Effective Gender Budgeting in the next MFF

Advancing gender equality is an expressed objective of the EU, underlined by initiatives like the Roadmap for Women’s Rights or the Gender Equality Strategy. But how will gender equality feature in the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034?

In our new Policy Brief “Effective Gender Budgeting in the next MFF – The Role of National and Regional Partnership Plans” Dr. Elisabeth Klatzer examines the proposed integration and funding. 

Zooming in on National and Regional Partnership Plans

The focus lies on the European Fund for Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion, Agriculture, Rural, and Maritime Prosperity and Security (NRP Fund) implemented through National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRP Plans) as well as the EU Facility. 

These form a central pillar in the Commission’s vision to create a more flexible and simplified EU budget that boosts the EU’s competitiveness.

Merely paying lip service?

Klatzer’s analysis shows a shift away from social priorities and the EU’s treaty-based gender equality commitments in the MFF proposal. Gender equality is treated as a mere principle to be “taken into account” rather than a goal to be funded and achieved. 

Mainstreaming gender equality

The Policy Brief outlines how to effectively mainstream gender equality across the NRP Fund and beyond by: 

• introducing the promotion of gender equality as a general and specific objective 
• integrating a comprehensive gender mainstreaming provision 
• setting clear targets for gender equality expenditure linked to score 1 and 2 interventions 
• earmarking resources in the EU Facility for gender equality measures
• ensuring collected data is disaggregated by gender and by
• increasing the proposed 14% spending target for social objectives

Read more in the full paper below. For more information, please contact Jonathan.Schnock(at)fes.de.