—

having regard to the Commission communication of 17 May 2021 on a new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU — transforming the EU’s Blue Economy for a Sustainable Future (COM(2021)0240),

—

having regard to Articles 3, 4, 13, 38, 43 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (1),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 (2) (EMFAF),

—

having regard to Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (3),

—

having regard to the seventh Environmental Action Programme (EAP) and the concepts enshrined therein, such as planetary boundaries and ecological limits,

—

having regard to Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning (4),

—

having regard to Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks (5),

—

having regard to Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (6),

—

having regard to the political agreement between Parliament and the Council of 11 March 2021 on the 2021-2027 Connecting Europe Facility,

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’ (COM(2019)0640),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 20 May 2020 entitled ‘EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 — Bringing nature back into our lives’ (COM(2020)0380), and to its resolution of 9 June 2021 thereon (7),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 20 May 2020 entitled ‘A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system’ (COM(2020)0381), and to its resolution of 20 October 2021 thereon (8),

—

having regard to the Commission report entitled ‘The EU Blue Economy Report 2021’ (9),

—

having regard to the Commission report of March 2021 on ‘Sustainability criteria for the blue economy’ (10),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 12 May 2021 entitled ‘Strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 2021 to 2030’ (COM(2021)0236),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 23 July 2020 entitled ‘A new approach to the Atlantic maritime strategy — Atlantic action plan 2.0: An updated action plan for a sustainable, resilient and competitive blue economy in the European Union Atlantic area’ (COM(2020)0329),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 9 December 2020 entitled ‘Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy — putting European transport on track for the future’ (COM(2020)0789),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 19 November 2020 entitled ‘An EU Strategy to harness the potential of offshore renewable energy for a climate neutral future’ (COM(2020)0741),

—

having regard to its resolution of 8 September 2015 on untapping the potential of research and innovation in the blue economy to create jobs and growth (11),

—

having regard to its resolution of 16 January 2018 entitled ‘International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans in the context of the 2030 SDGs’ (12),

—

having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2021 on the impact on fisheries of marine litter (13),

—

having regard to its resolution of 14 September 2021 on a new approach to the Atlantic maritime strategy (14),

—

having regard to its resolution of 7 July 2021 on the impact on the fishing sector of offshore wind farms and other renewable energy systems (15),

—

having regard to its resolution of 14 September 2021 entitled ‘Towards a stronger partnership with the EU outermost regions’ (16),

—

having regard to the agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement),

—

having regard to the global guidelines and international standards for fisheries and aquaculture as developed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in cooperation with the EU as a member,

—

having regard to the FAO report entitled ‘The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020: Sustainability in Action’,

—

having regard to the Blue Fishing Ports Network initiative launched in July 2018 by the FAO,

—

having regard to the Port of Vigo Blue Growth Strategies for 2016-2020 and 2021-2027 (17),

—

having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Commission communication on a new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU — transforming the EU’s blue economy for a sustainable future (COM(2021)0240),

—

having regard to the opinion by the Committee of the Regions of 2 December 2021 on the sustainable blue economy and aquaculture (NAT-VVI/020),

—

having regard to the competence of its Committee on Transport and Tourism on maritime programming and an integrated maritime policy,

—

having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

—

having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Development and the Committee on Transport and Tourism,

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A9-0089/2022),

A.

whereas the EU’s blue economy provides 4,5 million direct jobs and encompasses all industries and sectors related to oceans, seas and coasts, whether they are based in the marine environment (such as shipping, seagoing passenger transport, fisheries and energy generation) or on land (such as ports, shipyards, coastal tourism and land-based aquaculture); whereas it is a broad, fast-moving segment of our economy, which has taken significant steps to modernise and diversify over the past decade, and which will play an important role in improving environmental, social and economic development;

B.

whereas if the global blue economy were compared to a national economy, it would be the seventh largest in the world, and the ocean as an economic entity would be a member of the G7; whereas it operates in the planet’s largest ecosystem, as oceans hold 80 % of all life forms; whereas the ocean surrounds and sustains us and provides critical resources for human health, not to mention a web of economic interactions;

C.

whereas developing the blue economy could greatly boost growth and economic development, as well as job creation, especially in coastal and island countries and regions and in the outermost regions;

D.

whereas the fisheries sector, particularly small-scale, coastal and artisanal fisheries, have not been sufficiently taken into account in the EU’s strategy for the blue economy;

E.

whereas the blue economy will further provide new prospects and create jobs, particularly in areas such as renewable ocean energy, the blue bio-economy, biotechnology and desalination;

F.

whereas the sectoral priorities for the development of the blue economy may differ from Member State to Member State, depending, on the one hand, on the development record of traditional or established sectors and, on the other hand, on current resources and the development potential of emerging sectors in each Member State;

G.

whereas the harnessing the potential of the blue economy must not serve as a pretext for subjecting the seas and oceans to forms of resource exploitation and growth models which have already shown themselves to be unsustainable; whereas marine and ocean resources must be used strictly in accordance with the need for their sound management and conservation, without altering marine ecosystem balances;

H.

whereas the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive states that Member States must take into account the interactions of activities and uses such as aquaculture, fishing and installations and infrastructures for the production of energy from renewable sources, as well as submarine cables, and promote the coexistence of relevant activities and apply an ecosystem-based approach;

I.

whereas a blue economy that develops within ecological limits, and hence not only the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, but all marine sectors concerned, must equally respect the environmental, social and economic pillars across the board in order to be considered sustainable;

J.

whereas the common fisheries policy (CFP) seeks to guarantee the proper conservation and management of marine biological resources and that fishing and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term and are managed in a way that is consistent with the objectives of achieving economic, social and employment benefits, and of contributing to the availability of food supplies;

K.

whereas the CFP should contribute to productivity growth and a decent standard of living in the fisheries sector, including the small-scale fisheries sector, as well as stable markets, and should ensure the availability of food;

L.

whereas, under SDG 14, it is imperative to conserve oceans, seas and marine resources and promote their sustainable use, while under SDG 2, it is imperative to guarantee food security; whereas sub-target 14.1 sets the objective of preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution of all kinds by 2025, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution;

M.

whereas the ocean is crucial for life on earth, producing 50 % of the oxygen in the atmosphere, absorbing about 25 % of human-produced carbon dioxide emissions and 90 % of excess heat in the climate system, and for regulating the global climate;

N.

