Gender equality is a fundamental value of the European Union (EU), and the EU has stated that it “wants men and women to have equal rights”. The EU plans to achieve this through its forthcoming Gender Equality Strategy, under public consultation until 11 August.

Today, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) provided input, emphasising that the EU must institutionalise gender mainstreaming into policy processes, including ensuring gender-responsive budgeting. The EU also must ensure financial support to women’s rights organisations (WCSOs) and networks working to further gender equality, as key allies and watchdogs for government accountability.

In line with established international best practices, including those put forth by the European Institute for Gender Equality, the EU must: 1) institutionalise gender impact assessments to inform ALL laws, policies, strategies and action plans across ALL policy areas / sectors; 2) based on these analyses, integrate attention to furthering gender equality in policy documents by stating clear objectives, indicators and actions; 3) utilise gender-responsive budgeting to ensure adequate budget allocations for implementing commitments to furthering gender equality, linking objectives with clear allocations; and 4) monitor and evaluate progress through use of gender impact analyses, to inform future policies, strategies and budgets.

In particular, the EU must ensure a gender-responsive approach to security, in line with its commitments to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

In development cooperation, the EU must continue to play its crucial role in preventing conflict and authoritarianism while promoting security, democracy, good governance, rule of law, justice, social protection and economic development. Thus, ALL external action, aid and development assistance MUST have a gender-responsive or transformative approach with clear objectives, indicators and budget commitments in the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework. Women’s rights organisations, movements, and networks, currently under threat, are key allies for the EU; we need EU support to continue providing essential services and holding governments accountable through watchdog efforts and advocacy. Dedicated financing must be allocated for LOCAL women’s rights organisations work to further democracy, justice and good governance.

KWN recommended that the EU ensure that all social protection policies are based on intersectional gender analysis, have clear objectives towards gender equality and integrate attention to gender-specific needs, including protection from gender-based violence in line with Istanbul Convention commitments. The EU must allocate adequate financing for social protection services, particularly related to addressing gender-based violence in line with commitments to the Istanbul Convention. Related to housing, the EU should ensure that Member States earmark housing for single women, mothers and particularly survivors of gender-based violence, facilitating rehabilitation and reintegration.

Overall, KWN emphasised that furthering gender equality must be integrated into ALL EU policy areas, including Security and Defence; Justice and fundamental rights; Economic and Financial Affairs (including budgeting, trade, fiscal and tax policy); Education by transforming gender norms; Employment and Social Affairs, including skills, housing and health; Agriculture, Rural and Regional Development; Migration and Home Affairs, including asylum; External Action and International Partnerships including development cooperation and humanitarian aid, and multilateral agreements; Transport and Infrastructure, including mobility; Environment, Climate Change, and Energy; Digital Strategy; Research and Innovation; and Tourism and cultural heritage.

KWN’s inputs were prepared based on KWN’s extensive research, including several gender analyses across various sectors. Since 2010, KWN has monitored Kosovo’s EU Accession process from a gender perspective, as well as followed closely the EU’s work related to gender equality, including successive Gender Action Plans, external financing and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

This input was prepared as part of the Gender Budget Watchdog Network, supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), though its content is KWN’s sole responsibility and does not necessarily reflect the views of ADA or Sida.