Incorporation of gender equality issues into the budget

SESSION OF THURSDAY, 3 JULY 2003

Incorporation of gender equality issues into the budget

Karamanou (PSE). – Madam President, I would first like to congratulate our rapporteur, Mrs. Ghilardotti, for her significant contribution to raising awareness and highlighting the relatively new concept of incorporating gender equality issues into the budget (gender budgeting).

The promotion of the idea, that is, the incorporation of gender equality into the budget, certainly does not seek to create separate funding chapters nor does it aim for more financial resources for women. What we are trying to do is to assess the specific consequences on the economic and social life of both genders and, of course, to introduce restructuring in the budgets so that through these, gender equality is promoted rather than undermined.

Today, it is increasingly understood that macroeconomic policy can either narrow or widen the gap between the sexes in relation to economic resources, economic independence, education, and healthcare. For example, the health budget should take into account the specific needs arising from the different physiology of the sexes and the different health issues that each sex faces. The male cannot be the measure of all things. I express my regret that the European Commission does not have either methods or reliable statistical data to analyze the budget by gender.

I would also like to emphasize that all committees of the European Parliament should apply the integration of gender equality issues into all their budgets. Finally, the existence of transparency and control mechanisms is also of great importance.