By Marija Risteska, GBWN Program Director
When the European Union sets its long-term budget — officially known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) — it’s doing more than allocating money. It’s setting the tone for Europe’s values, priorities, and global partnerships for the next generation.
With the current MFF running until 2027, the EU is already beginning to shape its next financial framework, which will govern spending and policy priorities well into the 2030s. This is a critical window of opportunity. The decisions made now will impact everything from education and health to security and climate action — both within the EU and in its partnerships with countries around the world, including in the Western Balkans.
That’s why the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), a proud member of the Gender Budget Watchdog Network (GBWN), recently contributed to the public consultation on the next MFF. We called on the European Commission to make gender equality a central pillar of its future funding — not just in words, but in measurable, resourced actions.
So what are we asking for, and why does it matter?
Gender Equality: A Strategic Priority, Not a Side Note
Gender equality is not just a social issue — it’s smart policy. Evidence from across the world shows that when women are economically empowered and included in decision-making, peace agreements last longer, economies grow faster, and communities become more resilient.
Yet, EU funding instruments often overlook this truth in practice. Too often, gender considerations are either vaguely referenced or entirely missing from large-scale funding mechanisms. In many cases, civil society organizations (CSOs) — especially those led by and for women — frequently struggle to access meaningful support, despite their proven track record in building resilient, inclusive communities.
The next MFF must change that.
What KWN Recommends
In our submission to the MFF public consultation, we made three key recommendations:
- Apply Gender-Responsive Budgeting Across All EU Funds
This means systematically considering how budget allocations and expenditures affect women and men differently, and adjusting them to promote equality. It also means requiring all programmes and projects to include gender equality objectives. - Earmark Funds for Women’s CSOs — Including in Security Budgets
As the EU increases its spending on security, it must not neglect its commitments to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda. Local women’s organizations often play crucial roles in peacebuilding, early warning, and conflict prevention — areas that traditional security actors may not cover effectively. - Set Measurable Gender Equality Goals, Targets, and Indicators
What gets measured gets done. The next MFF should include specific, measurable targets for gender equality, including output, outcome, and impact indicators. This would allow for transparent monitoring and accountability across all sectors — from agriculture to digital innovation to diplomacy.
Without measurable targets, a clear monitoring framework and accountability mechanisms, Western Balkan’s gender-sensitive budgets risk becoming a well-intentioned promise that fails to deliver real change. This is exactly the kind of gap the EU should help address through its external funding tools.
Why Now?
The next MFF will shape how the EU spends its money from 2028 onward — a critical decade for climate action, global stability, and digital transformation.
The European Commission, under President Ursula von der Leyen’s second mandate, has pledged to create a more focused, flexible, and impactful budget. It aims to become an “Investment Commission” — one that delivers on core strategic priorities. Gender equality must be one of those priorities.
As the EU rethinks its external action tools, especially in regions like the Western Balkans where it holds strong influence, it has both a responsibility and an opportunity to lead by example. It can show that inclusive, gender-responsive policies are not a luxury, but a prerequisite for sustainable development and democratic resilience.
Moving Forward: What We Hope to See
When the European Commission presents its proposals for the next MFF in 2025, we want to see a bold, unambiguous commitment to gender equality. This means:
- Dedicated budget lines for gender equality initiatives
- Mandatory gender impact assessments for all funding proposals
- Consistent engagement and dedicated funding for women’s CSOs, especially in peace and security
- Integration of gender-sensitive indicators into all funding instruments.
Gender equality must not remain a side goal or a soft policy area. The EU cannot deliver on its strategic interests — be it peace, security, or sustainable development — without investing in gender equality. And that investment starts with the budget.
Let’s make sure the next EU external action budget doesn’t just talk about equality. Let’s make sure it funds it.