whereas the restoration, preservation, conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity is fundamental to the health of the oceans, which contain millions of species, to protecting the health of the planet and providing the basis for marine and maritime economic activities;

O.

whereas the collection of data for scientific monitoring and assessment of stocks in the seas and oceans, including the evaluation of whether these stocks are within the safe biological limits, is fundamental to their sustainable management;

P.

whereas significant parts of the oceans and sea floor remain unexplored, in particular the deep sea, and whereas further research is needed to ensure that any activities under the blue economy will be fully sustainable;

Q.

whereas fisheries and aquaculture are key sectors in the blue economy and are an important source of protein and micronutrients that are essential for food security and human health;

R.

whereas marine biodiversity in Europe is under pressure, with a high proportion of assessed marine species and habitats as being in ‘unfavourable’ or ‘unknown’ conservation status; whereas the loss of marine biodiversity is having a major environmental, social and economic impact on the EU fisheries sector, on coastal and island territories and on the outermost regions, and must therefore be reversed; whereas biodiversity must restored in cooperation with all stakeholders, and in particular with the fisheries sector and the scientific community;

S.

whereas coastal and island communities are key stakeholders in the debate on the potential of the blue economy and ways to harnessing it;

T.

whereas the EU’s fishers and fish farmers play an essential role throughout the EU in protecting and promoting territorial identity, cultural traditions, food security, employment and incomes;

U.

whereas small-scale artisanal fisheries have specific characteristics and needs;

V.

whereas the recreational fisheries sector can contribute to the diversification of coastal communities’ income as a high-value and sustainable tourism activity;

W.

whereas women play an important role in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors; whereas there is a need to increase their visibility and ensure equal access to employment in the sector, as well as appropriate legal recognition;

X.

whereas the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 6, 9 and 12 underline the importance of animal health, good water quality, sustainable innovation and sustainable consumption and production in the blue economy;

Y.

whereas the health and wellbeing of aquatic animals is linked to the quality of food products; whereas poor animal welfare and husbandry can increase the risk of disease and illness;

Z.

whereas land agriculture has a significant impact on marine ecosystems and fisheries, in particular the use of nitrogen-based fertilisers and the eutrophication of aquatic environments;

AA.

whereas fishers play a very important role in the collection of abandoned marine litter in the sea, whether by carrying out targeted campaigns or by collecting litter accidentally during fishing operations;

AB.

whereas the 2020 objectives of achieving good environmental status for European seas and to end overfishing have not been achieved;

AC.

whereas, in 2018 the EU fisheries sector accounted for around 163 600 jobs, with fleets catching around 4,1 million tonnes of live fish in 2019; whereas, in the EU 27, 1,1 million tonnes of aquatic organisms valued at EUR 3,7 billion were produced in 2018 (18);

AD.

whereas the EU is a net importer of fisheries and aquaculture products and remains dependent on imports for most of its aquatic food consumption, accounting for 34 % of the global value of imports in 2018; whereas EU fisheries imports must at least respect similar sustainability standards as those in the EU; whereas EU fisheries imports must be directly linked to sustainable jobs in the import, processing and retail sectors;

AE.

whereas EU fisheries, aquaculture and coastal communities have already been impacted by the effects of climate change; whereas the climate crisis has had a significant impact on the health of Europe's seas with detrimental effects on the resilience of the blue economy, in particular fisheries and aquaculture;

AF.

whereas several sectors in the blue economy have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular coastal and maritime tourism; whereas the blue economy could help repair the economic and social damage caused by the current crisis;

AG.

whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant economic impact on those employed in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors owing to the combined effects of waning demand and lack of conditions on many vessels to enable health safety; whereas market disruptions caused by the pandemic have negatively affected fishers all over the EU; whereas the fishers still managed to provide a high-quality food supply and for that very reason, special attention must be paid to fishers due to their importance for the security of food supply in the EU;

AH.

whereas the pandemic situation has demonstrated the importance of a resilient environment, supported by sustainable practices in the management of its resources, for the global health and for the future of food systems;

AI.

whereas coastal communities need to diversify their sources of income in order to withstand economic and social shocks;

AJ.

whereas, when diversifying their sources of income, coastal and remote communities need to build resilience to shocks such as those caused by climate change;

AK.

whereas maritime and coastal tourism are a pillar of the blue economy, with over half of the EU's tourist accommodation located in coastal areas and 30 % of overnight stays occurring at beach resorts; whereas the Commission communication on tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond (COM(2020)0550) underscores the importance of protecting and restoring Europe's land and marine natural capital;

AL.

whereas maritime and coastal tourism account for 60 % of employment in the blue economy; whereas a competitive, resilient and socially fair blue economy needs highly qualified and skilled professionals; whereas ‘blue jobs’ can promote growth and career opportunities;

AM.

whereas angling tourism as a sector has the potential to be a new source of income for coastal communities while ensuring the sustainability and good status of fish stocks and providing social and health benefits;

AN.

whereas recreational fisheries is already a sustainable and high-value tourism option and complementary activity for many communities across Europe; whereas there has been growing interest in recreational fishing in many countries, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic;

AO.

whereas developing sustainable infrastructure in coastal regions will help preserve biodiversity, coastal ecosystems and landscapes, which will strengthen the sustainable development of tourism and coastal economies;

AP.

whereas the blue economy plays a vital role in the prosperity of outermost regions, which, due to their isolation, are especially dependent on blue economy-based activities, such as maritime transport, shipping and tourism;

AQ.

whereas ports play an essential role in achieving the objectives of the sustainable blue economy, and whereas increasing the sustainability of ports will promote the sustainable development of coastal communities; whereas ports are an important hub for the transport of goods and passengers in outermost regions;

AR.

whereas ports are crucial to the connectivity and economy of regions and countries and play an important role in the promotion of sustainable development, which contributes to tackling biodiversity loss, as stated in the new EU biodiversity strategy for 2030; whereas the role of ports will also evolve as Europe’s industrial landscape changes (for example, with the expansion of offshore renewable energy);

AS.

whereas EU shipyards could seize the opportunities arising from the fast-growing innovative market for energy-efficient service vessel;

AT.

whereas different blue economy-related activities in one space generate competition, pollution and sea space management conflicts that mainly affect fishing activities, in particular small-scale fisheries and coastal communities; whereas maritime spatial planning is crucial to avoid increasing competition and sea space management conflicts;

AU.

