It helps the Presidencies and the Commission to identify gender equality subjects and priorities which are of political relevance, including for the Council debate. Since 2003 the group has been helping the European Commission prepare the report on equality between women and men to the European Council. It is also a main forum for planning the follow-up of the BPfA inside the EU and for preparing the annual meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. The HLG holds meetings twice a year, in accordance with the order of the EU Council Presidency. The meetings are chaired by the European Commission with the participation of representatives of the Member States responsible for gender equality policies. The Republic of Croatia is represented by the Director of the Office for Gender Equality of the Government of Croatia.