Regulation (EU) 2021/692 establishing the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme

What it is

to establish the rights and values programme for the period 2021-2027. PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: the Union is a community of law , and its values constitute the very basis of its existence. These values are enshrined in the EU Treaties, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by Bodil VALERO (Greens/EFA, SE) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Rights and Values programme. The Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, exercising their prerogatives as associated committees in accordance with Rule 54 of the Rules of Procedure, also gave their opinions on the report. The committee recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission's proposal as follows. Members proposed that this Regulation shall establish the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme. - Union value strand : to protect and promote democracy and the rule of law at local, regional, national and transnational level; - Equality, Rights and Gender Equality strand : to promote equality, including gender equality, rights, non-discrimination and advance gender mainstreaming; - Active Citizenship strand : to raise citizens’, in particular young people’s, awareness of the importance of the Union through activities aimed at keeping alive remembrance of the historic events that led to its creation, and to promote democracy, freedom of expression, pluralism, civic engagement as well as meetings of citizens and their active participation in the democratic life of the Union; - Daphne strand : to fight violence, including gender based violence. Members proposed introducing this new strand with the aim of: - providing support for independent human rights defenders and civil society organisations undertaking monitoring compliance with the rule of law, for whistleblower defence and for initiatives that promote the shared culture of transparency, good governance and fight against corruption; - promoting the construction of a more democratic Union as well as protecting and raising awareness of the rights and values enshrined in the Treaties. The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 1 627 000 000 in 2018 prices. It shall be divided as follows: - EUR 429 372 000 (i.e. 26.39% of the total financial envelope) for the Equality, rights and gender equality and Daphne strand; - EUR 443 566 000 (i.e. 27.26% of the total financial envelope) for the Active citizenship strand. The Programme may provide funding in any of the forms laid down in the Financial Regulation, primarily through action grants as well as annual and multiannual operating grants. That funding shall be implemented…

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