whereas, through their maritime spatial plans, Member States should aim to contribute to the sustainable development of energy sectors at sea, maritime transport, the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, and the preservation, protection and improvement of the environment, including resilience to climate change impacts; whereas, in this regard, fisheries and aquaculture interests should receive special attention and should not be marginalised as Member States continue their work and subsequent revisions of national maritime spatial plans;

AV.

whereas the Paris Agreement’s goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1,5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels;

AW.

whereas the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate provides evidence of the benefits of combining scientific knowledge with local and indigenous knowledge to improve resilience;

AX.

whereas the EU is aiming to become climate neutral by 2050 at the latest, in line with the Green Deal objectives; whereas the EU has proposed the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030; whereas offshore renewable energy is one of the options that Member States can choose to achieve this target; whereas it should play a key role in achieving these objectives through an integrated approach taking into account the three pillars of sustainability;

AY.

whereas a proposal for legally binding nature restoration targets needs to be drawn up under the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 in line with the objective of protecting 30 % of the EU maritime area, of which 10 % should be subject to strict conservation measures;

AZ.

whereas there is a need for specific guidelines and sound planning for each of the EU’s maritime regions on the objectives to be attained in marine conservation areas;

BA.

whereas the outermost regions are genuine natural laboratories, rich in biodiversity and are real natural sanctuaries that need urgent protection, especially because of their mostly archipelagic nature and with significant coastal areas;

BB.

whereas the management of ecosystems requires a holistic approach that takes into account all the causes of biodiversity loss, such as climate change, ocean acidification, appearance of alien species, coastal erosion, etc.; whereas it is necessary to have a global vision, framework and an ecosystem-based approach for the management and conservation of marine resources;

BC.

whereas climate change is increasingly changing the distribution and migratory patterns of various fish species and affects small-scale fisheries in developing countries, which are more vulnerable to its effects;

BD.

whereas illegal fishing is a major threat to marine resources, depleting fish stocks, destroying marine habitats creating unfair competition and putting the livelihoods of coastal communities and islands fisheries at risk;

BE.

whereas it is essential for Member States to implement an EU fisheries control regime that is simple, transparent and effective in order to ensure the sector's sustainability targets are met;

BF.

whereas, when diversifying consumption, improved traceability with access to information about nutritional values, provenance and place of production is fundamental to consumer behaviour;

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—

having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and in particular Articles 39, 192(1) and 349 thereof,

—

having regard to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

—

having regard to the Paris Agreement reached at the 21st Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 25 March 2021 on an action plan for the development of organic production (COM(2021)0141),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal (COM(2019)0640),

—

having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal (1),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (2),

—

having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2021 on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives (3),

—

having regard to its resolution of 20 October 2021 on a farm to fork strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system (4),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the Common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 (5),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products, (EU) No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, (EU) No 251/2014 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of aromatised wine products and (EU) No 228/2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union (6),

—

having regard to the Council conclusions of 19 July 2021 on the action plan for the development of organic agriculture,

—

having regard to its resolution of 17 April 2018 on a European strategy for the promotion of protein crops — encouraging the production of protein and leguminous plants in the European agriculture sector (7),

—

having regard to the Council conclusions of 19 October 2020 on the farm to fork strategy,

—

having regard to the European Economic and Social Committee opinion of 22 September 2021 on the Action Plan for the development of EU organic production,

—

having regard to the European Committee of the Regions opinion of 2 December 2021 on the EU action plan for organic farming,

—

having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A9-0126/2022),

A.

whereas the Commission communication on an action plan for the development of organic production (organic action plan, OAP) emphasises that the Green Deal, and the farm to fork and biodiversity strategies under its umbrella, is the key to managing the transition towards a more sustainable food system, in particular strengthening farmers’ efforts to protect the environment, preserve biodiversity and tackle climate change; whereas a key role in attaining this objective is played by agriculture in general, and organic agriculture in particular;

B.

whereas after 12 months, the list of almost all of the secondary legislation needed for the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 is now ready, although this is not the case for the delegated regulation regulating organic salt production;

C.

whereas the delegated regulation will have to give priority to the natural processes, without additives or carbon emissions during preparation, that characterise sea salt for it to be given organic certification;

D.

whereas Europe’s food system must deliver sustainably produced and nutritious food at affordable prices and ensure food security in a way that ensures a healthy society and a healthy planet, contributes to social and economic well-being, protects the health of both ecosystems and European citizens, and ensures the profitability of agricultural production and therefore a fair living for farmers; whereas it is essential to ensure that the increase in the amount of land used for organic farming matches the market’s ability to absorb organic products;

E.

whereas Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products obliges farmers to comply with a conversion period during which they have to apply all rules on organic production;

F.

whereas this period may last up to three years; whereas during this period, farmers have to bear higher costs of production without benefiting from higher market prices for organic products;

G.

whereas organic agriculture offers various environmental benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and has the potential to help the agricultural sector play its part in the fight against climate change, in adaptation to climate change and in addressing key challenges such as the loss of jobs in rural areas, soil fertility and biodiversity loss, as well as promoting resilience in the face of economic challenges;

H.

whereas agricultural diversity and shorter chains between farmer and consumer are important elements for a healthy and sustainable food system;

I.

whereas organic farming can contribute to striking an ambitious balance in terms of sustainability from an economic, social and environmental perspective, fostering soil, water and biodiversity protection and animal welfare, and offers young people opportunities to enter the farming profession;

J.

whereas environmental and animal welfare standards in the EU are among the highest in the world; whereas organic farmland has 30 % more biodiversity, is beneficial to pollinators and limits the use of artificial fertilisers and plant protection products;

K.

whereas organic farming can also contribute to the revitalisation of rural areas, the creation of employment, the sustainability of small farms, bringing consumers and producers closer, enhancing the connections with the local economy and stimulating positive economic multipliers; whereas the new common agricultural policy (CAP) introduces new ambitious measures to encourage sustainable production, including organic farming;

L.

whereas it is essential to ensure that consumers, who are attaching increasing importance to the quality of what they eat, and the catering sector, are in a position to make informed and conscious choices when purchasing food;

M.

whereas it is necessary to ensure that consumers are properly informed about the benefits of consuming organic products and that they are protected against deliberately misleading labels, packaging and advertising;

N.

whereas in 2019, the EU’s total agricultural area under organic farming grew to 13,8 million hectares; whereas it currently accounts for 8,5 % of the EU’s total utilised agricultural area; whereas between 2010 and 2019, the value of the EU’s organic market more than doubled;

O.

