Directorate-General for Internal Policies Directorate C - Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Brussels, 1 June 2011

Report on the FEMM Committee delegation visit to European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Vilnius, 19-20 May 2011

COMPOSITION Edit BAUER (EPP, ), Chair of the FEMM delegation Marc TARABELLA (S&D, Belgium)

Members were accompanied by Sabina Magnano and Malgosia Szlendak from the committee secretariat and Valborg Linden-Jonsten (S&D group advisor).

CONTEXT AND PURPOSE This was the first visit of a FEMM delegation to EIGE since its establishment in 2009. The aim of the visit was to gather first hand information about the current and forthcoming activities of EIGE and to discuss how to organise exchange of information between EIGE and the FEMM Committee and the framework for possible cooperation.

The programme of the visit is attached in Annex 1.

MAIN ISSUES RAISED

 Current areas of work (a list of ongoing studies is attached in Annex 2a):

o Beijing indicators in the form of reports to be submitted to the Presidencies (reconciliation of family and professional life for the Polish Presidency; women and environment for the Danish Presidency);

o Gender Equality Index o Men and masculinity o Gender Stereotypes o Gender mainstreaming o Violence against women

 Establishment plan (organisation chart is attached as Annex 2b)

o Currently 39 staff (including contract agents and seconded national experts) are employed by EIGE. 94% of the recruitment foreseen for 2010 was completed.

o It is planned that in 2011 the staff will increase to 45

 Budget

o There was a surplus in budget in 2010 since not all activities could start as planned. As a consequence operational budget for 2012 is lower and will be compensated by this surplus.

o As for administrative expenses, the rent of the premises (until 15/12/2011 paid by Lithuanian government) shall now also be added, which entails a 15% increase in the budget.

o If it is decided that EIGE takes on tasks in relation to violence against women, which was not foreseen in the initial regulations, additional staff will be needed.

 Premises

o The EP and the Commission are looking for joint EU premises in Vilnius. EIGE would also like to join them. Accordingly, a letter was addressed by EIGE Director to the EP DG in charge of Infrastructures and Logistics (see Annex 2c). The support of the FEMM Committee to this request (through a letter from the Chair to the responsible DG) would be very much welcomed by EIGE.

 Exchange of information about EIGE and FEMM Committee

A better exchange of information and cooperation should be organised between EIGE and the FEMM Committee and in particular:

o Information from EIGE on studies: . as soon as agreed by Management Board (main objectives and timeframe); . when they are finalised (short summary of study and possibly presentation of study in FEMM Committee if relevant for committee work);

o Transmission to FEMM of EIGE quarterly report to its Management Board as soon as available;

o Transmission to FEMM of EIGE annual report as soon as available;

o Information to FEMM on experts appointed by FEMM Committee as members of Forum of experts;

o Transmission to EIGE of FEMM annual work programme as soon as adopted by FEMM coordinators;

o Invitation every year in January/February to the EIGE's Director, Ms Langbakk, to present the Institute's annual work programme and evaluate the activities of the previous year before the FEMM Committee;

o Informal input on EIGE mid-term work plan. Following a discussion in the FEMM Committee in January/February 2012, the coordinators could discuss the issue. This input could take the form of a letter sent by the Chair on the basis of the discussion by the coordinators;

o Prompt information from EIGE on possible budget and staffing problems;

o Information to FEMM regarding detailed establishment plan including team members' responsibilities.

FOLLOW-UP

At their meeting of 25 May 2011, the FEMM coordinators mandated the Chair to write to the EIGE Director proposing some concrete follow-up in particular as concerns better sharing of information. The coordinators also mandated the Chair to write to the DG for Infrastructure and Logistics supporting EIGE request for joint EU premises in Vilnius.

Directorate-General for Internal Policies Directorate C - Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

12 May 2011

Delegation to Vilnius, Lithuania 19-20 May 2011

Programme

Individual arrival to Vilnius on 19 May 2011.

Artis Centum Hotel, Liejyklos st 11/23, 01120 Vilnius, Lithuania Tel:+370 5 2660366, Fax: +370 5 2660377 Email:[email protected]

Thursday, 19 May 2011

15.30 Arrival of the delegation at EIGE’s premises, Švitrigailos g. 11M, LT-03228 Vilnius,, tel: +370 5 239 4140

16.00 – 16.30 Opening of the meeting . Virginija Langbakk, Director of EIGE, . Edit Bauer, MEP Chair of FEMM Committee Delegation

16.30-17.30 Session I – EIGE- state of play - Presentation and discussion of the state of play of the European Institute for Gender Equality

17.30-18.30 Session II – EIGE’s main activities planned and future challenges - Discussion on the current and future challenges of the European Institute for Gender Equality, activities during 2011, 2012 and possible coordination of future cooperation with FEMM committee and the - EIGE’s focal areas of intervention, and planned studies - Specific areas: GBV, stereotypes, etc

19.45 Pick up at hotel 20.00 – 22.00 Dinner hosted by Director

Friday, 20 May 2011

09.30 Arrival at EIGE’s premises Session III – Planning some of the future joint events - EIGE`s cooperation with FEMM committee and the European Parliament in 2011 and 2012 - Exchange of views on EIGE`s second Mid-Term Programme 2013-2015 - Discussion and Conclusions

12.00 End of visit

Individual departure from Vilnius

List Of Studies Launched by EIGE

 Study for the review of developments at the level of the EU and the Member States in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action in the Area F: Women and the Economy. (launched 2010)

 Study on existing indicators and statistics on gender equality in the European Unijon. (launched 2010)

 Study on implementation methods of work with the Beijing indicators in the European Unijon. (launched 2010)

 Study on gender stereotypes. (launched 2010)

 Background study on men's involvement in gender equality within EIGE's working areas. (launched 2010)

 Study for the further development of a Gender Equality Index. (2010)

 Study to identify and map existing data, statistics and resources on sexual violence against women in the European Union. (launched 2010)

 Study: Area K of the Beijing Platform for Action: Women and the Environment in the European Unijon. (launched 2011)

 Background Paper on Practical Use of the Concept of Intersectionality for Advancing Gender Equality by the EU Institutions and the Member States. (launched 2010)

 Background Paper on Practical Use of Gender Training as a Tool for Gender Mainstreaming by the EU Institutions and Member States. (launched 2010)

 Background Paper on Good Practices in the Implementation of Gender Mainstreaming within European Structural Funds. (launched 2010)

 Study on the use of "good practice" as a tool for mainstreaming gender into the policies and programmes of the institutions of European Union and EU Member States. (launched 2010)

 Second Ex‐ante Evaluation of EIGE Focusing on the Institute's Specific Objectives and Operations. (launched 2010)

 Study for Mapping Stakeholders and Actors at European level and Accession Countries in relation to gender equality work: Mapping their interests and needs, as well as those from individual stakeholders. (launched 2010)

 Feasibility study on effective forms of electronic networks. (launched 2010)