Brussels, 05/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 5 March the European Commission adopted the seventh annual report on equal opportunities in the EU, which presents the main achievements in gender equality in 2002. The report states that the EU has made progress in gender legislation, notably with adoption of the directive on sexual harassment at work, but the Commission believes that data on women's participation in decision-making, particularly in the private sector, is unsatisfactory. The report examines how far candidate countries have got in adopting EU gender rules and looks at the situation facing women on the job market in both Member States and candidate countries. I also considers women's attitudes to social exclusion.
Commenting on the report, Equal Opportunities Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou said: "Paper legislation to promote equality for women is necessary but not enough? Governments, business, administrations, political parties, all must take more active steps to make equality a practical equality."