whereas the retail sales of organic products increased from EUR 18 billion to EUR 41 billion in the period 2009-2019; whereas the increase of organic production outpaces the development of the organic market in parts of the EU, with significant differences in organic consumption across the Member States; whereas the production of organic products is very low or non-existent in certain parts of the EU, with great disparities between the Member States, varying from 0,5 % to 26,5 % of the available area devoted to the sector;

P.

whereas the OAP includes 23 actions, providing a solid basis for developing the organic sector in a sustainable manner; whereas a mid-term review of the OAP in 2024 is envisaged and an annual ‘EU Organic Day’ has been established, which represents an opportunity to improve the visibility and the recognition of organic farming and raise awareness of the benefits of organic production, as organic farmers are considered ‘pioneers of sustainable agriculture’;

Q.

whereas Regulation (EU) 2018/848, which will apply from 1 January 2022, aims in particular to increase consumers’ trust in organic products through more stringent controls and rules for imports;

R.

whereas the strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 2021 to 2030 were published in May 2021 and will be developed in the National Strategic Plans;

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having regard to Articles 2, 18 and 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

—

having regard to Articles 2, 4, 18, 24, 26 and 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

—

having regard to Articles 2 and 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

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having regard to Articles 6 and 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU),

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having regard to Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

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having regard to Articles 10, 14, 21 and 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

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having regard to Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, to Article 2 of the first Protocol thereto, and to Article 12 of Protocol No 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

—

having regard to the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,

—

having regard to the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women,

—

having regard to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,

—

having regard to the Declaration of 25 November 1981 of the UN General Assembly on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,

—

having regard to the Declaration of 18 December 1992 of the UN General Assembly on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,

—

having regard to the UN Human Rights Council resolution of 24 March 2011 on combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief,

—

having regard to the Rabat Plan of Action of 5 October 2012, on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence,

—

having regard to the decision of the UN General Assembly designating 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Belief or religion, adopted on 28 May 2019,

—

having regard to the UN General Assembly resolution of 21 January 2021 on promoting a culture of peace and tolerance to safeguard religious sites,

—

having regard to the reports of 15 July 2019 and 3 March 2021 of the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues to the UN Human Rights Council, addressing in particular respectively the concept of a ‘minority’ and the widespread targeting of minorities through hate speech in social media,

—

having regard to the report of 12 October 2020 of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, addressing the importance of safeguarding freedom of religion or belief for all for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and how persons belonging to religious or belief minorities are at risk of ‘being left behind’,

—

having regard to the annual report of 28 December 2020 of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities,

—

having regard to the Marrakesh Declaration of 27 January 2016 on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Majority Communities,

—

having regard to the Council conclusions of 16 November 2009 on freedom of religion or belief,

—

having regard to the Council conclusions of 21 February 2011 on intolerance, discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief,

—

having regard to the Council conclusions of 22 February 2021 on EU priorities in UN Human Rights Fora in 2021,

—

having regard to the EU Guidelines of 24 June 2013 on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief,

—

having regard to the EU Human Rights Guidelines of 18 March 2019 on non-discrimination in external action,

—

having regard to the reports from the Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU,

—

having regard to the 2020-24 EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, to be funded under the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework,

—

having regard to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (COM(2018)0460), and to the amended proposal thereon (COM(2020)0459),

—

having regard to the awarding of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Raif Badawi in 2015, Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar in 2016 and Ilham Tohti in 2019,

—

having regard to its resolution of 10 October 2013 on caste-based discrimination (1), in particular paragraph 6 thereof on religion as an intersectional factor in discrimination and abuse,

—

having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2019 on EU Guidelines and the mandate of the EU Special Envoy on the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU (2),

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having regard to its resolution of 4 February 2016 on the systematic mass murder of religious minorities by the so-called ‘ISIS/Daesh’ (3),

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having regard to its resolution of 4 July 2017 on addressing human rights violations in the context of war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including genocide (4),

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having regard to its resolution of 15 March 2018 on the situation in Syria (5),

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having regard to its resolution of 4 October 2018 on mass arbitrary detention of Uyghurs and Kazakhs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (6), 18 April 2019 on China, notably the situation of religious and ethnic minorities (7), 19 December 2019 on the situation of the Uyghurs in China (China Cables) (8) and 17 December 2020 on forced labour and the situation of the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (9),

—

having regard to its resolutions of 7 July (10) and 15 December 2016 (11), 14 September (12) and 14 December 2017 (13), and 19 September 2019 (14) on Myanmar and the situation of the Rohingya people,

—

having regard to its resolutions of 28 November 2019 on the situation of freedoms in Algeria (15) and 26 November 2020 on the deteriorating situation of human rights in Algeria, in particular the case of journalist Khaled Drareni (16),

—

having regard to its resolution of 19 December 2019 on violations of human rights including religious freedoms in Burkina Faso (17),

—

having regard to its resolution of 16 January 2020 on Nigeria, notably the recent terrorist attacks (18),

—

having regard to its resolution of 29 April 2021 on blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel (19), and in which the case of Asia Bibi is also cited, 14 April 2016 on Pakistan, in particular the attack in Lahore (20), and 13 December 2018 on Iran, notably the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh (21),

—

having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2020 on the foreign policy consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak (22),

—

having regard to its recommendation of 29 April 2021 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning EU-India relations (23),

—

having regard to its recommendation of 9 June 2021 to the Council on the 75th and 76th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly (24),

—

having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2020 on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter — annual report 2018 (25), in particular paragraphs 42, 43 and 45 thereof,

—

having regard to its resolution of 20 January 2021 on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter — annual report 2019 (26), in particular paragraphs 103, 104, 106 and 107 thereof,

—

having regard to the activities of the European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance,

—

having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

—

having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Development,

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A9-0071/2022),

A.

whereas UN human rights treaties, together with international and EU laws, provide standards for the protection of the rights of persons belonging to belief or religious minorities as an integral part of human rights;

B.

whereas the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion includes the freedom to choose what to believe or not to believe, the freedom to found, adhere to, change or abandon a religion or belief without any constraints, and the freedom, either individually or within a community and either privately or publicly, to express one’s religion or belief with regard to worship, teaching, practice and observance; whereas this freedom also entails the right for religious, secular and non-confessional organisations to have recognised legal personality; whereas freedom of religion or belief also includes the right to express critical or satirical opinions on religions and religious authorities as a legitimate expression of freedom of thought or artistic creation;

