Activities of Andrzej HALICKI related to 2024/0176(BUD)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025
Amendments (39)
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with concern that while inflation has begun to subside compared to previous years’ peaks, its longer term impact on the cost of living, energy and food prices continues to be a burden on households’ purchasing power and companies’ competitiveness and productivity; stresses that, against this background, a combination of policy responses comprising regulatory, fiscal and budgetary measures will have to be deployed to adequately address the broad range of challenges; reminds that the Union budget, in complementarity with the national budgets of the Member States and private finance should play a centralkey role in this regard; recalls that the EU budget is an investment budget in line with Union’s political priorities and programmes which generates a return on investment and growth possibilities; emphasises that the 2024 European Parliament elections have sent a clear message for more solidarity between Member States and more investments in policies and programmes which improveefficient policies and programmes which improve the Union's security and competitiveness having a positive impact on people’s lives; highlights that this call must not be answered by ever more budgetary cuts and by a reduction in badly needed resources to help people go through these difficult timesthe Union change its course;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that the Budget 2025 procedure takes place in a context of institutional changeover where the next Commission’s policy priorities, strategic focus and legislative initiatives and their budgetary implications are not yet know in any detail; stresses that most expenditure programmes of the 2021-2027 financial programming period are finally being executed according to plan and that the obligation to implement multiannual programmes in a reliable and predictable manner must be squaredin line with the necessity to swiftly respond to new developments and unforeseen events and crises; highlights that, given the new institutional cycle, cooperation across the institutional settings is crucial as investments and political decisions taken today will shape the EU’s agenda for the next decades and beyond;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underscores that the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework has been partly successful and partly unsatisfactory; acknowledges that the revision has resulted in providing additional resources for Ukraine, the Western Balkan and several other budget lines of strategic importance as well as moderately replenished flexibility mechanism; welcomes that the Commission has proceeded with translating the outcome of the MFF revision into the Financial Programming as well as amending budgets 2024 and the draft general budget for 2025 (the “DB”); underlines once again that the higher than foreseen repayment costs of the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) should have been placed fully in a EURI special instrument over and above the MFF ceilings with a view to restoring some margin within Heading 2b and protecting budgetary space in the Flexibility and Single Margin Instruments; recalls the Interinstitutional Agreement adopted as part of the 2020 MFF agreement, according to which expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs “shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds”;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes note that the Council, in its position which it calls “prudent”, proposes to cut commitment appropriations by EUR 1.52 billion across the MFF headings, leaving a total of EUR 191,527 billion, and reduces payment appropriations by EUR 876 million across the MFF headings; stresses that, by cutting across headings on programme lines to generate additional unallocated margins, the Council’s position may convey an ambiguous message of creating additional availabilities for 2025; underlines that this approach, however, is not in accordance with the reality of current budgetary needs, as these margins are not intended for use in the annual budget 2025 and many of the policy cuts from important programmes such as Erasmus are made with the sole intention of repaying the NGEU interest costs cutting precisely from the next generation who is supposed to benefit the most from that programme;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is adamant that, in times of geopolitical and institutional change, financial pressure, climate change and societal challenges, a reliable, robust, flexible, investment oriented EU budget remain instrumental for the implementation of the Union’s policies and central in responding to people’s increasing needs, leaving no-one behind through the green and digital transitions, in delivering prosperity and security for people and in boosting the competitiveness of the Union economy; to defend the social dimension of Union spending in all policy areas, in other words, we will work to reinforce budgetary lines that have a direct impact on improving peoples’ lives;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets the Council’s approach to opt for what it calls “prudent” budgeting, creating artificial margins under the MFF ceilings; notes that the Council, in its position on the 2025 budget, and similar to 2024, reduces appropriations dedicated for EURI borrowing costs; points out that the Council’s positionDisagrees with the Council’s approach to cover only around 35% of the overrun costs by the EURI Special Instrument runs counter to the 50:50 benchmark that the Council itselfand insistead on during the MFF negotiations; alerts that in order to finance the difference and create additional unallocated margin (mostly in H2b but also in other headings, presumably in view of using it in future years through the SMI), sizeable reductions to a number of flagship programme envelopes have been proposed that have repercussions in 2025 as well as in 2026 and 2027covering large part of the interest costs by making sizeable reductions to a number of flagship