Relaxation in gender equality plan requirements are to be pushed through with 2025 work programme
Photo credits: Markus Winkler / Unsplash
The European Commission wants to water down gender mainstreaming requirements in Horizon Europe despite facing resistance from member states and research stakeholders.
The changes proposed by the Commission are set to come into effect in 2025, with member states invited to endorse the revamped rules in a vote on the whole Horizon Europe work programme for the year.
The proposed changes affect gender equality plans (GEPs), which every institution hoping to get funding from Horizon Europe must have in place. The requirement was introduced in 2022, alongside other measures for gender mainstreaming in EU research.
A Commission study in 2024 found that the rule has already led to increased gender…
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