C.

whereas according to Article 21 TEU, the EU promotes and defends respect for human dignity and the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as part of the guiding principles of its foreign policy;

D.

whereas freedom of religion or belief is violated in a considerable number of countries worldwide; whereas a large number of people live in countries that impose or tolerate severe violations of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief;

E.

whereas discrimination against and persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion is carried out by different actors — whether by states, non-states actors or a combination of both — and can take different forms, such as killings, torture, physical attacks, mass incarceration, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, coercion, forced conversions, kidnappings, early and forced marriages, gender-based violence, rape, physical and mental abuse, forced birth control use and abortions, forced labour and displacement, human trafficking, threats, exclusion, discriminatory and unfair treatment, harassment, expropriation, limitations on access to citizenship, elected office, employment, education, health and administrative services, the destruction of places of worship, cemeteries and cultural heritage, and offline and online hate speech;

F.

whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated persecution and violence against belief and religious minorities in some countries; whereas furthermore the health crisis has provided some countries with a pretext to adopt persecutory measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic; whereas belief and religious minorities have become particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infections and deaths due to unequal access to adequate medical care;

G.

whereas women belonging to belief or religious minorities are particularly at risk of increased discrimination and violence, both of which are linked to intersectional factors such as gender, religion, caste, ethnic background, power imbalances and patriarchy, and in some cases are justified by religious or belief motivations; whereas they face more difficulties in exercising their right to leave a religious or belief community due to lack of social or economic independence, threats of violence or loss of custody of their children;

H.

whereas gender-based violence and discrimination grounded in religious justifications persist; whereas women and LGBTIQ+ people continue to experience discrimination and violence inflicted in the name of religion by both state and non-state actors; whereas sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including abortion, are being banned in the name of religion by both state and non-state actors;

I.

whereas any persecution on the basis of religion or belief deserves the utmost condemnation and swift reactions from national governments and international actors;

J.

whereas the practices relating to indigenous beliefs or religions are part of a people's cultural identity; whereas indigenous peoples have the right to promote, develop and maintain their institutional structures and distinctive customs, spirituality, traditions, procedures and practices according to international human rights standards;

K.

whereas in almost every region in the world, religious minorities appear to be at risk of being designated ‘terrorist groups’ and of having members arrested under charges of ‘extremism’ or ‘illegal activity’; whereas some governments are using national security imperatives and counter-terrorism measures to criminalise membership in or the activities of certain religious or belief groups; whereas such approaches severely undermine the exercise of the right to freedom of religion or belief;

L.

whereas belief or religious minorities often lack adequate national representation; whereas legislation often excludes the needs and interests of these minorities, with governments employing a range of extra-legal measures that persecute, delegitimise or stigmatise these minorities;

M.

whereas in numerous conflicts and crises around the world, attacks on cultural heritage have been an instrument of symbolic violence and the politicisation of cultural heritage; whereas the religious aspects of these conflicts have directly contributed to humanitarian crises, displacement, migration and the violation of religious and cultural rights and human dignity; whereas these conflicts and crises can polarise societies, countries, regions, ethnic groups and communities and increase the risk of violent conflict; whereas therefore the destruction and looting of cultural heritage can be a weapon of war and a warning sign of future mass atrocities; whereas, furthermore, this destruction and looting represent major obstacles to dialogue, peace and reconciliation;

N.

whereas the destruction of cultural heritage renders communities, especially religious communities, vulnerable, as they are deprived of an important part of their identity; whereas extremist groups and other parties to conflict can easily spread their influence in areas where identities and social cohesion have been weakened and divisions in communities have been reinforced;

O.

whereas in cases of international crimes based on religion or belief, perpetrators have enjoyed impunity, with some minor exceptions, and therefore, atrocities have been able to continue;

P.

whereas, in accordance with the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, states and public authorities have the obligation to not only punish the perpetrators of genocides, but also to prevent such crimes in the first place;

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having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989,

—

having regard to Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Articles 13 and 14 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Article 10 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,

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having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021,

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having regard to the General Comments of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (1),

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having regard to the UN guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children of 18 December 2009,

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having regard to the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty of 11 July 2019,

—

having regard to the UN policy brief of 15 April 2020 entitled ‘The impact of COVID-19 on children’, and to the positive response thereto co-led by the EU and the Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries and signed by 173 countries,

—

having regard to the policy response of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development of 19 October 2020 entitled ‘What is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigrants and their children?’,

—

having regard to the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education, adopted on 14 December 1960,

—

having regard to the UNICEF, UNESCO and World Bank brochure entitled ‘Mission: Recovering Education in 2021’,

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having regard to Article 49 of the Charter of the Organization of American States of 1967,

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having regard to Article 11 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child of 1990,

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having regard to Articles 17 and 25 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of 1981,

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having regard to Article 31 of the Human Rights Declaration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations of 2012,

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having regard to Article 14 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU,

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having regard to Articles 3(5) and 21 of the Treaty on European Union,

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having regard to the UN Development Programme report of April 2021 entitled ‘Leaving No One Behind: Impact of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’,

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having regard to the European Child Guarantee,

—

having regard to the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour 2021 and the Commission’s zero tolerance approach towards child labour,

—

having regard to its resolution of 26 November 2019 on children’s rights on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (2),

—

having regard to its resolution of 11 March 2021 on the Syrian conflict — 10 years after the uprising (3),

—

having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

—

having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Development and the Committee on Culture and Education,

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A9-0058/2022),

A.

whereas almost five million people globally have died because of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting governments all over the world to enact extraordinary measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including closing schools and limiting access to educational facilities;

B.

whereas new variants are intensifying the COVID-19 health crisis, while conflicts and other crises, including the climate crisis, continue to put children around the world at an increased risk of falling below minimum proficiency levels;

C.

whereas access to education is an internationally recognised fundamental human right that is indispensable for the exercise of other human rights; whereas the right to education entails that primary education is compulsory and universal and is accessible to all;

D.

whereas UNICEF estimates that more than 168 million children have lost a full year of education because of school closures due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, while UNESCO data shows that education has been significantly disrupted for 800 million students worldwide, who lost two thirds of an academic year on average;

E.

whereas since March 2020, around 194 countries have been forced to close schools nationwide because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected more than 1,8 billion school learners globally and cut off their access to education and other vital benefits provided by schools; whereas schools in some regions are still closed; whereas the closure of schools has increasingly exposed children to violence, abuse and exploitation, including in a domestic setting; whereas partial or total school closures impact vulnerable and marginalised children the most by increasing the existing disparities within education systems and disrupting all aspects of their daily lives;

