of Justice. Ministries of Finance are responsible for the budget
of the programme. The individuals working on gender equality may not be part of
the debate, they need to be alerted!
· Contact/write to
the minister responsible for gender equality and the gender equality unit of
the government in order to alert them and ask them to get involved in
developing the position of your country. You can use the enclosed model letter
and attach the amendments.
· Contact/write to
the minister
responsible for your country’s position on the programme. Copy the
permanent representation of your country the EU (see a list here).
You can use model letter and amendments enclosed.
2.
Contact your members of the European
Parliament
The Committee for
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) is responsible for European
Parliament’s position. Also the FEMM Committee will contribute. The person
responsible for drafting in LIBE is Kinga Göncz. See here
which MEPs from your country are members of the LIBE committee.
· Send the model letter
and the amendments enclosed to the LIBE Committee members from your country.
Timeline – time for action is now!
· November 2011 European Commission proposal for the
Rights and Citizenship Programme (RaC)
· Spring 2012 European Parliament will draft its
position on RaC Programme, draft report in March
· Spring 2012 Member states decide on their position on
the RaC Programme
· Spring 2012 Member states start discussing the overall
budget and funding for different programmes
· June 2012 Ministers for Justice will make the
decision on the general approach to the programme
· June 2012 European Parliament will vote on its
position on the Programme
· Winter 2012/2013 Member states will decide about
financial allocations for different programmes
· Winter 2012/2013 European Parliament and Council
decide on the regulations
· January 2014 Rights and Citizenship Programme replaces
DAPHNE and PROGRESS
Tools: statement, amendments & model letter
|
EWL statement on EU funding programmes in the field
of Justice (Nov 2011) – download
here |
Joint amendments to the proposal for the Rights and
Citizenship Programme (Feb 2012) – download
here |
Model lobbying letter to be translated – Send to
equality, justice and finance ministers / ministry officials and members of the
European Parliament
Dear xx
RE: Ensure sufficient and predictable EU funding for equality between women and men in the
2014-2020 EU budget
I am writing you in
regarding the forthcoming decisions that EU member states and the European
Parliament will make on the EU budget 2014-2020 and future EU funding
programmes. In particular, I want to draw your attention to the proposed Rights and Citizenship Programme, which
after 2013 will be the main source of EU funding for activities in the field of
equality between women and men and combating violence against women.
The success of EU
gender equality policies depends on EU funding made available for implementing
them and supporting other actors who work in this field. The budget and
priorities of the Rights and Citizenship
Programme are therefore among the most important decisions related to
gender equality that the EU member states and the European Parliament will make
this year.
The European
Commission’s proposal for the Rights and
Citizenship Programme as it stands may weaken the EU’s ability to promote gender equality and
combat violence against women. Firstly, the proposal does not foresee gender
equality and violence against women as an independent policy priority and does
not earmark funding for this purpose. Secondly, the European Commission
foresees to decrease the level of EU funding for (gender) equality and
fundamental rights as compared to the current funding level.
It is in the hands
of the European Parliament and the EU member states to ensure that gender
equality will be one of the investment priorities of the EU in the new funding
period. I/We urge
you to ensure that the
European Parliament (if you write to MEP)/name of the country (if you are
writing to member state) will amend the Commission’s proposal in
following ways:
· Increase the overall budget of the Rights and Citizenship Programme – Equality and fundamental rights must be priorities of EU spending.
· Make gender equality, including combating violence against women, an independent policy priority of the Programme – the goal of equality between women and men and the fight against violence are invisible in the current Commission’s proposal.
· Ensure that funding for promoting gender equality will be available every year and not dependant on separate decisions each year– Coherent gender equality policies require coherent, predictable funding.
· Ensure the NGOs will have an access to the Programme each year in a predictable way – European networks and NGOs working in the field of gender equality, combating violence against women and non-discrimination are crucial partners in implementing the objectives of the EU in this field.
We/I hope that you will take these considerations into account.
Yours sincerely,
[1][1] Proposal for the Rights and Citizenship Programme (COM(2011) 758); Proposal
for the Justice Programme (COM(2011)
759)
