Brussels, 05/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Not particularly in favour of quotas for women on boards of directors, but not really against them either, Viviane Reding has decided to hold a public consultation before deciding. Somewhat disappointed by the results to her challenge to companies quoted on the stock exchange to self-regulate by committing to include 40% of women on their boards by 2020, the European commissioner for fundamental rights plans to “push society to make it move”, she told a press conference on Monday 5 March, when the European Commission published a report on the presence of women in economic decision-making bodies within the EU.
Meagre progress for equality. The report stresses that the gap is still wide between men and women in posts of high responsibility and that progress has been very slow. Just one member out of every seven (13.7%) is a woman on the boards of directors of the largest European businesses, even though there is a proven positive impact on company profits with women at high levels, and this has been reported by the companies themselves! As the invitation issued one year ago to large companies to self-regulate has not paid off, the European commissioner is losing patience and points out that the European Commission's working programme for 2012 provides for a legislative initiative to improve gender equality on the boards of companies quoted on the stock exchange.
Consultation of society. Reding does not yet know herself what form this legislative proposal may take. She plans to form her opinion on the basis of the contributions of civil society, and is therefore opening a public consultation on this subject to run until 28 May of this year, before deciding whether or not to introduce quotas to be applicable to all kinds of companies, together with a decision on the types of sanctions, etc. Currently, a recent Eurobarometer survey indicated that 88% of European citizens had no objection to equality in director-level posts, and that 75% of them were in favour of legislation on the issue. For its part, the Parliament has already made its position in favour of quotas clearly known; however, over at the Council, opinions are more divided among the EU27. “There is a minority of member states in favour of quotas, a minority which is against, and then all of those which are somewhere between the two and are waiting to see what happens. These are the waters I must now navigate”, said Reding, who went on to admit that “personally, I'm not particularly in favour of quotas, but I appreciate the results they bring”. She stressed the need for a common European approach, because “companies carrying out cross-border activities may be obliged to comply with different national legislations in terms of quotas, if they want to take part in calls for tender in the field of public procurement”, the commissioner explained. Her legislative proposals, therefore, are to be unveiled in the second half of the year.
Initial reactions. People have been quick to point out that there are very few female role models in top EU positions: “the European institutions should set the example rather than confirming a stereotype”, said MEP Olle Schmidt (ALDE, Sweden), calling on the European finance ministers, who are to take position on Tuesday 6 March on the replacement of a male member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, to appoint a woman. The European Women's Lobby, for its part, has expressed little surprise at today's report: “the figures revealed today confirm what we already know. Progress towards gender balance on company boards is slow (…). We therefore believe there is only one way forward: the Commission must seize the moment and propose binding measures at EU level”, said Cécile Gréboval, the secretary general of the NGO. (MD/transl.fl)