National study on gender equality

National studies are to be undertaken in all of the EU's new member states and candidate countries to assess the impact of EU employment strategy on the situation of women.

The studies will take place under a contract agreement of €600,000 awarded to the Association of Organisations of Mediterranean Business Women, based in Barcelona, by the European Commission in partnership with a number of European organisations.

The project, which will last a year, is called Labour Market And Entrepreneurship Overcoming Gender Stereotypes.

Case studies will also be carried out of typical businesswomen in relation to gender stereo-types in the labour market and entrepreneurship.

Concrete policy recommendations will be addressed to European Commission and national governments.

The main objectives of the project are to improve the understanding of the issues underlying gender equality and equal opportunities in the fields of employment and entrepreneurship in Europe, to strengthen gender equality and businesswomen's organisations and their active partnership in influencing decision makers on social and economic policy and to improve the general economic status of women.