F.

whereas according to UNICEF, one third of children worldwide do not have access to the internet, which creates a barrier to access to remote/digital learning; whereas the need for remote learning and teaching programmes will remain after the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in countries affected by natural disasters and conflict; whereas e-learning has created new challenges for teachers in terms of facilitating student learning and maintaining social interaction; whereas the COVID-19 pandemic and the fast-tracked innovative measures taken to ensure continuous learning for children represent an opportunity to reimagine education as more forward-looking, inclusive, flexible and resilient; whereas remote learning programmes must be accessible for all children, taking into account the socioeconomic challenges children may face, as well as their lack of access to the internet, broadcasts or digital media;

G.

whereas the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents have in turn impacted the health, well-being and access to education of their children; whereas school closures have found parents unprepared for remote and home schooling; whereas some working parents without financial means or alternatives have been forced to leave their children home alone, and others, mostly women, have been forced out of work, thereby pushing families into poverty;

H.

whereas more than 90 % of countries introduced some form of remote learning during the emergency school closures; whereas remote learning mostly benefited children in primary and secondary education, leaving children at pre-primary level at risk of being unprepared for primary school;

I.

whereas schoolchildren around the world have already lost around 1,8 trillion hours of in-person learning since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and more than 39 billion in-school meals have been missed globally because of school closures (4);

J.

whereas well before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was already facing a global learning crisis caused not only by hampered access to education due to poverty, long commutes to the nearest school, harmful gender norms, discrimination against vulnerable groups, environmental risks and conflicts, but also by schooling that does not necessarily lead to learning; whereas the pandemic has compounded the critical situation of children in a number of conflict regions, which is often characterised, inter alia, by increasing insecurity, greater vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and attacks on educational institutions, leaving children at a heightened risk of being recruited into conflict, which constitutes a serious violation of children’s rights and international humanitarian law; whereas 617 million children and adolescents worldwide are unable to reach minimum proficiency levels in reading (5) and mathematics, even though two thirds of them are at school;

K.

whereas COVID-19 has wiped out 20 years of education gains; whereas an additional 101 million children — 9 % of those in grades 1-8 — fell below minimum reading proficiency levels in 2020 (6);

L.

whereas an estimated additional 825 million children will not reach adulthood with the secondary-level skills they need for work and life by 2030; whereas millions of children and young people who regularly attended schools are not developing the knowledge and skills they need to successfully enter the job market, achieve their full potential and contribute to their communities;

M.

whereas school closures have a large economic impact as they prevent children and young people from developing necessary skills, reaching their full potential and preparing for life, which frequently gives rise to unemployment and, consequently, increases in inequality, thereby resulting in fewer opportunities;

N.

whereas according to the UN, there are 11 million primary and secondary school learners worldwide — 5,2 million of whom are girls — at risk of not returning to education following COVID-19-related school closures (7); whereas the longer children are out of school, the higher the likelihood that they will drop out of education altogether; whereas this situation risks undermining the results obtained in the area of education and towards the achievement of the SDGs, and in particular those related to poverty reduction, health and well-being, and quality education;

O.

whereas school closures have distinct gendered impacts and carry risks of widening inequalities; whereas it is estimated that school closures during crises may lead to increases in teenage pregnancy; whereas girls out of school are disproportionally exposed to the risk of early and forced marriage and sexual exploitation; whereas it is estimated that two million more cases of female genital mutilation could occur over the next decade; whereas a significant number of girls may be blocked from returning to schools once they reopen given the existence of certain discriminatory policies that ban pregnant girls and young mothers from school;

P.

whereas 129 million girls worldwide are out of school, including 32 million of primary-school age, 30 million of lower-secondary-school age, and 67 million of upper-secondary-school age; whereas fewer than half of countries worldwide have achieved gender parity in participation in primary education; whereas the shift to remote learning puts children, in particular girls, from the poorest and most vulnerable households at a significant risk of dropping out of school permanently or for extended periods;

Q.

whereas 9 of the top 10 most difficult nations for girls to be educated in are in Sub-Saharan Africa and the other is Afghanistan, where the Taliban have effectively deprived girls of education past primary school by ordering secondary schools to reopen only for boys; whereas the Taliban’s unclear policy and vague and unfulfilled promises about girls’ education makes millions of Afghan girls understandably fearful for their education; whereas several international initiatives by universities and private individuals emerged offering remote education for Afghan girls and women;

R.

whereas according to several national and regional law enforcement authorities, children out of school — in particular girls and children from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as children of minorities, rural, indigenous and migrant children, including refugees, children with disabilities, children in care and children who have lost their parents and/or grandparents due to the COVID-19 pandemic, among others — are disproportionally vulnerable to exploitation, child labour and domestic violence, including the witnessing of violence, online bullying and other crimes such as sexual exploitation and abuse (8);

S.

whereas in addition to the enormous social costs, the World Bank estimates that a global school shutdown of five months could generate learning losses that have a present value of USD 10 trillion; whereas loss of learning may cost economies up to USD 161 million per day;

T.

whereas school closures have unfortunately been essential to limit the spread of COVID-19; whereas schools are more than places where children can learn, as they also constitute meeting places and hubs for mental health and psychosocial support; whereas according to UNESCO and UNICEF, school closures do not only affect the right to education but also the right to health, with more than 80 million children missing primary vaccinations as a result of school closures; whereas school closures mean that teachers are not able to look out for signs of abuse or a lack of proper care on the part of parents; whereas according to the UNICEF Office of Research — Innocenti and the World Food Programme, school closures also impact the right to good nutrition and access to a daily meal; whereas school food programmes can provide incentives for the most vulnerable children to return to school; whereas school closures seriously affect children’s mental well-being as children can be exposed to violence and stress in the home; whereas school closures may have acute and long-lasting psychosocial consequences, including depression, increased anxiety and suicide, as children are deprived of social contact;

U.

whereas dropping out of school reinforces social inequality and may affect a country’s stability and prosperity, thereby jeopardising the futures of millions of the world’s children and severely impacting a whole generation; whereas education has proven essential to countering extremism and the radicalisation of children and young people;

V.

