This book contains the findings of the extensive investigation conducted in the frames of the EU Accession Program of the Open Society Institute, Budapest, in eight candidate countries to the EU. The survey was focussed on the national legal and institutional framework on equal rights and equal treatment for women and men. Independent experts and non-governmental organisations prepared the country studies on Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

The country reports are introduced by a summary report that provides an overall assessment of progress in meeting the relevant criteria and of the impact of the accession process in this area. The study concludes with succinct recommendations to the EU and to the governments of the candidate states.