programme envelopes; recalls that the most affected programmes, Horizon Europe, CEF digital and Erasmus, are well- established priorities for the European Parliament and flagship programmes of the Union; highlights that the Council targets for reductions are across several headings and even touch some programmes that were already subject to the MFF redeployments, such as Horizon, reduced by 400 million; or lines that were topped up in previous years, such as Erasmus+, reduced by 295 million, EU4Health or LIFE;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Intends, therefore, to restore all the cuts proposed by Council; to ensure that programmes are properly resourced and that the budget’s flexibility and response capacity are maintained throughout the annual budgetary procedure; insists on the need for the Commission to provide reliable, timely and accurate information on NGEU borrowing costs and on expected Recovery and Resilience Facility disbursements throughout the budgetary procedure; recalls that Parliament is deeply concerned about the impact of the inherent uncertainty for the EURI interest line and questions the forecast from the Commission on NGEU borrowing costs and expected Recovery and Resilience Facility disbursements throughout the budgetary procedure;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines, once again, that repayment of the EURI borrowing costs is a legal obligation for the Union and a non- discretionary expenditure item in the EU budget; is adamant, therefore to cater fully and timely for the NGEU repayment costs that will fall due in 2025; agrees to apply, in this regard, the newly established EURI cascade mechanism, in the letter and the spirit of the recently revised MFF Regulation; proposes taking into account the Union's priorities; proposes therefore to finance 65% of the overrun costs by the de- commitment compartment of the EURI Special Instrument; deems the margin of EUR 46.2 million, which was programmed before the DB was submitted, to be available for reinforcing programmes under the ceiling of Heading 2b; intends to revisit the amendments linked to the cascade mechanism once the Amending Letter provides updated estimations of the actual needs for the EURI line in 2025;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that programmes under Heading 1 play a key role in increasing the Union’s competitiveness, driving growth, economic development and job creation as well as ensuring that the green and digital transitions leave no- one behind by providing the necessary support for research and innovation, in key sectors such as innovations, health, climate and natural resources, and agriculture by boosting funding for cross- border infrastructure, in particular in the transport and energy sector, by bolstering the Union’s investment in cutting-edge technology, and by improving the competitiveness of the Union economy, with an emphasis on SMEs and youth entrepreneurship;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Highlights the vital role that Horizon Europe plays in this context and the importance of public-private partnerships to turn the research results into products and services for the benefit of the Union and its citizens; recalls that the programme remains heavily over- subscribed and is therefore unable to support a large number of research projects evaluated as ‘excellent’; proposes, therefore, to increase allocations for the programme by a total of EUR 242 million compared to the DB, with reinforcements for the European Research Council, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Clusters ‘Health’, ‘Culture’ ‘Climate, Energy and Mobility’, ‘Food’, EIC and ‘Widening participation’;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is key tofor the Union’s overall security and for boosting investment in high-performance, sustainable trans-European networks and to decarbonising the Union economy, thereby accelerating the green transition and promoting interconnectivity; proposes, to increase appropriations for CEF Transport by EUR 40 million above the DB in 2025; further proposes to top-up CEF Energy with an additional EUR 30 million highlighting its vital importance to energy projects in Ukraine in light of the Russian war of aggression;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Highlights the added value of the Digital Europe Programme in view the Union’s technological progress and competitiveness and proposes an increase of EUR 10 million for the budget line Artificial Intelligence and EUR 5 million above the DB for the skills strand of the programme; points out that enhancing digital skills and literacy are imperative for empowering citizens to fully participate in the knowledge economy;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that a well-functioning Single Market is critical for the Union’s competitiveness and to enhance access to markets for EU businesses; emphasises that SMEs are the backbone of the European economy and that they have in particular have been hit hard by high inflation and energy prices and proposes, as a result, an increase of EUR 5 million above the DB for the SME strand of the Single Market programme;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Further proposes a number of additional reinforcements for selected budget lines in Heading 1, among which InvestEU, the Anti-Fraud Programme, Space and Customs cooperation; commends the impact of Space Programme on the security of the Union by providing early warnings to the relevant authorities in times of crises, such as floods, through Copernicus and providing crucial navigation services to rescue and transport services through Galileo; underlines the increasing needs in investing in both strands in the future;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Reiterates the important role played by the decentralised agencies active under this heading and points out that it is the responsibility of the Union to make sure all the agencies have sufficient level of cybersecurity in place; proposes to increase appropriations for the European Union Agency for Railways and for the BEREC Office; in line with their identified needs and