[Brussels, 18 September 2012] On the occasion of the current discussions in the LIBE Committee of the European Parliament, the European Disability Forum (EDF), the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), The European Network Against Racism (ENAR), ILGA-Europe and AGE Platform Europe highlighted their comments on the proposal for a Rights and Citizenship Programme under the future EU budget for 2014-2020.
The proposal for a Regulation establishing for the period 2014-2020 the Rights and Citizenship Programme is of great value for European level gender equality and equality organisations. It will indeed cover core themes these organisations are addressing and will provide the means to further develop and implement activities in the fields of gender equality, non-discrimination, fight against violence against women, the promotion of human dignity as well as participation to democratic life.
Hence, the EWL and equality networks welcome the line MEP Kinga Göncz, Rapporteur for the Rights and Citizenship Programme followed, particularly the greater focus on equality and gender equality, non-discrimination, rights of people with disabilities and vulnerable groups, the fight against violence against women and the fight against social exclusion. The EWL and equality networks aso welcome amendments aimed at providing sufficient support to NGOs pursuing the objectives of the Programme as public support is key to keep the efficiency, quality and credibility of our activities.
The Rights and Citizenship Programme will finance for 7 years major and badly needed activities across the EU, which will aim at making Europe more democratic, fairer and equal. The EWL hopes that the parallel negociations taking place among Member States regarding the amounts of funding that will be dedicated to gender equality, the fight against violence and the promotion of social issues will take into account the fact that those topics are essential elements to overcome the current economic and social crisis and that budgets in these areas are needed now more than ever.
