A brand new Strategy on Equal Opportunities has been launched by The European Commission for the period to 2014.

The strategy sets out detailed plans to further improve on the progress made over the last few years, taking into account elements such as attracting a balanced workforce and providing a more flexible working environment.

Targets have also been laid out in the strategy, which include increasing the number of women holding senior and middle management roles.

The number of women in such roles will be regularly reviewed by the Human Resources Directorate-General and companies which do not show raised levels may be asked to explain why.

Commission Vice-President for Inter-institutional Relations and Administration, Maroš Šefovi, said that the Commission had already made 'considerable progress' in promoting equal opportunities, adding that the number of female senior managers had risen five-fold since 1995 whilst the number of female middle managers had doubled.

"We have also introduced new flexible working practices. But we can and we must do better. This strategy not only sets concrete goals, it will also encourage better use of flexible working practices and aim to make managers at all levels sensitive to the importance of equal opportunities for the whole workforce," he added.