Brussels, 08/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission reached a positive result, on Friday, regarding the implementation of its internal policy which aims to double, by 2004, the number of women in management and policy posts (A1 and A2 officials). The targets the Commission had set itself for 2001 have "nearly all been achieved": five women have been appointed to posts as Directors, and 19 as Heads of Unit. Eleven were recruited from open competitions to the posts of administrators. Other targets will be fixed for 2002 and, in order to double the number of women at the higher levels by the end of the Commission's mandate, 22 A1 or A2 officials should be recruited by December 2004. "We still have a long way to go before fulfilling our five year objectives (…) I therefore urge more qualified women to apply for management posts since it is obvious that, without applications, we will not sustain the appointment rate", commented Neil Kinnock.