expanding mandates;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines the key role cohesion policy plays in delivering on Union policy priorities and boosting the Union economy by contributing to fair and sustainable growth and development, promoting economic and social convergence between countries and regions, notably outermost regions, supporting the green and digital transitions, and fostering innovation and employment; calls on the Commission and theall Member States to accelerate implementation of cohesion policy;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Recalls that the execution of operational programmes in the Member States and regions should be accelerated and that delays caused by a potential lack of administrative capacity should be avoided at all levels of governance; wishes to allocate the remaining margin of EUR 755 965 to the budget line for Operational technical assistance;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recalls that programmes under Heading 2b play a key role in ensuring resilience and values by providing support and opportunities for young people through Erasmus+, including the Special Olympics World Games (SOWG) 2025, and through the European Solidarity Corps; reinforcing support for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme; investing in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer diseases, rare diseases and diseases affecting children and improving mental health by increasing EU4Health; investing in skills development; ensuring social security coordination in order to facilitate labour mobility and easier transfer of social security benefits; supporting vulnerable communities, as well as rural, isolated and mountainous areas, social dialogue and, labour mobility, trade unions, and cultural and creative industries;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Is alarmed by the growing impact of natural disasters in Europe and its neighbourhood and concerned about the Union’s ability to respond effectively; underlines that these disasters are often linked to climate change and are therefore likely to occur with greater frequency and intensity in the future; wishes to protect human lives and secure their livelihoods, and to augment the Commission’s crisis response capacity; increases, therefore, appropriations for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism by EUR 42 million above DB; calls for a prioritisation of investments that help reduce the impact of natural disasters; stresses that the Union, being based on solidarity, will should find the resources fto support the citizenareas, citizens and companies affected by the recent floods expressing solidarity;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Underlines the importance of a stronger Health Union and enhanced preparedness; highlights the vital role that the EU4Health programme plays in this respect; proposes, therefore, to increase the programme’s appropriations by EUR 50 million above DB in support of investments in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, rare diseases and diseases affecting children and improving mental health;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Reiterates its unwavering support for promoting the learning mobility of young people and researchers contributing to building of a European Education Area; proposes to reinforce, against this background, the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programmes, which play a vital role in supporting learning mobility opportunities, improving people’s skills and employability and promoting social inclusions well as engaging them in Europe's democratic life; emphasises that both programmes aim to boost participation rates among people with fewer opportunities - an objective that is challenged by soaring inflation and the increased cost of living; is committed to ensuring that Erasmus+ does not become a de facto selective programme open only to those who can afford to participate and recalls that the Commission is required to put in place financial support measures for people with fewer opportunities; proposes, therefore, an increase of EUR 70 million for Erasmus+ (57 million EUR for Promoting learning mobility of individuals and groups, and cooperation, inclusion and equity, excellence, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of education and training — Indirect management; 5 million EUR for Promoting non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people, and cooperation, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of youth; 8 million EUR for Promoting learning mobility of sport staff, and cooperation, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of sport organisations and sport policies); insists that the top-up be used to contribute in particular to the programme’s over-arching aim of becoming more accessible, including by providing the necessary increased financial support per participant with fewer opportunities; proposes, moreover, a reinforcement of EUR 1 million for the ESC above DB, specifically to ensure the programme is accessible for all;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Reiterates the indispensable role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme in promoting European values and citizens’ rights, in fostering active civic engagement, in building resilient societies and raising awareness on disinformation, in combatting gender- based violence and in supporting the key principles of democracy, the rule of law, solidarity, inclusiveness, justice, non- discrimination and equality; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 9 million above the DB, with reinforcements for the equality and rights, ‘citizens’ engagement and participation’, Daphne and ‘Union values’ strands, the latter providing direct funding to civil society organisations working closest to the citizens at local, national and Union Level to protect and promote EU values and to counter democratic backsliding;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37 a. Deems it necessary to increase the support to the Turkish-Cypriot line by EUR 1 million above DB in order to finance