Since 2006 the Unit “Equality between Women and Men” of the European’s Commission DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities publishes periodical reports to promote gender balance in decision-making positions. Please click on the following report titles to get access to each of the listed reports:

Beijing+15 The Platform for Action and the European Union. Report from the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (December 2009)

The present report is the third review of development at the EU-level in relation to the 12 critical areas of concern of the PfA, building on the follow-up by the EU in 2000 and on the report from the Luxembourg Presidency in 2005. The report is based on the Council Conclusions on the follow-up of the Beijing PfA since 2005 and on information provided by the Member States in their answers to the UNECE questionnaire sent out in January 2009. Furthermore, Statistics Sweden has updated the statistics in some of the critical areas for this report.

Report on equality between women and men 2009 (06/04/2009)

This publication gives an overview of recent developments as regards the situation of women and men in the EU with relevant data and policy presentations. It is targeted at a wide range of stakeholders, including Member States, NGOs, and social partners.

Report on equality between women and men 2008 (23/01/2008)

The fifth report on equality between women and men, the first to cover the enlarged European Union (EU) of 27 Member States looks at the main developments in the past year, identifies future problems and sets guidelines for dealing with them.

Getting more Women to the Top in Research (2008)

This report examines and describes in detail nomination procedures, obstacles, facts and funding limitations that women need to overcome in their academic careers. It reviews the procedures for evaluating and promoting research personnel to senior positions and identifies examples of good practice at national and institutional levels. Based on this analysis, the report proposes recommendations to facilitate the design of a framework for better targeted actions at European level, and highlights the problem of poor awareness and visibility.

Decision-making: Exchange of Good Practices (August 2007)

The European Commission has encouraged exchanges of information, good practices and networking between all actors involved in the field of equal opportunities between women and men under the fifth Community action programme on equal opportunities (2001-2006). This takes the form, inter alia, of co-funding transnational projects launched by the Member States, regional and local public authorities, NGOs, social partners and other relevant stakeholders. This publication is designed to help to ensure these tools are distributed, as widely as possible, among all the key players involved in promoting a gender balance in decision-making positions, while acting as a source of inspiration for future action.

Report on equality between women and men (07/02/2007)

This report is the first report done after adopting the European Commission’s Roadmap for Equality Between Women and Men and the European Council’s Agreement for Equality Between Women and Men.

Women in European politics – time for action (10/03/2009)

This report aims to raise awareness of the extent of gender inequality in politics by analysing the current situation and investigating some of the reasons that the persistent deficit is proving so difficult to break down.

Women and men in decision-making 2007 - Analysis of the situation and trends (22/02/2008)

This report presents an assessment of the current situation of men and women in decision-making across Europe and developments over recent years. It aims to raise awareness and promotes research based on comparable European data taken from the Commission’s database on women and men in decision-making.

Report on equality between women and men 2006 (27/02/2006)

This yearly report presents an overview of the main developments on equality between women and men in the European Union in 2005. It also outlines challenges and policy orientations for the future.