This annual report provides a prospective overview of the social dimension in the European Union as a background to social policy development and contributes to the monitoring of developments in the social field across Member States. Furthermore, it establishes links to other Commission publications such as Employment in Europe, Industrial Relations in Europe and the Gender Equality Report. It combines harmonised quantitative information with survey data on public opinion. In 2004 the report seeks to portray the social dimension of the enlarged Union, looking at both developing social trends and emerging policy challenges.
This report presents the findings of a research project completed as part of the implementation of the Kobe Plan of Action for Women and Health. The fifty members from 18 countries have contributed to the work on four priority areas: 1) Comparative analysis of gender equity/equality indicators, 2) Use of gender analysis, 3) Women's leadership in health, 4) Enhancing research transfer in specific gender equity and health issues.