whereas according to the UNHCR Education Report 2021 half of all refugee children remain out of school; whereas refugee children are excluded from remote learning opportunities; whereas the overcrowded living conditions of child refugees, especially those living in refugee camps, often facilitate the spread of the virus and hamper compliance with sanitary rules; whereas the COVID-19 situation in the camps constitutes a crisis for children, as many children often already have weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions during their formative years, which puts them at higher risk of developing more severe cases when coping with this deadly virus; whereas most refugee camps do not have suitable health services to adequately respond to children’s and their families’ needs;

W.

whereas the unequal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide disproportionately affects low-income countries;

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having regard to Articles 2 and 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

—

having regard to Articles 21(1), 23 and 33(2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2020 entitled ‘A Union of Equality: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025’ (COM(2020)0152),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 10 March 2020 entitled ‘An SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe’ (COM(2020)0103),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 1 July 2020 entitled ‘European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience’ (COM(2020)0274),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 3 March 2021 entitled ‘Union of Equality: Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030’ (COM(2021)0101),

—

having regard to the study by the Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology of 2020 entitled ‘Women in the Digital Age’,

—

having regard to its resolution of 19 January 2016 on external factors that represent hurdles to European female entrepreneurship (1),

—

having regard to its resolution of 28 April 2016 on gender equality and empowering women in the digital age (2),

—

having regard to its resolution of 3 October 2017 on women’s economic empowerment in the private and public sectors in the EU (3),

—

having regard to its resolution of 17 April 2018 on empowering women and girls through the digital sector (4),

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having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 entitled ‘Closing the digital gender gap — women’s participation in the digital economy’ (5),

—

having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on the gender perspective in the COVID-19 crisis and post-crisis period (6),

—

having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on the EU Strategy for Gender Equality (7),

—

having regard to its resolution of 10 June 2021 on promoting gender equality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers (8),

—

having regard to the study entitled ‘The Professional Status of Rural Women in the EU’ published by the Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs in its Directorate-General for Internal Policies in May 2019,

—

having regard to the study entitled ‘Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship and Business Leadership in OECD Countries’ published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs in 2014,

—

having regard to the study entitled ‘International Survey of Adult Financial Literacy’ published by the OECD in 2020,

—

having regard to Chapter 2 of the study entitled ‘The Missing Entrepreneurs 2019: Policies for Inclusive Entrepreneurship’ published by the OECD in December 2019,

—

having regard to the European Institute for Gender Equality’s (EIGE) Gender Equality Index,

—

having regard to Article 6 of the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities,

—

having regard to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

—

having regard to the Women in Digital scoreboard,

—

having regard to the study entitled ‘Women’s entrepreneurship and self-employment, including aspects of gendered Corporate Social Responsibility’ published by the Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs in its Directorate-General for Internal Policies in May 2020,

—

having regard to the study entitled ‘Funding women entrepreneurs — How to empower growth’ published by the European Investment Bank’s Innovation Finance Advisory in June 2020,

—

having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (A9-0096/2022),

A.

whereas gender equality is a fundamental value and key objective of the EU and a basic precondition for the full enjoyment of human rights by women and girls, and is essential for their empowerment, the development of their full potential and the achievement of a sustainable and inclusive society; whereas gender-based discrimination based on stereotypes and inequalities, combined with intersectional discrimination due, among others, to their sex, race, ethnic or social origin or disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression has negative social and economic consequences and impacts the way women experience challenges, including in pursuing entrepreneurship and becoming self-employed;

B.

whereas female entrepreneurship boosts women’s emancipation and empowerment; whereas in the 2014-2018 period the median annual income for full-time entrepreneurs was equal for men and women (9); whereas women’s economic independence and empowerment is central to realising women’s rights and gender equality and includes the ability to participate equally in labour markets, access to and control over productive resources, control over their own time, lives and bodies, self-fulfilment and meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels; whereas the promotion of economic independence requires boosting women’s entrepreneurship and self-employment and be accompanied by appropriate measures to ensure women’s equal participation in labour markets, equal pay for equal work or work of equal value, access to decent work and sharing and recognition of domestic and care responsibilities;

C.

whereas women are the most valuable and largest untapped source of entrepreneurial and leadership potential in Europe; whereas from 2014-2018 women across the OECD were twice as likely to start their own businesses as those in the EU (10); whereas women entrepreneurs and self-employed women are an under-utilised source of sustainable economic growth, job creation and innovation potential, whereas the promotion of this source of growth is an important tool for fostering women’s economic empowerment and independence; whereas women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity and increases economic diversification and income equality; whereas self-employment needs to be recognised as a form of work which helps to create jobs and reduce unemployment; whereas studies show that women often have a different management and leadership style than men and that gender diversity in teams is beneficial for society and the economy (11); whereas supporting women entrepreneurs and women self-employed would also strengthen EU competitiveness and, therefore, all entrepreneurial activity that creates jobs and incomes, and thus added value for business and society should be promoted by the EU and its Member States;

D.

whereas women in rural and disadvantaged regions are more likely to engage in entrepreneurship and self-employment than those in urban and economically prosperous regions (12); whereas the employment opportunities for women in rural areas in the EU are worse than those for men in rural areas and women in urban areas; whereas the share of self-employed women in rural areas is slightly higher than that in total areas; whereas 30 % of farms in the EU are run by women, as self-employed (13);

E.

whereas the relative scarcity of women entrepreneurs should be considered an untapped source for innovation and development, especially in the context of Europe’s green and digital transformations and its economic recovery following the COVID-19 crisis: whereas the COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately affected women, particularly those working in precarious employment, feminised sectors and the informal economy, having significant economic and employment impacts on them because of an increase in care and domestic responsibilities, restricted access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as well as in gender-based violence and harassment; whereas the European economy has the potential to benefit from GDP growth of EUR 16 billion by encouraging more women to enter the digital jobs market; whereas improving gender equality and empowering female entrepreneurship are key to accelerating and fortifying European recovery;

F.

whereas the European Union is lagging behind the US and China on the development of technologies in, for example, artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies; whereas in April 2021 the highest-valued start-ups in the world were mainly Chinese and US companies; whereas the European Union should recognise and support European women’s innovation capabilities for developing technologies;

G.

whereas women only account for 34,4 % of the self-employed in the EU and 30 % of its start-up entrepreneurs, confirming that the largest gender gaps in entrepreneurial activity are found in Europe and North America (14); whereas only 34 % of managerial positions in the EU are held by women (15); whereas previous experience in management positions provides individuals with the necessary skills and confidence to own businesses themselves (16); whereas the lack of social protection such as paid sick, maternity, paternity and parental leave can be problematic for self-employed women in several Member States; whereas self-employed women are more likely to fall into poverty;

