Vilnius - gender equality capital of Europe

Vilnius has become the Gender Equality capital of Europe since the European Union decided to open the European Institute for Gender Equality. Lithuania is one of the few new Member States who has the European Agency.

Gender equality is high on the European agenda. Commissioner Viviane Reding presented recently the Commissions' latest paper, which aims to make better use of women's potential, thereby contributing to the EU's overall economic and social goals.

We believe that the Commission's new strategy will lead to an increased awareness on gender equality and we are in the process of delivering a range of tools in support of this. These include various studies on gender equality which will ultimately form the basis for the creation of an EU Gender Equality Index. The Index will provide Member States and the EU Institutions with the tools to measure progress within gender equality- further strengthening the Commission's new strategy,

said Virginija Langbakk, Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality. Not only is Virginija Lang-bakk director of the institute, she has also a Lithuanian background.

In its communication: "Strategy for equality between women and men 2010-2015", the European Commission spells out five priorities: the economy and labour market; equal pay; equality in decision-making; tackling gender-based violence; and promoting equality beyond the EU. The Institute is expected to assist the European Commission and the Member States by producing evidence-based ground for efficient policy-making. Its tasks are to collect and analyze comparable data on gender issues, to develop methodological tools, in particular for the integration of the gender dimension in all policy areas, to facilitate the exchange of best practices and dialogue among stakeholders, and to raise awareness among EU citizens.

As part of its ongoing work programme, the Institute will help the European Commission and the Member States to report on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, improve the existing indictors within the critical areas of concern and develop further indicators where needed (such as Women and the Environment and Women and Media). Furthermore, the Institute will set up a physical and a virtual Resource Centre and will create a virtual European Network on Gender Equality to foster synergies, disseminate information and pool knowledge among its stakeholders