Gender in regional cohesion policy

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is an autonomous body of the European Union, established to contribute to and strengthen the promotion of gender equality, including gender mainstreaming in all EU policies and the resulting national policies, and the fight against discrimination based on sex, as well as to raise EU citizens’ awareness of gender equality.

The seat of the European Institute for Gender Equality is in Vilnius (Lithuania). It was officially launched in June 2010. Promoting gender equality is important in reducing regional economic and social disparities and for ensuring the long-term development of regions, which are the two main objectives of the cohesion policy. Failure to overcome gender disparities means that the development objectives of growth, competitiveness and employment cannot be fully achieved.