"The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) launched the first Gender Equality Index for the European Union on 13 June. ’The Index, the fruit of three years of hard work shows differences in outcomes between women and men at the individual level in EU Member States’ said Virginija Langbakk, the Director of EIGE in her opening speech. ‘This unique measurement tool supports evidence-based policy-making and indicates where political priorities should be shifted to accelerate the process of achieving a gender-equal Europe.’ Though gender equality values have long been recognised, the European Union is only halfway towards a gender-equal society, with an average EU score of 54 (where 1 stands for no gender equality and 100 for full gender equality)" (Quoted from article)