Brussels, 07/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - In 2015 women should represent 30% of senior managers in the largest European companies quoted on the stock exchange and 40% by 2020. Currently, they represent 10% of directors and just 3% of them are CEOs of the said companies. If voluntary measures fail to increase the number of women in decision-making posts, there will be EU legislation in the matter. Furthermore, studies have shown that a significant representation of women in director-level positions is a tool for economic performance and competitiveness. This is the gist of a report by the vice-president of the European Parliament, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP, Greece), on “Women and Business Leadership”. The report was adopted by the Strasbourg plenary on Wednesday 6 July, by 534 votes in favour, 109 against and 29 abstentions.
Welcoming this adoption, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou said: “Europe cannot afford to leave talent untapped! Empowering the role of women on management boards of companies is not only about ethics and equality, it is also essential for economic growth and a competitive internal market.” In the view of the vice-president of the EP, with its adoption of this report “the EP has sent out a strong message to governments, social partners and enterprises in Europe”. Commissioner Viviane Reding (Justice, Fundamental Rights, Citizenship) also welcomed the “strong support” of the EP for the Commission's approach, so that there can be “more women in economic decision-making positions”. The committee on women's rights and gender equality adopted the report by Kratsa-Tsagaropolou on 25 May (EUROPE 10389 and 10326).
Binding legislation. The MEPs: - call on the Commission to “propose legislation including quotas by 2012 for increasing female representation in corporate management bodies to 30% by 2015 and 40% by 2020”, if voluntary measures do not manage to increase the proportion of women; - welcome initiatives by member states such as France, the Netherlands and Spain, which have set in place a threshold for female representation within management bodies to which businesses must adhere; - take the view that other businesses, not just the largest ones, should also have a balanced representation between the sexes and the Commission should define a roadmap to this end.
Management positions for qualified men and women. The MEPs take the view that: - recruitment for positions in corporate management bodies should nevertheless be based on the skills, qualifications and experience of the candidate; - in order to allow more women to take up management positions, the Commission and member states should implement new policies, such as using specific and ongoing training, together with other professional accompaniment measures, such as mentoring programmes and networking; - at the same time, the member states should introduce special arrangements, such as childcare, care for the elderly, tax incentives for businesses, or other ways to help reconcile family and life and professional life for men and women employed by companies.
Greens/EFA, quotas for more women in the boardroom. “Our message is clear: if business is unable to increase the number of women on boards significantly by next year, they should face quotas”, said the Dutch MEP Marijke Cornelissen, who went on to stress that “quotas work, as the case of Norway demonstrates, where the introduction of a 40% quota for women on boards has proved effective”. The MEPs have called on the Commission to present a legislative proposal on this by 2012, with binding objectives and quotas, “in case steps taken by companies and member states do not work. If business believes in self-regulation, they will have to hurry up and prove that it is effective”, added Spanish MEP Raül Romeva. (G.B./transl.fl)