In 2023, approximately 11% of the EU's annual budget, which totals €140 billion, was allocated to gender equality initiatives, amounting to around €48 billion. This budget is set for a significant overhaul starting in June 2025, with a focus on implementing gender budgeting strategies aimed at removing barriers that affect women and girls [9f98582d]. MEP Lina Gálvez has emphasized the necessity of prioritizing gender budgeting at a political level to ensure that women's rights are adequately supported within the EU framework [9f98582d].
Experts argue that gender-responsive budgets can effectively address persistent issues such as unequal pay and underrepresentation of women in various sectors. Research from the EU suggests that enhancing gender equality could lead to a remarkable 9.6% boost in per-capita economic growth and the creation of approximately 10.5 million jobs by 2050 [9f98582d]. Despite these potential benefits, only 13 out of 49 EU programs currently prioritize gender equality, indicating a significant gap in the implementation of these initiatives [9f98582d].
Additionally, the Horizon Europe program mandates that gender equality plans must be in place for funding eligibility, reflecting the EU's commitment to addressing gender disparities. However, full implementation of gender budgeting remains a work in progress, as the EU's founding treaties call for the elimination of gender inequalities, highlighting the need for continued efforts in this area [9f98582d].