Press Release
More than 200 women’s rights organisations and platforms across Europe have issued a joint letter to Members of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Together, they are calling for dedicated and visible funding for women’s rights, equality between women and men, and the prevention of violence against women and girls within the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF, 2028–2034).
Research conducted in 15 EU Member States under the MOTERIS project indicates that women’s rights are currently disappearing from the EU’s budget priorities.
Concerns Regarding Future EU Funding
There is significant concern that within increasingly merged funding frameworks, such as the proposed AgoraEU programme, support for women’s rights and substantive equality risks becoming less visible and accessible. This comes at a time when many organisations are facing an increased demand for services, shrinking national funding, and growing opposition to women’s rights across Europe.
Key Calls to the European Parliament
The organisations urge Members of the European Parliament to:
- Defend the allocation and monitoring of budgeting that takes into account the distinct needs of women and girls, mainstreaming equality across the EU budget cycle.
- Oppose the integration of funding for women’s rights into broad, non-earmarked, and generic funding envelopes that make tracking and access more difficult.
- Ensure that the DAPHNE funding stream—whether within or outside of CERV+—is defined and ringfenced to address exclusively violence against women and girls.
- Ensure that specialist single-sex organisations, including those supporting survivors of systems of prostitution, have equal access to EU funding and are not excluded in project selection.
- Promote multiannual operating grants and simplified access procedures for small and grassroots organisations.
Women’s Rights Must Remain Visible in the EU Budget
Women’s rights and equality are legal obligations under EU law and must be reflected in the future EU budget to prioritize fundamental rights and democracy. It is essential that these issues remain visible priorities within all future EU funding programmes.
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