WAVE welcomes the European Commission’s proposal to more than double the CERV+ budget within the new seven-year EU financial framework.
Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE), the largest feminist network representing over 1,600 women’s organisations across Europe and committed to defending women’s rights, advancing gender equality, and combating discrimination, welcomes the proposed increase in funding for the essential objectives of protecting and promoting fundamental rights, equality, and non-discrimination.
On 16 July, the European Commission presented its plans for the EU’s 2028–2034 budget. While a detailed analysis of all programmes is ongoing, we view the inclusion of the new, expanded programme “Agora EU”, with its strong CERV+ strand (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values), as a particularly positive development. With a budget allocation of EUR 3.593 billion (from the total MFF budget of EUR 2 trillion), CERV+ is set to more than double the current CERV budget and will remain under the direct management of the European Commission.
At a time when the rule of law and fundamental rights face increasing threats both globally and across the EU, it is crucial that the European Commission has taken decisive action. The continued existence of CERV+ as a key tool for protecting fundamental rights, supporting civil society, and safeguarding democracy—alongside the significant budget increase—sends a strong political message: protecting EU values, fundamental rights, and democracy is an indispensable and vital priority for the European Union.
CERV+ reaffirms commitments to the core objectives of protecting fundamental rights, ensuring equality, and combating discrimination, in full alignment with the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It also complements existing goals to address gender-based violence, violence against children, and threats to other at-risk groups, while introducing new elements focused on actively defending democracy, reinforcing democratic resilience, and upholding respect for the rule of law.
We particularly welcome the continued promotion of gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and women’s empowerment; the protection and promotion of women’s full enjoyment of rights; and the prioritisation of the Daphne strand, which provides dedicated funding for the prevention of violence against women and girls, and support for its victims and survivors. Furthermore, we recognise the critical importance of the MFF in providing concrete and active support for the achievement of the objectives of the Istanbul Convention. As a network of feminist organisations working with and for those most affected by violence against women, we underscore the need for funding to reach frontline organisations, human rights defenders, and women’s specialist support services.
Of additional significance is the proposed horizontal condition requiring respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights across all EU programmes. This represents a key step towards ensuring EU funds are used in accordance with EU laws and values, including the sanctioning of fundamental rights violations.
Looking ahead, the next CERV+ programme should play a central role in efforts to prevent the decline of civic space throughout the EU. To achieve this, the programme must maintain strong support for a wide range of civil society organisations that reflect the diversity of Europe’s populations and their needs, enabling these organisations to hold institutions accountable, promote rights, and defend fundamental values. This requires that funded activities explicitly foster and safeguard opportunities for civil society groups and activists to take part in public debates, participate in policymaking, and contribute their expertise in shaping and implementing EU policies.
It is now the responsibility of the European Parliament and EU Member States in the Council of the EU to secure an ambitious budget and protect the core mission of the CERV+ programme, ensuring that the principles of fundamental rights, equality, non-discrimination, democracy, and respect for the rule of law are preserved in the forthcoming EU Multiannual Financial Framework.
We recognise that this is an initial proposal and that there will be two years of negotiations ahead. Throughout this process, WAVE will remain vigilant, actively engaging and providing our expertise—alongside that of our members—to strengthen these discussions and drive meaningful progress, ensuring that women’s rights are placed at the centre of the agenda. We will continue to demand that EU institutions stand firmly with women and girls, guarantee their rights, and demonstrate a strong commitment to ending all forms of violence against women and girls.
The WAVE Network
