Brussels, 19/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - The German Bundestag has voted against a proposal aiming to introduce a quota of women on the boards of directors of German companies. What are the implications of Berlin's political game on Viviane Reding's ambition to introduce just such a quota across Europe?
Logically, a rejection like this should affect European Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Viviane Reding's plans. Yet what is happening in Berlin could nevertheless mean that the tide turns and that the German position, against a European quota, could evolve. Certainly, the initiative of the Social Democrat opposition for a women's quota in Germany was rejected by members of parliament from the Christian Democrat coalition. However, the votes of the CDU members of parliament who supported a women's quota were acquired through a promise from Chancellor Angela Merkel to include in the electoral programme of her CDU party a legislative draft for a binding quota of 30% after 2020. This would mean an initiative in line with the proposal currently on the negotiating table at the European level. Positive repercussions might therefore be felt in Brussels, according to sources close to Reding. Even Reding herself welcomed the recent German developments on her Twitter account, where she said she was delighted that even her Christian Democrat friends in Germany are in favour of a women's quota on supervisory boards. She thanked the “girl power” between Berlin, Brussels, Hanover and Sarrebruck. Nonetheless, at this stage Germany is still apparently opposed to the European quota that Reding wants, according to a diplomatic source. The legal basis of the European Commission's proposal and respect for the principle of subsidiarity would be contested. The next round of Council discussions on this subject is planned for June. (MD/transl.fl)