the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus and support the bi- communal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Deems it necessary to allocate adequate resources for the effective implementation of EU rules on social security coordination in order to facilitate labour mobility and easier transfer of social security benefits,facilitating labour mobility and free movement of workers in order to establish a real labour market at European level contributing to the completion of the single market by financing the relevant line by EUR 2 million;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Recalls that programmes under Heading 3 play a key role in bolstering support for farmers, especialnotably the younger generation, across the Union, in particular given the wave of farmers' discontent, the extreme weather conditions, ongoing challenges of the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the critical role that agriculture plays in food security; stresses the crucial role of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in this regard and recalls the objectives under Article 39 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which include increasing agricultural productivity by promoting technical progress, ensuring a reasonable standard of living for farmers, and guaranteeing food security; highlights the critical importance of LIFE, given its role in protecting biodiversity and fostering climate action and the clean energy transition;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Reiterates its concern about the negative impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on global food security and affordability and about farmers’ ability to withstand inflationary pressure and increased input prices; emphasises the need to help new and young farmers as well as small and medium-sized farmers with additional means and thereby ensure the sustainability of the sector and generational renewal; proposes, therefore, to increase income support to young farmers by EUR 40 million above the DB; notes that CAP direct payments have significantly decreased in real terms due to inflation, while the administrative burden on farmers has increased due to the accumulation of restrictions, obligations and bureaucracy on EU farmers; stresses in this context the vital importance of sufficient funding for agriculture, including for the Programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity (POSEI) in order to uphold the viability of agriculture in outermost regions;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Underscores the negative impact of droughts and other extreme, climate change induced, weather patterns on the agricultural sector; underlines the importance of the fruit and vegetables sector, of school schemes as well as promotional measures of agricultural products under the Common Agricultural Policy; deplores the budget cut for the promotion of agricultural products as this programme is essential to increase awareness and recognition of Union quality schemes as well as the competitiveness of Union agricultural products; decides, therefore, to increase the allocation of these budget lines under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund by a total of EUR 56 million above the DB; emphasises equally the importance of investing in the digitalisation of small and medium-sized farms and the acquisition of equipment to implement good environmental practices in farming and to contribute to environmental sustainability in Union agriculture;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44 a. Recalls the economic, social and environmental relevance of fisheries, aquaculture and maritime affairs; stresses the strategic role of fisheries and the sectors in this regard and expresses concern over the lack of clarity over the consequences of the Commission proposal to cut the budget of the EMFAF; insists that special attention must be devoted to the fishing fleets in order to improve safety, working conditions, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, including renewal of the fleet;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Underlines that instability in neighbouring regions, as well as poverty and underlying trends in economic development, demographic changes, globalisation in transport and communications, but also economic reasons or desires to improve material livelihood, continue to create migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on programmes and agencies under Heading 4;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Notes that additional financing is needed under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in order to ensure appropriate and speedy implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact; decides, therefore, to reinforce the AMIF by EUR 25 million above DB in 2025 given AMIF’s positive contribution in providing immediate support to refugees as well as its objective of countering irregular migration and ensuring effectiveness of return and readmission in third countries;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. UnderlinStresses the important role that the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) plays in managing the Union’s external borders ance of effectively managing the EU’s external borders, particularly the need to better protect vulnerable people from smuggling and trafficking networks and considers that effective protection of the EU’s external borders is necessary to address the instrumentalisation of migrants as part of hybrid attacks; underlines the crucial role of the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) in that regard in particular into supporting Member States with reinforced border protection capabilities including physical infrastructure, buildings, equipment, systems and services required at border crossing points; underscores that funding under the instrument is essential for the effective implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact; underlines that the instrument should also support the acceleration of Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area; proposes therefore to increase