23/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - MEPs support Viviane Reding's proposal on quotas. Although Commissioner Viviane Reding is finding it difficult to gain the Council's support for her proposal that there should be a quota of women members on the boards of European listed companies, this should not be the case with MEPS. During a first debate on this proposal within the legal affairs and women's rights committees at the European Parliament, MEPs make clear their enthusiasm for having a 40% quota of women in non-executive positions of EU firms by 2020. The co-rapporteurs, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP, Greece) and Evelyn Regner (S&D, Austria), will prepare a report to be voted in committee this September, and in plenary this November. Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou emphasises her call on “business to follow an open, transparent and meritocratic selection procedure”. Only 13.7% of corporate seats in the largest listed companies are held by women. The Council will discuss the matter in June this year. (MD/transl.jl)