The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) opened its doors in Vilnius on 16 December 2009. The Presidents of Lithuania and Latvia, Dalia Grybauskaitė and Valdis Zatlers, along with Commissioner Vladimír Špidla, the Institute’s Chair of the Management Board, Eva Welskop-Deffaa and the Director of the Institute, Virginija Langbakk unveiled the new premises at a ribbon cutting ceremony. The ceremony honoured the launch of one of the EU’s youngest agencies whose aim is the promotion of gender equality issues.

Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimir Špidla said:

“Achieving more equality between women and men in Europe has been a key priority for the European Commission over the past five years. I congratulate the Institute on its opening in Vilnius and am certain that it will further strengthen our efforts to promote gender equality and fight discrimination across Europe over the coming years.”

The EIGE is a European agency created to support the Member States and the EU in their efforts to promote gender equality, to fight gender discrimination and to raise awareness about gender issues.

Its tasks are to collect and analyse 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 practice and dialogue among stakeholders, and to raise awareness among EU citizens.

For more information on the EIGE, please click here