Brussels, March 10 (TIWN) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has laid out a vision of turning Europe into a continent of equal opportunities for men and women.

"I know we are not there yet. I know that the playing field is not level yet," she said at a European Parliament event marking International Women's Day on Monday.  "I know from experience that women have to work twice as hard to get the same salary, the same recognition or the same leadership position as their male colleagues. I know the obstacles and the prejudices."  She outlined the proposals presented by the European Commission last week to address what she described as "the two greatest injustices that women still face: the gender pay gap and the gender employment gap", reports Xinhua news agency.  She explained how women in Europe are paid on average 14 per cent less than men, and why the Commission proposed the Directive for Pay Transparency.  The employment rate for women in Europe stands at 67 per cent, while that for men is 78 per cent.  "This is simply not acceptable," von der Leyen said.