EU pushes 40% quota for women on boards

Article reported that Europe’s listed companies will be forced to reserve at least 40% of their non-executive director board seats for women by 2020 or face fines and other sanctions under a legislative proposal being drafted by the European Commission in the summer of 2012 and due to be launched in October 2012.

The legislation was aimed at what EU officials believe is a severe gender imbalance across the bloc’s 27 member states. EU data shows that in January 2012, women represented only 13.7% of board positions in large listed companies.

ESO: Background information: Speech: The tug-of-war over the women quota http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-the-tug-of-war-over-the-women-quota/

ESO: Background information: Press Release: Women on Boards: Vice-President Viviane Reding meets with leaders of Europe's business schools and industry http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-women-on-boards-vice-president-viviane-reding-meets-with-leaders-of-europes-business-schools-and-industry/

EUObserver, 4.9.12: Reding wants EU law imposing gender quotas http://euobserver.com/social/117416

European Commission: DG Justice: Gender equality http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/

Deutsche Welle, 3.9.12: EU pushes for more women's quotas http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16216981,00.html

EurActiv, 4.9.12: Reding to go for 40% gender quota on company boards http://www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/reding-go-40-gender-quota-compan-news-514589

EUObserver, 2.10.12: EU commissioner up for 'fight' on gender quotas http://euobserver.com/economic/117715

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