Horizon Europe 2028–2034: encouraging commitments to gender equality

The compromise texts for the next Horizon Europe programme offer encouraging prospects for gender equality in European research and innovation. GENDERACTIONplus2027 welcomes these commitments and calls for them to be retained through the negotiations ahead.

An agreement between the European Parliament’s rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs marks an important step towards shaping Horizon Europe for 2028–2034. The compromise covers the programme’s Regulation and Specific Programme and is scheduled for a vote in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) on 10 November. It has yet to be adopted as Parliament’s position.

For the gender equality community, the texts provide grounds for optimism. They include commitments to gender mainstreaming, integrating the gender dimension in research and innovation, and addressing the underlying causes of gender imbalance. Together, these provisions would support continued attention to both the institutions conducting research and the knowledge they produce.

Building on progress in gender equality

We particularly welcome the retention of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) as an eligibility requirement, with explicit provisions for dedicated resources and commitment from institutional leadership. The next programme offers an opportunity to use what we have learned under the current Horizon Europe to strengthen GEP implementation and monitoring, including through the experience shared by national authorities and research funding organisations in GENDERACTIONplus and GENDERACTIONplus2027.

The commitments to integrating the gender dimension in research and innovation are also welcome, alongside attention to women’s health and existing gender inequalities in medical research. Addressing these gaps is essential to producing research that better reflects people’s needs and improves diagnosis, treatment and care.

In our position on the Commission’s proposals for Horizon Europe 2028–2034 and the Budget Expenditure Tracking and Performance Framework, GENDERACTIONplus called for stronger gender equality provisions, including gender budgeting with clear tracking and targets. The Horizon Europe compromise is an encouraging step towards securing these commitments in the next programme.

Gender equality across the EU budget

The Horizon Europe compromise comes amid concerns about gender equality in the wider EU budget. The proposed Budget Expenditure Tracking and Performance Framework would set common rules for assessing and tracking how EU funding, including Horizon Europe, contributes to gender equality. As we highlighted in our recent analysis, ITRE’s proposed deletions would seriously weaken these rules. With these wider safeguards at risk, it is more important than ever to retain strong gender equality requirements within Horizon Europe, while continuing to call for an effective framework across the EU budget.

Keeping these commitments through the next stages

The forthcoming ITRE vote on 10 November is an important step, with further parliamentary consideration and negotiations still ahead.

We thank René Repasi, Christian Ehler, Lina Gálvez and everyone involved in securing these gender equality provisions. We call on MEPs to support their retention and on the institutions negotiating the final programme to preserve and strengthen them.

For GENDERACTIONplus2027, the priority is to build on the progress already made and ensure that the next Horizon Europe provides the requirements, resources and accountability needed to advance inclusive gender equality in the ERA.