European Commission takes action on gender equality - Main contents

Today the European Commission produces a proposal for clear action to help improve gender equality at senior corporate level.

I am and have long been politically in favour of quotas to promote gender equality. Part of me wishes we didn’t need affirmative action: but the fact is, without external intervention, it could take hundreds of years to achieve the kind of change we need. Europe has so many talented women who have what it takes to succeed in business: but none of them has eternal life, they can’t wait that long.

The EU certainly has a role to play here, in providing a model, and a political impulse. But we are also conscious of the need to support and stimulate, not stifle, national debates. Reasonable people who share the goal of gender balance in corporate and political life often disagree on the merits of quotas and affirmative action, both in Brussels and in our Member States. And often the action needed is most effectively taken by Member States. Indeed, with many governments already undertaking initiatives in this area - different actions, of course, tailored to different national situations and needs - it’s important that the EU adds value to that work. Taking a “complementary” approach adds greater legitimacy to our actions.

Today the Commission reached consensus on proposals to strike that balance. My colleague Viviane Reding has accepted a solution that addresses these issues. Today’s legislative proposal would not fix a binding EU quota applicable to every country; but it sets a very clear political objective, that at least 40% of non-executive directors in publicly listed companies should be women by 2020. It also sets out clear procedures for appointment of non-executive directors by companies which would enable more women to be appointed - a European model, so to speak. At the same time, it leaves space for alternative national models that work. It acknowledges the various positive actions that many countries are already taking, and leaves flexibility for them to continue with such national models where they can be shown to be effective.

I very much hope that we, the European Parliament and the Member States can now work to achieve our goal of greater gender equality: and give Europe’s fantastic businesswomen a chance to use their talents to the full. And I also hope that in the EU Institutions themselves, we can practise what we preach in this area.