A joint letter was sent to more than 120 EU officials in the European Parliament, European Commission and Council of the European Union, calling for the EU\u2019s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to strengthen prosperity, peace, equality and democracy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The letter was sent on behalf of more than 229 civil society organisations, networks and institutions, representing more than 30,944 organisations and individuals who have signed an online petition. It expresses concern that the proposed MFF risks reallocating resources away from areas that promote these priorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The signatories call for dedicated funding for gender equality, women\u2019s rights, care services, social priorities and the environment across the EU budget. They also request clear gender equality objectives in all EU funding programmes, supported by indicators, baselines and targets to measure progress, alongside clear spending targets for gender equality in internal and external policies. This includes the need to allocate funding specifically for women\u2019s rights organizations as key allies in furthering democracy, peace and equality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The letter calls for these objectives and funding to be included in national and regional partnership plans and Reform Agendas, with meaningful participation from civil society and independent gender equality bodies in designing these. It also urges EU institutions to integrate gender equality throughout the budget cycle from programme design to implementation, monitoring and evaluation and to fulfil EU Treaty obligations to promote equality between women and men in all EU activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n