EU launches debate on quotas for women in boardrooms
Photo © endostock - Fotolia
(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission, seeking more diversity in Europe's boardrooms, launches a debate Tuesday on whether to impose quotas to help more women break the glass ceiling.
The public consultation will collect ideas on how to shake-up boards of directors to bring people of different nationalities and profiles to companies in the 27-nation European Union.
An EU source said the option of imposing quotas to help more women get seats on the board will be part of the consultation.
With an average of just one woman for every 10 board members in Europe, top EU officials have lamented the lacklustre representation of women at the helm of companies.
European Financial Services Commissioner Michel Barnier has called for a "culture change" in companies.
European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding and European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said in March that quotas should be imposed as a last resort if companies fail to reform their boardrooms.
The public consultation will be used to determine if the commission needs to draft EU-wide legislation.
Corporate governance framework for European companies - EC consultation - guide