H.

whereas starting and running a business is complex in the EU because of the different bureaucratic and administrative requirements and procedures, which is an obstacle to encouraging more women to become entrepreneurs; whereas women face different barriers, particularly of an economic, legislative and social nature, to pursuing entrepreneurship than men; whereas these barriers are constructed around gender stereotypes which contribute to gender segregation in education, a lack of specific training, a lower level of entrepreneurial confidence, less access to information, financial and government support and less tools for social and business networks, gender biases and difficulties in reconciling work and family life, due to the lack of care infrastructures, specially childcare and because of the stereotype that women carry out most care and domestic work; whereas women are more likely than men to report flexible working hours as their motivation to engage in entrepreneurship and self-employment (17); whereas female entrepreneurship and self-employment can also be a valuable instrument for reconciling work and personal life; whereas from 2014 to 2018 only 34.5 % of women in the EU and 37.7 % of women in the OECD felt they had the necessary skills and knowledge to start their own business; whereas women are nearly 10 % more likely to report a fear of failure than men (18); whereas there is a financial literacy gap between men and women; whereas this gap acts as a barrier for women when accessing funding, and overall impedes them from participating confidently in economic and financial activities (19);

I.

whereas harmful structures and stereotypes perpetuate inequality; whereas traditional gender roles and stereotypes still influence the division of labour at home, in education, at the workplace and in society; whereas unpaid care and domestic work is mostly carried out by women, impacting employment and career progression and contributing to the gender pay and pension gap; whereas work-life balance measures, such as the Work-Life Balance Directive, need to be urgently and properly transposed by the Member States and complemented by further measures in order to involve more men in unpaid work;

J.

whereas access to networks, mentoring and promoting women entrepreneurs as role models are important in encouraging women to consider entrepreneurship as a career and in increasing women’s economic empowerment; whereas the diversity of role models can appeal to women from diverse backgrounds;

K.

whereas some private companies have included actions such as mentoring, networking and support to increase women's access to finance and technology to support women's entrepreneurship as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies;

L.

whereas statistics show that women entrepreneurs face more difficulties than men in raising finance and capital; whereas women-led companies still account for a very small proportion of investment recipients; whereas all-men founding teams received 93 % of all capital invested in European technology companies in 2018 (20); whereas only 32 % of venture capital funding was allocated to companies with at least one female executive (21); whereas women’s innovations are less often identified and acknowledged as innovations and promising ideas; whereas despite receiving lower financial backing women-led businesses in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Region outperform male-founded companies in capital productivity by 96 % (22);

M.

whereas data shows that women entrepreneurs generate more revenue despite receiving lower financial backing;

N.

whereas only 10 % of business angels in Europe are women (23), and women are especially under-represented among private equity investors in digitalisation; whereas only 10 % of all senior positions in private equity and venture capital firms globally (24) are occupied by women; whereas several studies show that investment managers tend to provide capital and to hire those who are similar to themselves, leaving women and especially those from diverse backgrounds and facing intersectional discrimination, among other reasons due to their racial, ethnic or socio economic backgrounds, at a clear disadvantage; whereas venture capital firms with women partners are two to three times more likely to invest in female-led businesses (25); whereas the lack of women in decision-making roles at venture capital firms is one of the primary sources of the persistent funding gap for women-driven enterprises in the EU (26); whereas another major cause for the persistent funding gap for women-driven enterprises in the EU is that women are less likely than men to seek external funding such as bank loans, venture capital or funding from state programmes, and instead resort to self-funding through personal savings or funding from family members (27); whereas implementing measures to achieve a fair representation of women and develop a gender-balanced financial ecosystem, creating a more favourable environment at the EU level and providing sufficient budgetary resources is fundamental to creating both the necessary funding conditions and the essential network of women investors for women-led companies to thrive;

O.

whereas six Member States have created 11 private funds to fill the gap in funding for women entrepreneurs, and these funds use gender considerations that support diversity in their investment criteria; whereas some of these funds have received national or EU support, which shows the important role of public policies in promoting entrepreneurship (28);

P.

whereas there are challenges in effectively measuring entrepreneurship in the EU;

Q.

whereas less than 8 % of top companies’ CEOs are women;

R.

whereas 59 % of scientists and engineers in the EU in 2018 were men and only 41 % were women, representing a gap of 18 % (29); whereas social norms, stereotypes, cultural discouragement and gendered expectations about career choices, which are often reinforced through educational content and curricula, are two of the main drivers of gender segregation in higher education and in the labour market;

S.

whereas it is crucial for Europe to have an equal number of women and men as entrepreneurs to ensure diversification of content and products; whereas between 2014 and 2018 female-led start-ups were as likely to offer new products and services as those led by men in the EU (30), showing that women and men must been seen as performing equally well in innovation; whereas encouraging more women to become entrepreneurs can improve the quality and diversity of innovations, products and services;

T.

whereas the European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors has so far organised more than 650 national meetings and reached over 61 000 would-be women entrepreneurs; whereas its ambassadors have supported the creation of more than 250 new women-led enterprises as well as several more networking and business support clubs for women (31);

U.

whereas in 2020, there were more people who knew someone who had stopped a business than knew someone who had started one (32), which recalls the importance of nurturing fertile ground for every kind of entrepreneurship, and of staying connected to other economies, to remain alert to new opportunities, and to safeguard the jobs of the future;

V.

Whereas the gender pay gap in the EU stands at 14,1 % and has only changed minimally over the last decade; whereas 24 % of the gender pay gap is related to the overrepresentation of women in relatively low-paying sectors, such as care, health and education;

W.

whereas entrepreneurship requires knowledge and skills; whereas increasing women’s and girls’ educational attainment contributes to their economic empowerment and more inclusive economic growth; whereas lifelong education, upskilling and reskilling, especially to keep pace with rapid technological and digital transformations increases their professional opportunities and is important for women and girls’ health, well-being and quality of life;

X.

whereas entrepreneurship should be accessible for all women including women with disabilities, older women and those with a minoritised racial or ethnic background; whereas women with disabilities can find it more difficult to start their own businesses; whereas entrepreneurship among older women is not being promoted although they should be seen as a valuable and unused potential for economic growth; whereas the promotion of entrepreneurship among migrant women can offer great opportunities for their integration in the labour market and foster their economic independence and empowerment;

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