Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė and Swedish MEP Eva-Britt Svensson marked the European Institute for Gender Equality's (EIGE)  opening at a conference today in Vilnius. The Institute, the first EU agency to be based in one of the Baltic States, will collect data and statistics on gender-equality issues and help the European Commission make evidence-based policy decisions.European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights, said the Institute will also help raise the visibility of gender equality issues. "The European Commission is looking forward to receiving technical assistance from the Institute." she said on the accasion of the opening ceremony.