The EU is to set up a European Institute for Gender Equality. The European Commission published its proposal on International Women’s Day – 8 March.
The Commission sees the Institute as an independent centre of excellence at European level to gather, analyse and disseminate research information required by policy-makers in Brussels and in the Member States to fight gender-based discrimination.
The proposed budget for the Institute is €52.5 million for the period 2007-2013. Prague (Czech Republic), Budapest (Hungary) and Ljubljana (Slovenia) are the top candidates for hosting the EGI.
Commissioner Špidla for Employment and Social Affairs said ‘The Institute will play a vital role in providing the expertise needed to development equality policies across the EU-25’.
It is currently intended that the Institute will focus on gender inequalities in the field of employment. So far, little mention has been made of inequalities between men and women in terms of health status and potential for health improvement.
