MEPs call for quota legislation

MEPs are calling for EU legislation to be put in place if voluntary measures fail to boost the number of women in senior positions. They believe that women should make up 30% of top management in the largest listed EU companies by 2015 and 40% by 2020.

Women currently make up 10% of directors and only 3% of CEOs at the largest listed EU companies.  As the number of women in corporate boards is currently increasing by only half a percentage point per year, it will take another fifty years before boardrooms have at least 40% women, says a non-binding resolution on Women and Business Leadership adopted by MEPs on Wednesday.

"Europe cannot afford to leave talent untapped!  Empowering the role of women on management boards of companies is not only about ethics and equality, it is also essential for economic growth and a competitive internal market. With the adoption of the report on Women and Business Leadership, the European Parliament has sent a strong message to governments, social partners and enterprises in Europe", said EP Vice-President Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP, EL), who drafted the resolution.