Slovenia Wants to Host EU Gender Equality Institute

Ljubljana, 08 March

Slovenia will launch a campaign to vie for the seat of the European Institute for Gender Equality next week in Strasbourg, the Labour, Family and Social Affairs Ministry told on Wednesday.

Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania will also compete for the seat along with Slovenia, the ministry said, but added that none of the four candidates holds a competitive advantage.
The final decision on establishing such an institute is expected to be taken at the June meeting of EU ministers for employment, social policy and equal opportunities.
The country to host the new institution is expected to be selected at the December EU summit by the heads of EU nation.
If all goes according to plans, the institute will be launched in January 2007. It would offer its support for EU institutions and members in gender mainstreaming and fighting discrimination.
As none of EU countries has expressed any preference for any of the candidates and none of the candidates has yet launched a major advertising campaign, the ministry hopes that Slovenia will stand out with its bid.
To support its candidacy, Slovenia will from Tuesday onwards hand out free copies of a promotional newspaper. The English and French language versions of The Equality Times will be handed out to to MEPs who are to decide on legislation to set up the institute.
Labour, Family and Social Affairs Minister Janez Drobnic and the head of the government Office for Equal Opportunities Tanja Salecl will moreover present Slovenia's candidacy to EU ambassadors to Slovenia this month.
The Slovenian government took a decision to run for the seat in May 2005, when it pointed to the fact that Slovenia has very high gender equality standards. The government also believes that this would boost the country's good name.
Funded by the EU, the institute would bring any costs for the country. The European Commission has so far allocated EUR 52.7m for the institute's functioning for the 2007-2013 period.
Slovenia will, however, have to pay for the promotion campaign, with EUR 18,800 already put aside for the activity. It will also have to find suitable premises for the institute, possibly, but not necessarily, in Ljubljana.

Slovenia Wants to Host EU Gender Equality Institute

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