Brussels, 15/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The threats in respect of quotas for women members of company boards are fading. Only six national parliaments have taken the view that the principle of subsidiarity is not being respected on this matter. That is not enough to block the proposal for establishing a quota of 40% for women holding non-executive positions on the boards of companies listed on the stock exchange. The legislative procedure in co-decision on the proposal, which had been heckled even before being presented, may therefore resume a normal course.
The national parliaments had until 15 January to send reasoned opinions to the Commission on the subject of subsidiarity. At the time when this edition was being completed, the Czech, Danish, Polish, Swedish, Dutch and British parliaments expressed reservations but they are not sufficient in number to block continuation of the legislative procedure for quotas, as advocated by the commissioner for gender equality, Viviane Reding, at the end of last year. The Commission is not expected, therefore, to review its plans in relation to the principle of subsidiarity as all the other parliaments consider that measures to break the “glass ceiling” should be taken at European level. The French, German and Portuguese parliaments have also adopted opinions that specifically support the legislative proposal.
The European Parliament, which has designated its rapporteurs - Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP, Greece) and Evelyn Regner (S&D, Austria) - will therefore soon begin work on this. The Council, which has already organised a first exchange of views behind closed doors, will return to the matter during the Employment, Social Affairs and Health Council in June. (MD/transl.jl)