appropriations for the BMVI by EUR 35 million above DB;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Highlights the need for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to have the requisite resources to carry out its operational activities effectively and decides, therefore, to restore the DB for the agency; notes, however, with concern, that the Agency continues to struggle with its absorption capacity and has not yet managed to hire the necessary staff to fulfil its mission; reiterates that the enhanced competences and resources allocated to, purchase modern equipment and enhance its capabilities as it plays a crucial role in preventing irregular migration, helping Member States to secure the EU’s external borders and ensuring effective returns; decides, therefore, to restore the DB for the Aagency must be accompanied by increased transparency and accountability, as well as full respect for and protection of fundamental rights;; welcomes the fact that Frontex is the biggest and fastest growing EU agency while acknowledging it creates challenges oin the Agency to continue to improve its efficiency and effectivenesserms of absorption capacity and staff recruitment;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Proposes to reinforce the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) by EUR 2 million to ensure that the agency can implement critical internal security and border management projects, and to reinforce staff at the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA);
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56
Paragraph 56
56. Underlines the need to top up the Internal Security Fund to ensure sufficient funding for the fight against serious and organised crime with a cross border dimension as well as cybercrime, cybercrime as well as funding to tackle terrorism and radicalisation; stresses that financial reinforcements are also crucial for combatting the rise of anti-Semitism and supporting Jewish communities in Europe by supporting multinational projects on best practices and enhancing exchange of information; considers a reinforcement of EUR 5 million to be justified for this purpose; restores Secure Connectivity to the level of the DB in order not to delay the advancement of a recently agreed programme;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57
Paragraph 57
57. Highlights in particular the importance of reinforcing the means for European cooperation in defence matters and the harmonisation of defence sector to better respond to the unprecedented geopolitical challenges; considers that such cooperation not only makes Europe and its citizens safer but also leads to greater efficiency, potential savings and strategic autonomy; notes the importance of ‘military mobility’ in funding dual-use transport infrastructure, enabling Member States to rapidly concentrate military power in the context of the war and to support missions and operations under the common security and defence policy; underlines that the programme is oversubscribed and has substantial absorption capacity; decides, therefore, to increase appropriations for ‘military mobility’ by EUR 20 million above the DB;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
Paragraph 58
58. Recalls the crucial role played by decentralised agencies operating in the field of security and law enforcement, in particular with regard to the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) which have both seen their mandates expanded; proposes targeted staffing increases and financial reinforcements to allow them to properly perform their new tasks;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
Paragraph 62
62. Underlines that the war continues to have significant effects on countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood, such as Moldova, that have provided shelter and assistance to refugees fleeing the war and faced the knock-on effects of sky-high inflation and energy prices; stresses the need for targeted financial and technical assistance to help these countries stabilise their economies and strengthen public infrastructure amidst these pressures; underlines the importance of sustained support for candidate countries in implementing the necessary accession- related reforms and in enhancing their resilience and preventing and countering hybrid threats; emphasises the need for closer security cooperation to counteract destabilising forces and ensure regional stability; decides, therefore, to increase appropriations by EUR 50 million above the DB for the Eastern Neighbourhood to address these complex challenges; proposes, furthermore, to increase accession-related support under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA III) by EUR 3 million in 2025 to accelerate the reform process, enhance resilience, and ensure a smooth transition towards EU standards;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
63. Proposes to place an amount of EUR 30 million in reserve that can be lifted upon an unconditional withdrawal by the Georgian Government of the controversial law on 'transparency of foreign influence' and a clear commitment that it would not propose such a law again; further emphasizes the importance of ensuring that any legislative action aligns with democratic principles, transparency, and human rights, reinforcing Georgia’s pathway towards European integration; underlines that the remaining funding for Georgia should be redirected as much as possible to support civil society.
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 a (new)
Paragraph 63 a (new)
63 a. Proposes to reinforce funding for several budget lines under the NDICI chapter and strands under the Global Challenges thematic strand; stresses the importance of the People strand in reducing catastrophic food insecurity in many countries in the World and in supporting health, education, gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment; highlights that support to women and girls to access quality education drastically improves their chances to acquire the knowledge and skills to compete in the labour market, gain life skills necessary to navigate and make decisions about their own lives;