• Gender equality is now a cross-cutting priority of EU research and innovation policy. This means the gender perspective is integrated into every programme and funding instrument that promotes the European Research Area.
  • The Horizon Europe framework programme (2021–2027) makes it a prerequisite for institutions (universities, research centres, research and innovation bodies, etc.) to have developed a Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) in order to receive funding for research and technology projects.
  • Despite persistent gender inequalities, the promotion of equality in research and higher education has not been an explicit goal of government policy in Greece. Rather, gender inequality initiatives were limited to general references to gender equality as a goal and to piecemeal legislative provisions which were never implemented.
  • By requiring all universities and research institutions applying for European funding to have instituted and implemented an Action Plan for Gender Equality, Horizon Europe set in motion an unprecedented mobilisation in which the Gender Equality Committees (GECs) of Greek universities and research centres play a key role.
  • Since 2020, all 24 public universities and many of the 14 public research centres in Greece have set up Gender Equality Committees and adopted Action Plans for Gender Equality. However, there is a risk that the mature and elaborate Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) will remain dead letters, if support and insufficient human and financial resources are lacking.
  • The state must provide Greek universities and research institutions the necessary resources and support to implement their GEPs, and to do so immediately. Otherwise, there is a clear risk that they will remain on paper as (another) missed opportunity. This policy brief provides recommendations on measures that the Greek state can take to support the implementation of these action plans, so that they can drive the structural changes that can reduce gender inequalities.

The Policy Paper by Dia Anagnostou, ELIAMEP Senior Research Fellow, is published in the framework of the research project “Tackling gender inequalities in research and higher education in Greece (GENDRHED)”. You may read it here in pdf (in Greek)

The project “Tackling gender inequalities in research and higher education in Greece (GENDRHED)” is being implemented under the Active citizens fund in Greece by the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP).

The Active citizens fund in Greece is supported through a €15 m grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as part of the EEA Grants 2014 – 2021. The programme aims to develop the sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector in Greece, and to strengthen its role in promoting and safeguarding democratic procedures, active citizenship and human rights. The Fund Operator for the Active citizens fund in Greece is Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with SolidarityNow.

More information: www.activecitizensfund.gr/en/